Citygate Network is North America’s oldest and largest community of independent, faith-based crisis shelters and life-transformation centers. Started in 1906, the organization has grown to partner, educate, train and guide a network of 300 member organizations. Each organization works to move people in desperate situations and destitute conditions (i.e., hungry, homeless, abused and addicted) from human suffering to human flourishing through the process of gospel-powered life transformation. 

The Citygate Network focuses on breaking the bonds of destructive habits, bad decisions (made by or forced upon the person) and enslaving conditions. By providing services and care in the context of community, Citygate Network’s tagline “Enter here. Start anew.” underscores the network’s focus on life transforming change.  

Philanthropic investment into Citygate Network’s work is making life transformation possible in communities across America. To get a better sense of their work and impact throughout the country, Esther Larson, senior director of Programs, recently interviewed Tom DeVries, CEO of Citygate Network. 

Q: Rates of addiction and homelessness are drastically increasing across American communities. What are you seeing in terms of the evolving needs for those who are homeless, struggling with addiction or facing other life crises? 

DeVries: Numbers tell a story, and the reality is that more and more people are finding themselves without help, in need of support and looking for those who will offer assistance and services that can address the challenges they are currently facing.  

Between 2022 and 2023, the number of people experiencing homelessness on any given night in the United States rose by 12%, reaching 653,100 – the highest number recorded since tracking began in 2007. The challenges are increasingly complex, with a growing demand for holistic support. Immediate needs include access to shelter, food and health care services alongside long-term, sustainable solutions addressing mental health, addiction recovery and affordable housing.  

Homelessness is more often the symptom of a greater pervasive problem: broken relationships. This lack of supportive community leads to so many of the issues contributing to rising rates of homelessness and intersecting problems of mental illness, addiction, ability to remain in employment and limited access to affordable housing. At Citygate Network, our missions and ministries reach out to people where they are, in whatever situation they are in and offer solutions that can move them from a place of individual suffering to a place of flourishing in the context of a caring community.  
 

Q: What is Citygate Network’s unique approach to address these needs? 

DeVries: The unique approach of the missions and ministries within Citygate Network is that each approach is unique. With more than 320 missions and ministries in our network, each one helps, loves and serves differently, in response to their unique context. 

For example, in Baltimore, Helping Up Mission partners with Johns Hopkins Hospital to provide health care for moms with children who are experiencing homelessness as well as mothers who are expecting. In Colorado, the Denver Rescue Mission has a contract with the city of Denver to provide emergency shelter and housing for the unhoused in that community. In Southern California, Hope: The Mission has multiple sites of tiny homes that offer safety and security as an alternative to the challenge of living on the streets. 

Our ministries offer professional mental health services, Christ-centered recovery programs, trauma-informed case management, workforce development and spiritual support, ensuring individuals receive the resources and relationships needed to rebuild their lives and achieve long-term stability. 

Q: What is the impact of Citygate’s programs and what makes your program model unique?  

DeVries: The programs of the missions and ministries of Citygate Network have profound impact, transforming lives and future generations as people are restored. As one of the largest providers of homeless services in the United States, we collectively provide nearly 80,000 beds. In conversation with Dr. Robert Marbut, former director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, between Citygate Network and The Salvation Army, we provide 75% of the nation’s emergency shelter services. The fact that 75% of emergency shelter beds are being provided by faith-based organizations demonstrates the significant role faith-based providers play in serving those who are most vulnerable in our country. 

Though vitally important, providing emergency housing is only one aspect of our work. We aim to transform the lives of those who are hungry, homeless, abused and/or addicted. We do this by providing recovery and restoration through God’s message of hope and help to people in the most difficult and challenging places. 

Q: Speaking of life transformation, could you share a story of someone who has benefited from Citygate’s ministries? 

DeVries: Citygate Network partners with missions and ministries across North America and the Caribbean and the impact of our programs is vast. For example, in Seattle, Sarah, a young mother, overcame homelessness and addiction through mental health support, Christ-centered recovery and job training with help from Union Gospel Mission. Now employed and volunteering, she helps others on their recovery journey. In Washington D.C., James, a veteran with PTSD, found refuge and stability through similar comprehensive services with Central Union Mission. He now serves as a mentor to other veterans, exemplifying the transformative power of Citygate Network’s comprehensive approach.  

These stories highlight the life-changing impact of our programs, demonstrating how we empower these missions to carry out this vital life-transforming work. 

Q: In the midst of oftentimes flawed policies to address community needs, what are some of critiques you have on the Housing First policy and the recent SCOTUS decision addressing homeless encampments?  

DeVries: While Housing First is a valuable approach, it often overlooks the need for comprehensive support like incorporating mental health and addiction services, which are crucial for sustainable recovery. Providing housing alone, especially to those deemed most in need, without addressing underlying issues, can result in repeated and prolonged homelessness. 

The recent SCOTUS decision on homeless encampments underscores the urgency for humane and lasting solutions. Criminalizing homelessness without offering viable alternatives does not address root causes and can exacerbate the situation. Effective policies should integrate housing with robust support services to foster long-term stability and well-being. 

Q: Could you describe how Citygate Network’s mission is funded? How does philanthropy propel your mission? 

DeVries: Citygate Network’s mission is funded through three streams: annual dues from our members, revenue from annual events we provide and the generous support from donors and foundations. Of those three streams, philanthropy is currently the smallest. Historically, we have viewed ourselves more as an association than as a missional movement. While this model has sustained us thus far, we are now poised for growth and require additional financial support to accomplish goals focused on bringing long-term solutions to people’s lives and to how we address homelessness overall. 

Increased philanthropic contributions would significantly expand the reach and impact of Citygate Network by enhancing our leadership development equipping and training. These contributions would also empower us to drive systematic change and raise awareness about the intersection of homelessness and addiction and/or mental health through advocacy to key policymakers. 

Q: Are there any specific donor partnerships that have been pivotal in the organization’s impact? If so, what made the partnership so compelling? 

DeVries: Citygate Network’s Hope in the Gate initiative, in partnership with the Maclellan Foundation, Unwavering Resolve plus Willow Bend Creative, offers transformative three-day retreats for individuals nearing the end of their rescue mission recovery programs. Set in the serene hills of Tennessee, participants work with singer-songwriters, life coaches and other professionals to discover their unique gifts, hear God’s voice and celebrate their journeys. The retreats include original music, outdoor activities, counseling support and community building, providing a powerful capstone to their recovery process. You can watch Hope in the Gate: Krystal’s Story to see a story from one of our Hope in the Gate events. 

We also partner with the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to host Ripple Effect, a leadership and board governance development program, enhancing our member missions’ ability and capacity to grow leadership, determine ministry direction and raise the level of kingdom impact and ministry effectiveness. 

Q: Are there any specific initiatives you’d like to highlight for donors who might be interested in your work? 

DeVries: One major initiative we are working on is better tracking (of) our outcomes and impact across the country. To do this, we have entered a new relationship with MissionTracker, which offers a customer relationship management system to members, enabling us to create a national dashboard that reflects our collective impact, enhancing our ability to measure impact and showcase the significant work our members are doing.   

This will ultimately improve scalability and strengthen our collective voice, offering a comprehensive view of emergency service beds, addiction recovery programs, meals served and key demographics. Although launching this system is a significant and costly endeavor, it will offer invaluable insights into the role of Christians and faith-based ministries in addressing homelessness across the U.S. and Canada. 

Another initiative is our new leadership development track focused on learning communities and coaching. Through connection and content, the program will provide learning, support and accountability for leaders to grow and develop to ultimately see increased missional impact. 

Finally, we have a strategic partnership with Adult & Teen Challenge, The Salvation Army and Duke University, where we are actively working to measure the impact of faith on recovery. This collaboration is crucial to our mission, especially in light of the HUD survey revealing that one in five individuals experiencing homelessness struggle with substance abuse, with Citygate Network members and other studies estimating this figure to be significantly higher.  

With the economic impact of substance abuse in the U.S. estimated at $740 billion annually, our partnership aims to provide valuable insights into how faith-based support influences recovery outcomes. By studying these effects, we hope to enhance treatment and support strategies for those affected by addiction, with the goal of life transformation impacting communities for generations to come. 

If you are interested in learning more about how Philanthropy Roundtable supports donors committed to addressing our nation’s homeless communities, please contact Esther Larson, senior director of Programs at Philanthropy Roundtable here.  

The post “Enter here. Start anew.”: A Conversation with Citygate Network appeared first on Philanthropy Roundtable.

A recent Wall Street Journal piece, “The Mental-Health Benefits Linked to Going to Church” highlights the significant role houses of worship play in providing a greater sense of community and belonging for individuals. The unique role spiritual leaders have in the lives of so many Americans highlights the opportunity these faith leaders and communities have to improve the overall well-being of Americans struggling to find their sense of purpose, identity and calling. 

To foster greater attention on approaching mental health-related issues within houses of worship, a collaboration among Sanctuary Mental Health Services, The Porter’s Gate Worship Project and Duke Divinity School recently partnered to launch a curriculum called “Sanctuary Course,” and “Sanctuary Songs.” The Sanctuary Course equips the church as they learn to support those with mental health challenges while the Sanctuary Songs is a complementing worship album that focuses on themes related to mental health and faith.  

There are currently around 2,000 churches throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom benefiting from this resource and around 300,000 individuals completing the course in small groups of Sunday school class formats. 

Esther Larson, senior director of programs at Philanthropy Roundtable, recently spoke with Isaac Wardell, the director of The Porter’s Gate, and Daniel Whitehead, CEO of Sanctuary Mental Health Services, to learn more about the collaboration and how philanthropy can help further fuel their impact.  

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

 Q: Tell us about your collaborative project “Sanctuary Course” and “Sanctuary Songs.” 

Wardell: One of the places where the most regular and consistent spiritual formation takes place for Christians is in their experience of weekly worship. It’s in worship that we get the language and the tools for talking about the struggles we face – through preaching, through corporate prayer and also through singing together.  

Many of us have even had the experience of calling to mind the lyrics to a song or a hymn that has really spoken to our hearts during a difficult season. It strikes me that many churches don’t feel like they have the language or the tools for how to talk about mental health in worship. The hope of the Sanctuary Course and this new suite of worship resources called Sanctuary Songs is that we can provide churches with the language for how to talk about mental health journeys in a way that’s biblical faithful and also emotionally powerful. 

Whitehead: For us at Sanctuary, we see the power of music and art in helping people make connections in the mental health conversation. Sometimes when we can’t find words to explain how we’re feeling or what we’re going through or what we’re experiencing, it is art and music that help us.  

It’s also a goal of Sanctuary to change the culture of the church to be more hospitable to people amid crisis, and music is one of the most powerful discipleship tools that the church has. For us, to help create music that better reflects all of human experience by re-establishing a more biblical vision for worship through lament and honestly bringing our troubles to God in the community, strikes us as a vital task, especially in this historic moment when so many people are looking for hope. 

Q: How do you see the intersection of faith engagement and mental health?  

Wardell: There are so many stories of individuals approaching a pastor or youth pastor with a mental health challenge as their first point of entry for talking about this issue. In that crucial moment, there are really different outcomes that can take place. In the worst-case scenario, a pastor might be in error or ill-informed and cause a person to feel like their mental health challenge is a sign of spiritual deficiency or even personal sin. In other cases, a pastor might just not know how to talk about it, which might make the parishioner feel isolated and unknown. 

But, I’ve also heard really beautiful stories of how talking to a pastor has been the first step in a journey of healing when the pastor has helped destigmatize mental illness and been able to point the person in the right direction. We want to equip more pastors and church leaders to help reach these kinds of outcomes. 

Whitehead: Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries began 13 years ago because of research that shows that at a point of mental health crisis, people are more likely to turn to the church than they are to a doctor. The challenge is that very often the kind of support people get in the church is at best non-existent, and at worst unhelpful, or damaging. Faith and mental health belong together because at the heart of our faith is a belief we can bring all things before God and God has a redemptive plan for all human experiences, including difficult ones. 

Q: You successfully launched the first iteration of this project and it was well received by faith communities. Describe what the initial project for “Sanctuary Course” and “Sanctuary Songs” entailed and what impact it has had. 

Wardell: We’ve already seen these songs and prayers used in at least 2,000 churches over the past two years. We’ve been receiving emails and notes every week from individuals and from church leaders expressing gratitude for these worship resources. 

Whitehead: In our recent annual review, we detail some of the feedback we’ve received from people who have listened to Sanctuary Songs. We could also report on a great number of churches across a large geographical space that have incorporated the songs into their song worship. 

It is through this project that I believe there is so much more to be leveraged in the Christian music space, I believe it’s possible Sanctuary Songs will be looked back upon as a seminal moment that helped to move forward a re-emergence of lament and brutal honesty in sung worship. This will be a good thing for so many people in our congregations who often have to suffer in silence because of stigma, to hear their experiences sung about in community as the Jewish people did when hearing the Psalms of Lament sung in community. 

Q: What does success look like for this project working with youth around mental health? How does the collaborative think about success metrics and impact? 

Wardell: One of the goals of this project is to see more churches around the country take on conversations about mental health in small groups, in worship and through counseling ministries. We’ve seen so many individual churches start this journey, but we’re also focusing more in the coming year on conversations with whole denominations and larger groups of churches to help whole organizations of churches feel well-resourced. With our partnership with Duke Divinity professors Warren Kayhorn and John Swinton, we are hosting a gathering this coming fall with scholars, mental health professionals and musicians as we continue to increase awareness about this project together. 

Whitehead: An exciting part of the upcoming youth series that we are launching is that for the first time ever we will be doing an in-depth pre- and post-study to track and report on changes in attitudes and practices in response to the Sanctuary Youth Series. This will be a conclusive and publishable study working with a third-party research institution. At the base level, success will look like young people, and the people who serve those young people, gaining a shared framework and language to understand faith and mental health, so young people can bring their whole authentic selves to the church, and take their faith authentically into their mental health journeys. We are also excited about the prospect of cross-generational conversations happening around faith and mental health because we will have collaborative resources for young people and their parents. 

 Q: How has this work been funded? Any specific funding needs to make this project a reality?  

Wardell: Funding so far has come in the form of individual gifts as well as several grants. Many of the individual donors and family foundations that have become passionate about this work have been families touched in a personal way by mental health challenges. I think the more families come to recognize the great need in this area that they become more interested in working toward solutions that address mental health, especially in a way that’s consistent with their Christian faith and biblical values. 

Whitehead: All of Sanctuary’s work relies on the generosity of donors and foundations. We are close to achieving our fundraising goal for the youth series, but we are always looking for support to help us create new resources and raise awareness of existing resources to communities of faith across all denominations, cultural settings and geographic locations. 

 Q: Anything else you’d like to share with donors about why they should consider funding mental health as part of their portfolio of giving? 

Whitehead: When I look back at history and see the role the church has played in meeting very real needs in society, I am left wondering what history will say of this moment, and the church’s response to this overwhelming challenge in our society. I for one believe the church should be at the forefront of mental health conversations, helping the world to see a different way to hold this subject, in a way that is informed by psychology, by faith and always elevating the value and voice of those who are suffering.  

The church has all it needs to hold this space in society. But sadly the church is often too afraid, or lacking the right framework and terminology to lead the way in rehumanizing people amid crises, and reassuring people that God is still near to those who are struggling in their mental health. I can foresee a day when the church is famous for its deeply compassionate love and care of those in the midst of mental health crises. But we have a long way to go to make that a reality, so we need all the help we can get. 

If you are interested in learning more about how Philanthropy Roundtable supports donors committed to addressing our nation’s mental health crisis, please contact Esther Larson, senior director of programs at Philanthropy Roundtable here. 

The post How Houses of Worship Could Play a Greater Role Improving America’s Mental Health Epidemic  appeared first on Philanthropy Roundtable.

As a religious historian, his research interests broadly include exploring the practices of 20th and 21st century American and global faith communities as well as more specifically investigating how the religious identity of faith-based nonprofits shapes their motivations, rhetoric and practice.  

Given King’s unique expertise on faith and philanthropy, our interview largely focuses on the religious giving data in the Giving USA report. As the nation’s longest running, most comprehensive report on philanthropy, it provides in-depth examination of themes, trends and findings on total charitable giving, giving by sources and giving to major recipient categories – including religion, which comprises the largest percentage of giving in each report that has been released. 

The below interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

Q: The most recent Giving USA report shows giving declined by 3.4% in 2022, with total giving at an estimated $499.33 billion. When adjusted for inflation, giving declined by 10.5%. What do these findings mean for the overall state of philanthropic giving in America? 

King: With rising inflation, drops in the stock market and shrinking disposable income, Americans faced significant headwinds to their charitable giving in 2022. While the decline affected the majority of sources of giving as well as the sectors receiving funding, perhaps most significant has been a continued decline in giving by individuals. As fewer individuals are giving overall, mega-gifts by some of the wealthiest Americans make up higher percentages of overall giving. While I believe Americans’ high levels of giving and volunteering are vital and distinctive aspects of our civil society, we are seeing some significant shifts in the landscape of giving to nonprofit institutions.  

It does appear that individuals are giving less or at least perhaps in different ways than we have traditionally tracked, yet I’m still quite positive that Americans are a generous people. It has always been the case that charitable giving has bounded back from each previous decline, and there is also growing attention to the ways that we are generous that have often not been tracked previously.  

Q: While overall giving declined, giving in some major categories grew, including giving to religion, which was up 5.2%, though down 2.6% when adjusted for inflation. In all, religious giving represents 27% of total contributions received by charities. Can you highlight the nuance with this number and what we should consider as we think through its implications? 

King: While giving to religion decreased slightly after adjusting for inflation, it has remained the largest subsector throughout the history of tracking charitable giving. Keep in mind that giving to religion includes giving to congregations, religious media and missions, but it does not include a number of other religiously motivated or inspired organizations. Even through this narrow definition, it’s clear that giving to religion, particularly congregations, remains foundational to the giving landscape. Even though it is the case that religious affiliation, attendance and membership is shrinking, giving to religion remains strong.   

Q: With religion being the largest giving subsector in the report, religious giving is a vital data point for us to track, measure and understand. Why is religious giving so consistently strong in America? 

King: Even as religious giving has shrunk as an overall percentage of charitable giving over the last few decades, it remains by far the largest in total donations. We also know that people of faith give more to both religious and secular causes and give more often. For many religious Americans, the traditions and practices passed on through their families and faith communities instill in them habits of giving. While giving is always a free choice, for many religious givers, it also carries deep aspects of a regular faith practice where giving has often first gone to one’s religious community. That may be changing a bit, but it still resonates strongly for many. High religious giving also demonstrates the vital role that congregations and other religious nonprofits play in our local communities and larger civil society.  

Q: Though religion remains the strongest category of giving in the report, many philanthropists are interested in innovative ways to further spur religious giving and overall religious engagement in America. Any thoughts on specific funding areas which you see as key levers to sustain generosity in the religion sector? 

King: In our work with congregations specifically, we see a lot of interest in reimagining their revenue models. While overwhelmingly reliant on individual contributions, some congregations are rethinking how to sell, rent or use their property in innovative ways. Others are spinning off 501(c)(3)s, social enterprises or even for-profit entities to sustain their work as well. As we are seeing seismic shifts in religious affiliation and practice in America, many religious leaders have realized they too must be open to change. In traditional mission agencies, many are turning to marketplace models or are looking to self-sustaining enterprises that are not reliant solely on annual fundraising. These models also align with a focus on empowering local voices as well as the expertise of the laity and not just religious leaders.   

Q: In 2020, 15% of donor-advised fund grant dollars were directed to religion. Do you see DAF related giving impacting religious giving? If so, how? 

King: While it is still difficult to track DAF distributions, there is a lot of current and ongoing research that will continue to help us know more. I imagine that a minority of DAF dollars will continue to be directed to religion, but it is an underdeveloped area. Many religious givers utilizing DAFs are savvy donors, and religious leaders need to be aware of how they can make giving through these vehicles an easy option. For those DAF holders who are less savvy, philanthropic advisors, financial planners or community foundations often do not have the knowledge or relationships with religious organizations to suggest them as viable and vital options for a donor’s gifts. Greater knowledge, exposure and relationship building between donors, the advising community and religious leaders would help further unlock the power of DAF giving to religious organizations.  

Q: Anything else from the report that you’d like to specifically address?  

King: It’s worth noting again that while giving to religion remains the largest subsector of charitable giving (27%), that does not represent the full picture of giving to religious organizations. There are so many education, social services and international affairs nonprofits that count their religious identity and/or activity as essential to their mission. Even while, by some measures, individuals’ religious affiliation, attendance and charitable activity may be shrinking or changing, this is only one thread in a large tapestry. Paying attention to this important area is vital to our overall giving landscape.    

If you are interested in learning more about funding faith and community related initiatives, please contact Esther Larson, Program Director at Philanthropy Roundtable.    

The post Giving USA 2023: A Conversation About Faith and Giving appeared first on Philanthropy Roundtable.

• Scale our model into 30 new cities and empower communities to prevent family separation and effectively advocate for mothers in crisis
• Empower 3,000 mothers in crisis to achieve stability, and
• Prevent 7,500 children from entering into foster care.

Q. How does philanthropy and generosity help make your programs possible?

Over the years, we have had the honor of serving countless mothers and families in crisis. We have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of advocacy and the difference it can make in the lives of vulnerable families. However, the reality is this work requires dedication, persistence and a deep commitment to our mission. That is why we are deeply grateful for the generous support of our partners. Because of the generosity of many individuals who have come alongside our mission, we have experienced organizational transformation and seized opportunities for expansive growth. We were able to expand our reach and impact by scaling up existing programs and launching new initiatives. Our partners bring valuable expertise and resources to our team, and skills to help us improve the quality and effectiveness of our work. Our visionary investors who believe in and support our model have allowed us to stay focused on what matters most: ending the family separation crisis.

Q. Philanthropists and generous Americans from around the country will be reading this interview. How would you advise a donor who is interested in supporting women and their families – what should they be considering in their giving toward women and families?

As we look back, we are so proud of the lasting impact we have made so far, but recognize there is still much work to be done. Thousands of mothers and families in crisis remain, and too many children are being removed from their families and placed into foster care for reasons that could be prevented. Your philanthropic investments are critical in building catalytic momentum for the next decade. Consider being part of the most critical capital and community of visionary partners, informing the trajectory and quality of our impact for mothers and children. We believe that we will see the day when there are no longer more than 400,000 children in foster care waiting for a home or families unnecessarily experiencing the trauma of separation. Our ambition and motivation is fueled by our belief that the family separation crisis is solvable in our lifetime, and hope to invite you into that story.

Learn more about Every Mother’s Advocate here.

The post Every Mother’s Advocate: How One Organization Is Helping Women and Families Find Healing appeared first on Philanthropy Roundtable.

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During this season of giving, Americans have once again demonstrated their generous spirit. Giving Tuesday, the annual day of giving, inspired Americans to donate over $3.1 billion this year, a 15% increase over 2021. As many Americans celebrate the miracles of Christmas and Hanukkah this December, the Roundtable is applauding the vibrancy of faith-inspired philanthropy, which helps strengthen communities.

“This is my first time on a plane,” said a 40-year man who had recently been released from prison.

“I’m taking a video for my mom since this is the first time I’ve seen the ocean,” said a middle-aged man.

“I’ve never seen the Rockefeller Christmas tree. …That doesn’t feel like my New York,” said a Bronx-native high school student.

These are real quotes from people I’ve met over the last few years that illustrate some disparities in opportunity and experience in communities across America. They serve as a reminder of the importance philanthropy plays in propelling access to equal opportunity for all Americans, helping to improve lives and supporting thriving communities.

For each donor, the inspiration for giving varies. In a recent Philanthropy Roundtable panel at our Annual Meeting, moderator Dr. Thad Austin of the Duke University Divinity School asked the audience what inspires their giving. Not surprisingly, faith was one of the most significant drivers of generosity. Faith traditions and teachings related to the tithe (giving 10% of income to faith and other charitable causes) help guide and direct giving patterns for people of faith.

According to an Indiana University Lilly Family School Philanthropy Panel Study, the total average annual giving for those with a faith affiliation is $1,599.78, versus $784 for those not affiliated with a religion. A new study from the American Bible Society also demonstrates that faith is clearly a key inspiration for philanthropic activity, with Americans who are “Scripture Engaged” giving $145 billion to charitable causes in 2021.

Moreover, research from Giving USA shows contributions to faith-based organizations make up the largest subsector for giving, demonstrating the major role faith-based charity plays in the sector. Our recent Roundtable blog on the topic also cites multiple studies that note the correlation between faith and higher rates of volunteerism. And a report from the Bridgespan Group in 2021 shows faith-inspired organizations are playing essential roles in their communities, providing $2 of every $5, or 40%, on safety net services in six major representative cities. 

For donor Kelly Hackett of the Hackett Family Foundation, her “why” for giving is inspired by her Catholic faith and family. “It is the common thread that makes all of our giving make sense,” she said in a “Doers to Donors” interview with Philanthropy Roundtable President and CEO Elise Westhoff. “Our Catholic faith is the foundation for all of our values in life. And it’s … where we get the perspective that it’s critical to share our blessings with all those in the community.”

For me, my faith and family inspire me to want to give the Bronx-native high schooler the chance to visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, to provide the opportunity for a formerly incarcerated man to board a flight for the first time, and to help a middle-aged man to see the beauty of the ocean.

My hope this holiday season is that our individual and collective generosity will help to improve lives. Whatever inspires your giving, we at the Philanthropy Roundtable encourage you to be generous this holiday season and lend a hand to those in need.

The post A Celebration of Faith-Based Giving this Holiday Season appeared first on Philanthropy Roundtable.

Q: What has recovery been like, and how have your clients been impacted?

The aftermath of Hurricane Ian is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. In a matter of hours, life as Floridians knew it was washed away. The storm left most homes destroyed or uninhabitable. These families work hard, and they barely made ends meet before the storm. The costs of starting over, particularly for those without friends or family to help, are unthinkable.

The tragedy has presented opportunities for us to serve. We are focusing on Suncoast Estates, Harlem Heights, Pine Island and a few other neighborhoods whose residents are not getting the help they desperately need. We are providing first responders with child care and “adopting” families with children who need support but won’t ask for it — like the single mom who is working overtime as a nurse, has small children, lives in a damaged home and is barely keeping it together. 

We’re also supporting our elderly neighbors who are lonely, scared and overwhelmed, assisting with efforts to rebuild infrastructure and community. We are working to secure funds that will help repair small churches, like Suncoast First Baptist Church, which has storm damage but no money to pay its bills. Amid their own struggles, members of this congregation have been generous in letting our team use their facility, and their hospitality has brought our programs to life in that community.

Q: How has private philanthropy helped propel your innovative response to this storm?

We are 100% privately funded, which gives us the flexibility to adapt quickly to changing circumstances and needs on the ground. While drive-by distribution centers have provided relief to some people, we are offering help to families who don’t have the means to travel to those locations or need things these centers can’t provide. We’ve created a whole new model of care to bring supplies and support directly to these families.

To be more specific, we are going door-to-door and asking each individual family, “What do you need?” No two answers are the same. One family might need mosquito nets and cough syrup, while the family next door needs child care and help tarping their roof before the next rain. Their problems are urgent and often require creative solutions. That’s local philanthropy in action: see a problem, solve a problem.

Q: Please describe the response of civil society more generally — volunteers, faith communities, nonprofits and others — to the hurricane.

Our volunteers have knocked on more than 10,000 doors in areas of high need. We have given out more than $120,000 of essential supplies and tarped up 442 homes.

We are working closely with local and state governments, including Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) Secretary Shevaun Harris, who personally walked the streets with us to help families. It’s been a true team effort. When I called Shevaun about the critical condition of Suncoast Estates, she delivered pallets of supplies to us within 24 hours. Days later, DCF called our staff about urgent needs on Pine Island and we deployed volunteers to help them.

Churches from North Carolina to Ocala, Florida are driving donated items to us in trucks. More than 1,000 volunteers have distributed those items directly to families in areas of critical need. Local businesses are also donating meals, supplies and portions of their own profits. We’ve received support from radio stations, moms’ groups, child development centers, mobile health services, other local charities, you name it.

Q: Do you have an example of a family you’ve helped?

One woman, Jacqueline, lived in a brutally storm-damaged mobile home with her daughter and three grandchildren. There are now holes in the walls of the trailer with mold growing on them, no power, no AC and no cell phone service. 

On our first visit to their home, all three children looked like they had chickenpox, but the spots were from mosquitoes feasting on them at night. We brought apples, and the children ate them up like candy. Many families don’t eat for days at a time because they don’t have the means to travel to a disaster relief distribution center. They are stranded and forgotten. 

Even if Jacqueline’s family could somehow get to a distribution center, it wouldn’t have most of the things she needs right now. It doesn’t offer bug spray or child care or help with tarping up their home before the next rain. We promised to come back, and we did. 

We returned with mosquito netting, ointments, bug spray, cough syrup, thermometers, pull-ups, stuffed animals and dolls, sheets, toddler beds, first-aid kits, shoes, car seats, Pack ’n Plays, bicycles, food, water, clothing and more. 

Their gratitude brought us to tears.

“You came back,” Jacqueline said. She couldn’t believe it.

Q: What does the disaster response timeline look like? And which types of resources will you most need over the next six months to two years?

We are serving areas where homes are uninhabitable and families feel forgotten by the world. We will keep coming back until they don’t need us anymore. Our top three priorities are safety, security and relationships.

Right now, we are making sure everyone has a safe place to live and the basic necessities — food, water, medicine, beds, clothes, formula, diapers and shoes. We are tarping up and repairing homes that can be saved, while families who lost everything are staying with our screened and trained volunteer host families. Since thousands of people lost jobs overnight, our church partners are holding job fairs to help people get back on their feet and keep money coming in the door.

As we serve these families, relationships form. Volunteers are exchanging phone numbers with families, and from that point, that family is not alone. Whether it’s now or five years from now, we will be there for support, mentorship, emergency babysitting, anything they need — and the need is huge in these areas. We are looking to build capacity for our person-to-person outreach efforts. We need more volunteers, more people willing to invest personally in the lives of their neighbors. Community is our most precious resource.

Better Together is included in Philanthropy Roundtable’s Opportunity Playbook, where you can find more information about their impact and programming. If you are interested in helping to accelerate this organization’s impact, please contact Philanthropy Roundtable Program Director  Esther Larson.

The post Megan Rose: Better Together Responds to Hurricane Ian appeared first on Philanthropy Roundtable.

Recently, Philanthropy Roundtable sat down with Megan Rose, CEO of Better Together, an organization that supports struggling parents by helping them work to build a better life, keeps children out of foster care and ultimately reunites families. Since its founding in 2015, Better Together has helped more than 38,000 parents seeking jobs in 14 states, supported thousands of families, including over 3,800 children, and kept 98% of those children out of the foster care system. In the first of a two-part series, Rose explains why she founded Better Together – and how its team has been successful in “helping people help themselves.”

Q: Tell us about Better Together. What’s your mission and focus?

Better Together’s mission is to strengthen families in crisis through the power of community and volunteerism. We help struggling parents keep their children out of foster care, find work and address the root causes of challenges they’re dealing with so they can reunite as a family. We also make sure that they have the tools and support to thrive. Essentially, we’re taking isolated families and connecting them to community and employment.

We’re privately funded and don’t receive any government support. Instead, the government refers over 60% of the families we work with. They introduce us to them so we can step in and avoid intervention like foster care.

Q: When did Better Together form? What’s the history behind it?

Our history goes back to 2015. At the time, I was asked to head up a southwest Florida chapter of a Chicago-based nonprofit that was enlisting volunteers to care for children whose parents were working through struggles. But I saw it as an opportunity to do more.

I envisioned a program that was volunteer-driven and professionally supported but really got to the root cause of the problems families were facing. We began to help families with employment and focus on that volunteer-driven, professionally supported model. Then, we decided to be completely free of government funding, and that’s how Better Together was born.

Q: Your goal is to reduce the number of kids in the foster care system by connecting parents with employment. Why is that link so essential?

When we started our foster care prevention program, Better Families, we quickly learned that 76% of the families we were working with were in crisis due to underlying financial hardships. They were either underemployed or unemployed and dependent on the government. These financial issues led to bigger crises, like drinking, substance abuse or domestic violence — sometimes a family ended up homeless.

We started our Better Jobs Job Coaching program to help families before they wind up needing their children hosted short-term or need other preventive services Better Families provides. We have vetted volunteers who support these families by mentoring them and helping them with problem-solving related to financial planning and workforce development. The program lasts from three to six months, and it helps families to help themselves.

Q: Better Together emphasizes bringing together different community partners. How does that work?

We believe the best way to help a community is through strong collaboration. For that reason, we focus on doing a few things really well, then we lean on other organizations with differing areas of specialty.

Often in this space, nonprofits don’t want to collaborate because there’s a scarcity mindset. Everyone works in silos, and nonprofit leaders might see generosity as a “fixed pie.” We try to break down that assumption and instead say, “We’re going to be better if we can help families together and share information.”

For example, if there’s a resource with a great substance abuse program, we’ll care for the children involved short-term while their parents get into that program. Or if a family needs mental health support, we’ll work with community partners that offer counseling. They can counsel parents on their mental health while we care for the kids and provide relational support.

We apply the same philosophy to the jobs piece. Our job fairs aren’t just about getting connected to a job. In other words, if you’re homeless, you may need many different things beyond employment, including child care, transportation, clothing and steady housing. We bring all these community partners to one place where families can access everything they need. It’s not just about getting a job, but setting someone up for success so they can keep a job.

Q: Describe the typical person you serve.

We largely help families with a household income under $25,000. The majority of them are on government assistance like welfare or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Seventy-six percent of these parents are on unemployment, and 82% of them don’t have an education beyond high school.

We believe the underserved have a lot of potential. They want to contribute to society and break generational cycles but don’t know where to start. Giving these relational support pieces — like mentors and families that can care for their children — plus access to good jobs can move people out of poverty.

Q: Can you share one or two compelling success stories?

We had a mom, Jennifer, who was a victim of sex trafficking and domestic violence, and was referred by a community partner. While the Florida Department of Children and Families recognized that Jennifer was a good mom who loved her son, their home life was dangerous. We hosted her son for about 90 days and worked to get her safe. We helped her obtain an ID, put together a resume, and find a job and housing for the two of them. Three years later, she just graduated from emergency medical services training and she’s going to be a paramedic. In the meantime, her son has started kindergarten.

Then there’s Sebastian. He was a young guy who had made poor choices and ended up in jail. After he got out, he had difficulty finding a job because of his criminal record. He was ready to give up when he got an invitation to one of our job fairs. One of our volunteer job coaches worked with Sebastian to strengthen his resume and build his confidence, then introduced him to a hiring manager. He got the job and went through an apprenticeship program to become an electrician. Now, he’s a manager and just welcomed a baby. He volunteers at our job fairs and helps others.

Q: What motivates you personally in your work?

My parents really struggled as I was growing up. My dad lost his job, and he grappled to meet our family’s needs. He turned to drinking and drugs, and our home became an unhealthy environment for my mother and our family.

My mom was connected to a local church, which helped support my family. Dad ended up going to prison, where people from a local church mentored him. When he got out of jail, they helped him put his life back together. They helped him get a job and reconnect with my mother. As a result, my parents got remarried, and our family was whole.

As a young kid, I saw the power of a job and what that did for my dad. It gave him stability and helped him stay sober. It helped us heal as a family. How different my life might have been if we didn’t have the support of a village.

Later, I worked in foster care as a child welfare caseworker and quickly saw the system was broken. A lot of families caught in the system loved their children, but they had made poor choices. My thought was, parents need better options because a lot of families don’t have a support system. They just repeat generational cycles that lead to hardship.

Better Together is a life calling for me, something I really believe in. Our efforts are incredible because they work.

Q: If money wasn’t an object, what would you imagine for the future of your organization?

We’re already growing, but we could scale more rapidly. Foster care is a $45 billion failed system that hasn’t been disrupted. If money was no object, we could disrupt that system a lot faster by reducing the need for it.

As it stands now, we hope to decrease the need for foster care in Florida by 20% over the next five years. We’re also hoping to be in over 200 major cities across the United States within that same period, bringing opportunities to “work deserts.” At the end of the day, we want to create a world where everyone has somebody to call in their time of need.

In the second part of our interview with Megan Rose, we will discuss Better Together’s response to Hurricane Ian in September, how local families have been impacted and the role philanthropy is playing in recovery efforts. Better Together is included in Philanthropy Roundtable’s Opportunity Playbook, where you can find more information about their impact and programming. If you are interested in helping to accelerate this organization’s impact, please contact Philanthropy Roundtable Program Director Esther Larson.

The post Megan Rose: Keeping Families Out of Foster Care appeared first on Philanthropy Roundtable.

To highlight organizations leading efforts in propelling strong communities, Philanthropy Roundtable is highlighting Hope Women’s Center. Philanthropy Roundtable believes the American spirit is generous, with neighbor helping neighbor to uplift entire communities. To propel further investment in entrepreneurial approaches that strengthen communities, we are highlighting leaders and initiatives that cultivate local civil society and support the values that transform lives.  

Philanthropy Roundtable recently sat down with Tammy Abernethy, CEO of Hope Women’s Center. Hope Women’s Center takes a holistic approach to helping at-risk teens and women throughout Arizona. In addition to pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes, Hope Women’s Center offers skills classes, mentoring, career development support, counseling and much more.

Q: Tell us about Hope Women’s Center, your mission, history and focus.

Our mission is to engage, encourage and equip women and teen girls facing any difficult life situation. We do that very holistically through programs that really seek to meet her physical, emotional and spiritual needs. We serve roughly 1,500 women a year.

We started in the mid-80s as a standalone pregnancy resource center in Apache Junction, Arizona. As the organization grew, the women who were leading it saw the same girls coming back in for pregnancy tests and options counseling, which is what we initially focused our services on. But they were also dealing with abuse, poverty, addiction and many other issues.

That’s why they expanded the mission to be what it is today, with a focus on holistic care. Since 2013, when I joined the organization, we’ve gone from one to six day centers throughout Arizona. We also have a maternity home in our Camp Verde location.

We do a lot of collaboration with different nonprofit organizations throughout the state on anything from housing, jobs, food banks or clothing resources. We want to work collaboratively to better serve the communities where we’re located.

Over the last year, we’ve offered over 9,000 client visits, almost 14,000 hours of job training and classes and about 3,000 hours of mental and emotional support. We’ve given out 31,000 pounds of food and almost $11,000 in utility assistance.

Q: What motivates you and your work for the organization? What’s driving you?

I raised my kids as a single mom, so I know how hard it is. I had a college education and support from my family, church and the community, but still found myself in an abusive relationship. There were days when I thought, “I can’t do this. I don’t know how to do this.”

I felt that way even with tools and resources at my disposal. These women are coming out of abusive families, with no support, no education. And so that’s really what drove me as I joined Hope Women’s Center.

I have an awesome team. Most of us come into this with our own stories, and that I think gives us such compassion and passion for what we’re doing. It’s amazing to watch women really succeed and thrive.

Q: Tell us who your typical client is. What does she look like?

We have clients from their teens all the way up to their 70s. The majority of our single moms though are in the 20- to 30-year-old age range with multiple kids, living at or below the poverty line. They’re struggling to provide basic needs for their kids.

Most of these women have come from some kind of abuse — either domestic violence or sexual abuse, so there’s a lot of trauma. We’re constantly working to understand trauma and how it impacts the women we serve long-term.

We see teen girls who are struggling, as well as women in their 60s or 70s who don’t have any family or resources. They find themselves homeless or grappling with emotional or mental health challenges.

Q: What are some of the main obstacles they’re facing?

Women in crisis are usually very isolated. They don’t even know which resources are available — they’re just trying to survive. In addition to isolation, trauma and abuse are very common obstacles.

As a trauma-informed center, we make it easy for a woman to walk in the door. She doesn’t need an appointment. We try to meet her exactly where she’s at and address her immediate needs. Then we work to get her engaged so we can tackle some of those deeper needs, like emotional healing and the spiritual component as well.

Lack of education is also a big barrier. A lot of the women who apply to our maternity home dropped out of school and have never been able to sustain a job. We now have resources to help them finish their education and develop the skills they need to provide for their families.

Q: What are some specific ways you support their physical, emotional and spiritual needs?

All of our services are free. In our day centers, we offer life skills classes – and women can come in with no barriers or requirements.

Classes range from cooking, exercise and art to addressing trauma, abuse, parenting and healing from conflict. Our clients want to learn healthy parenting, and practical job and communication skills. Some need to learn English and the basics of reading, writing and literacy.

A client earns points every time she takes a class or talks with a mentor. Then she can shop for necessities with those points in our on-site boutiques. As she invests in taking classes, works on healing her own trauma or learns the skills to be more independent, she’s able to use the points to provide for her family.

We also provide cash utility assistance. She can take some of those points and apply them toward her utility bill.

In addition to this, we offer a mentoring program. Women are paired with a mentor, who acts as a life coach to help them one-on-one. Mentors help them meet their needs, define their goals and help them feel empowered. We have a support group as part of that.

During the pandemic, we launched our Hope Heals counseling program because we were seeing mental health needs go through the roof, as well as an increase in abuse during that time. We have a licensed psychologist on staff. If a mentor sees that her client needs deeper help than life skills and life coaching, we can refer her to Hope Heals.

We also offer faith-based classes, especially as they relate to knowing one’s value, her identity and her worth. Many women coming out of abuse have never had someone to tell them they have value, purpose and dignity. The spiritual aspect is introducing them to that.

We’re a Christian organization, so we offer Bible studies and other instruction we think would be helpful from a spiritual standpoint. But everything is a want-to, not a have-to. We want each woman to determine what she wants, which parts of our program to participate in and which areas of her life she wants to work on.

What matters to us is that she knows that she has worth, value, dignity, that she’s loved, she’s never judged and there will always be a safe place for her.

Q: Can you share one or two success stories of clients you have served?

Recently, a woman from the Phoenix area reached out to our day center. She was pregnant, in recovery from substance abuse and desperate for somewhere to live. She had a long history of struggle and a lot of trauma and abuse in her past, but she wanted to turn things around.

She applied to our maternity home. I remember the first time I hugged her. She had been on the street, and she probably weighed 100 pounds, pregnant. Now she’s been with us for a year. She’s thriving.

Our Department of Child Safety did get involved because when the baby was born, she showed signs that her mother had been using. But they let our client keep the baby and stay in our maternity home under our supervision. They just closed her case because she’s doing so well. The baby is healthy. In another couple of weeks, she’ll be a year old.

We have a thrift store in Camp Verde, so we employ women there as part of their job training. She’s done so well that, as she’s graduating, I asked her if she would reapply as a regular staff member.

When the women graduate from our year-one program, they have saved 80% of what they earned that year. She’s graduating with several thousand dollars — a really nice cushion for her. In our next step program, she will rent an RV from us and stay on our property for more affordable housing.

She’s paying graduated rent and she’s learning. Another year from now, she’ll be able to pay regular rent somewhere else. She’s really become a leader with some of the other moms who are struggling. How far she’s come in a year just blows my mind.

Another woman who has been with us in our day center for a couple of years initially came in as a struggling single mom with abuse in her past. She went through our classes and mentorship program, but she was still struggling with grief, so she entered our Hope Heals counseling program.

That’s when she finally got help for some of the deeper trauma, and now she’s thriving. She has a job and feels so confident in her parenting abilities. We were even able to get her daughter into a private school through some scholarships. Now, the mom works at the school part time as well. It has been really neat to see her grow over the last few years.

Q: What do you see for the future of the organization? Where are things headed?

We’ve seen a 31% increase in women coming to us in one year. They’re coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic and finding themselves in so much crisis, with inflation and housing costs. We’re seeing a huge need for more staff and day centers.

We’re looking into future day centers, innovations for housing and more help for women. Even if we’re able to get them into a shelter with a partner organization, our clients still come out needing affordable housing. So we are looking at some creative ways to help with that.

Q: If money were no object, where would you want to take the organization?

We would definitely hire more staff. We need more staff members to continue to offer free child care at all of our centers, do more case management and offer more crisis counseling.

We would also open more day centers, because we have that model really well developed. It’s easy, and we can open them pretty inexpensively. In that manner, we could reach more women in rural communities and help with housing gaps, even for single moms who are working but can’t afford rent.

Hope Women’s Center is included in Philanthropy Roundtable’s Opportunity Playbook, where you can find more information about their impact and programming. If you are interested in helping to accelerate this organization’s impact, please contact Philanthropy Roundtable Program Director Esther Larson.

The post Tammy Abernethy: Renewing Hope for At-Risk Teens and Women Across Arizona appeared first on Philanthropy Roundtable.

Q: Tell us a little bit about The Open Door. What’s your mission, history and focus?

This is our 13th year, so Open Door became a teenager this year. Our mission is to help immigrants become part of our mainstream society. We do this through English classes, computer literacy classes and GED prep classes.

Open Door is the second nonprofit that my wife and I founded. The first one, Operation Exodus, helps the children of immigrants in Washington Heights. Seeing the pain of the children is what led us to talk about and think of ways of trying to prevent or reduce that pain. My wife and I saw it up close when we adopted a child from that community. He was nine years of age. His birth mother, possibly not having proper guidance as to how to adjust to our country, got into a lot of trouble.

We hired a new team member this year who comes from the corporate world. After her first day, she said, “I see that this is much more than an ESL program.” People come here from work tired but happy, and they leave happy — including the volunteers.

Q: You have a unique personal background. Could you share some of your own story with us?

I’m the grandson of Cuban immigrants. That influences my thinking a lot. I came to this country in 1961, so I’m an adopted American. I think the whole idea of one life influencing another life is really powerful — the difference one individual can make on another. The challenge is not so much people sharing their material wealth, but their intellectual wealth. It is so important for people to share their hearts.

We build bridges, but we’re bridge crossers as well. There are a lot of cultural bridges in our society, but very few people cross them. That’s reality. In America, there are fairly new rivalries between different countries. Within The Open Door, that doesn’t exist. We say that we are familia, and we are familia. Our students say, “This is the first time that I made a white friend.” I know that there’s a lot more that needs to be happening, but I believe we’re on the right track and focusing on the right things.

Q: Could you talk a little bit about how you help bridge the language barrier and why that’s important?

The reality of all immigrants, not only Latino immigrants, is that once you arrive in this country, the children quickly become English-dominant. If the parents don’t catch up, they experience a big gap here, which can lead to a lot of troubles or misunderstandings between the generations. Strengthening families — that’s a big piece of what we do.

The reality of all immigrants, not only Latino immigrants, is that once you arrive in this country, the children quickly become English-dominant. If the parents don’t catch up, they experience a big gap here, which can lead to a lot of troubles or misunderstandings between the generations. Strengthening families — that’s a big piece of what we do.

That experience is personal for me. When I was a boy, I would translate for my mom with doctors. Back then, there were very few translators in hospitals, for example. I heard a lot of things that a nine-year-old boy should not be hearing. I should have just been playing or doing my homework.

Q: Related to that, who do you typically serve? What are they like?

The mass of them are between 30 and 50 years of age. The vast majority are Latino. We have 15 countries represented from Latin America.

Their education level varies. We have some Venezuelans who are highly educated in their home countries. But the majority of the others have a fourth- to sixth-grade education in their home countries. So that has forced us to develop our own GED program, because the curriculums out there assume that the student finished eighth grade, but very few of our students have.

Q: What does your volunteer base generally look like?

We have young professionals and a few people with gray hair, like myself. They come from churches, and they come from different walks of life. They’re finance people, marketing people. We have a few educators in our midst, and our volunteers are from a range of ethnic backgrounds as well.

One of our current staff members, Brianna Remache, is of American Ecuadorian descent, and is a scientist with Pfizer. She volunteered a few years back, and we’re really proud that she’s back on staff part-time, successfully leading one of our sites.

Q: Do you have a compelling client story that demonstrates Open Door’s impact?

The story of Casiano. His business is Franco Fruit Carving — he’s an artist. He started with us in our GED program. Casiano was a little intimidated the first day, and I encouraged him to stick with it and not leave us, and he did stick with it. He didn’t have his business at that time, and I encouraged him to do it. He’s now a successful businessman. He even opened up a subsidiary of his business in Mexico. So he’s doing well, and we’re really proud of him.

Q: What kind of metrics have you had, in terms of benefits to individual clients?

In 2021, 100% of our students reported improvements in computer literacy, and 75% said they have more confidence in speaking English. Seventy-five percent said that they improved in GED math. Seventy-five percent reported that they could communicate better with teachers, doctors and other authorities. And 85% of students ranked the sense of community at The Open Door 10/10. Classes have helped 85% of the students in their workplaces.

Q: Where’s The Open Door headed in the future?

We just opened up a new location in East Harlem. The goal is that every three years, we’ll open up a new site. We think that the combination of education and community is powerful. Here in the New York area, we want to continue to expand along the subway lines, and we’re doing two models. We’re doing a model where some of our sites are close to where they live, and other sites are close to where they work. And both are doing surprisingly well.

Q: If money was not an object for The Open Door, what would you imagine for your organization? What’s your big goal?

We would love to be an incubator where people spend a year with us, we train them in our system, and then they can do their thing. If we’re able to open up a new site every three years, each site winds up having a capacity of about 150 adults because of the space limitation. We’re only tapping a small percentage of the need.

The unmet need is huge. New York’s immigrant population is very underserved. Forty-nine percent of New Yorkers speak languages other than English. We have the world here.

The Open Door is included in the Philanthropy Roundtable’s Opportunity Playbook, where you can find more information about their impact and programming. If you are interested in helping to accelerate this organization’s impact, please contact Philanthropy Roundtable Program Director Esther Larson. America’s future is bright, yet dialogue, refinement of ideas and commitment to our country’s values and principles is fundamental to our future.

The post Luis Iza: Building Bridges for Immigrant Families appeared first on Philanthropy Roundtable.

Q: This is a special time of year for the Jewish community with the High Holidays. What key values are you reminding your community of as it pertains to generosity?

First of all, we recognize this time of year as the beginning of the year for the whole world because God created the world at this time. We celebrate New Year on the anniversary date of God creating man which was on the sixth day of creation. This is called Rosh Hashanah.

Why did he create the world? And why did he create humans? According to the deepest sources of what we call Torah Kabbalistic insight, God created the world because God is the ultimate essence of kindness. He wanted to have kindness and in order to have kindness, you need a recipient. You can’t just be kind to yourself. You have to be kind to a recipient. And, so, he created us so that he could have kindness.

God created man singularly to teach us that we each have the capacity to make a difference. And charitableness has many manifestations. It’s taking five dollars out and giving a poor man enough money to buy himself a sandwich and a drink. It’s giving a kind word to someone who’s depressed and down and has nobody to talk to. It’s helping an elderly person cross the street and taking a little extra time with them, without making them feel needy or uncomfortable. Kindness has multiple manifestations, and each one of us is required to express that manifestation.

Q: The Jewish Community Center you founded, the Shul, has become a vital hub of activities and services for the Jewish population in south Florida. How do you engage your community to engage in Tzedakah (doing what is right) and Tikun Olam (correcting the world)?

Each morning before we start our prayers, we say the following statement, “I hereby accept upon myself to fulfill the commandment or the positive act of loving your fellow man as yourself.” And loving your fellow man as yourself from a deeper Hasidic perspective is not to love someone outside of you. But to recognize that we are all part of one. Because we all come from Almighty God, we are a composite of a singular body, that includes everybody in the entire world.

Therefore, when we do a charitable act, it’s not something that we do for someone else. We bring kindness into the framework of our lives which makes the world a better place. So, it’s not “do me a favor, and please give us some charity. It’s ‘do yourself a favor and be part of a world that’s kind of good.’

The word, “Tzedekah,” which generally is utilized to express charitableness, actually means righteousness, which is the balance; Almighty God creates balance in this world. It doesn’t mean that a person has to give away everything he’s earned. But it means that one must share and make sure that the person next to him also has an opportunity to live a normal, proper life. That enhances his life as well.

And that dovetails immediately into “Tikkun Olam,” which means “correcting the world.” God created us in this world to make the world a better place. Why does he create an imperfect world? Because God creates an imperfect world perfectly. He wants us to participate with him and this partnership. God gives us the opportunity to share the correction of the world and the balance of the world and make the world a better place with him.

Then we come back to Almighty God and say, “We act that way. And, so, when it comes to judging us, judge us also with kindness.”

Q: You also founded a nonprofit organization called the Aleph Institute, which is “dedicated to assisting and caring for the well-being of members of specific populations that are isolated from the regular community.” Please say some more about the people you serve.

We conduct programs for people in what we call “limited environments.” We work with the military, for example, someone serving in the Sixth Fleet during a holiday far from family. The families of people who are serving on the front lines are very precarious. Every morning they wake up, and they hope everything is good. They turn on the radio and hope there’s nothing going on, because their husband, their daddy, their son, their brother or their sister, is right there on the front line.

And at the same time, you have a limited environment like a prison, and some of them are in very harsh conditions like on death row. Each human being has humanness within them. Even when you make a mistake, if you’re alive, you have worthiness. You have something positive to contribute. We work in environments that are extremely radical and polarizing at the edge of what you might call civilization.

Q: In addition to working with people in limited environments, Aleph also helps communities in crisis. For example, could you please share information about your work following the shocking collapse of the Surfside condominium in Florida?

That building was in our own community. Many people we know and are close to were victims of the tragic and unnatural event that took place. That was the most difficult Rabbinic obligation that I had ever had to deal with. In this instance, you could not console people because they did not want to hear their loved one might be gone. You couldn’t really give them hope. I was on that pile [of debris] every day dealing with the search and rescue teams. And we knew there was very little hope.

The only thing that we found that was effective was unconditional kindness. Every member of our staff became a staff member of an emergency team that supplied anything anybody wanted, ranging from a bottle of Coca-Cola to diapers to a computer, to a radio, to a place to sleep, to a place for your family, to an apartment, to food. Anything that anybody needed, under those circumstances, the answer was “yes, yes, yes, yes.” And we got it done.

Q: In October, you will join Philanthropy Roundtable for a panel discussion on the subject of faith and charitable giving during the organization’s Annual Meeting. On that topic, how do you encourage parents of faith as they seek to educate their children and grandchildren on the importance of kindness toward neighbors, love of one another and philanthropy?

I recently saw a controlled study in Denmark on the subject of genetics and famine. The study proposes that we have something called an epigene which lasts for four generations. If I have it, so will my child, my grandchildren, and my great-grandchildren. That epigene is created not by thoughts, intelligence, intellect or emotion. It’s created by being your own behavior. So, if, for example, a person is charitable in behavior, his son will be charitable, his daughter will be charitable and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be charitable. They will have that innate character of charitability.

However, there’s a very important caveat. If someone is charitable, but he’s a miserable human being, and he abuses kids and doesn’t treat them properly, then the epigene will not continue because the person has a block and is suppressing it.

So, when you ask how to pass charitability on from generation to generation, number one, do it. And number two, do it sincerely with honesty because otherwise, the kids get it. Kids are the most sensitive things in the world. They are like Geiger counters. A child will walk into a room and will naturally go to the person who loves children, and will shy away from people that do not because they’re not blocked yet. They don’t have preconceived notions. They are still collecting. Learning something as a child is like writing on brand new paper. It’s crisp and clear. Learning something as an adult, it’s like rubbing up the paper many times. There is a blurriness. So that’s how you maintain continuity. Give charitably yourself and do it sincerely.

Q: As we move into the High Holidays and the season of giving, is there anything else you’d like to say about your work?

We have talked about people who have the capacity for making a difference through their financial blessings, but it is important to note that every single human being has the capacity to share and to give. Everybody can be a philanthropist in some way.

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The Hackett Family Foundation is dedicated to serving a variety of charitable causes, including mental health, cancer research and faith-based education institutions, among others.

In this half-hour conversation, Maureen discussed how her family history has influenced her giving interests and the partnership she and her husband Jim Hackett, an energy industry and private equity executive, have forged to raise a family, build wealth and help strengthen their community through effective philanthropy.

Kelly, who left a promising legal career to join her family’s foundation, detailed the impact and thoughtfulness of the foundation’s giving, and, among other things, how the family’s Catholic faith drives its commitment to help others.

A Philanthropic Legacy Begins

Maureen grew up in an Irish Catholic family on the outskirts of Chicago, the sixth of nine children. Her father battled depression, which led to decades of alcoholism and unemployment. As a result, it fell to Maureen’s mother to serve as the family’s breadwinner.

Maureen described her mother as a “pioneer” who earned an economics degree from Purdue University, worked in the health and human services sector and started her own placement agency and business school for women. She was a career woman who simultaneously raised their large family and courageously battled and beat cancer twice. Nevertheless, she always found time to graciously model compassion and philanthropy … and instilled in her children the value of charitable giving.

“My passion for philanthropy really came from the example of my mother,” Maureen explained. “To quote her, she didn’t have two nickels to rub together. But she had a lot of love, a lot of wisdom.”

Maureen met her husband, Jim, as a teen, marrying at the age of 22, and raising four children. 

In the early years of their marriage, Jim earned his MBA from Harvard University, later serving as CEO for firms in the oil and gas industry before moving into leadership roles in the private equity sector. In the meantime, Kelly described her mom as a leader in her own right – serving as “CEO of the Hackett family household,” establishing herself as an active and formidable community leader and spearheading the family’s charitable giving.

Of her marriage, Maureen said, “We’ve been blessed, and we’ve done it together.” 

Inspired by her parents’ philanthropic work, Kelly left a position with an international law firm to join the family office and Hackett Family Foundation in 2012. 

“I felt that I had a greater purpose,” she explained. “And I knew from my parents’ legacy that I could be helpful when it came to their giving.” 

Passionate About Mental Health: “Body, Mind and Soul”

A major priority for the Hackett Family Foundation is mental health, a cause that’s personal to Maureen and began with her father’s private battle.

“My father was a very loving man. He was just lost and ill,” Maureen said. “To understand that all these years later, I’m very passionate about everyone’s right to whole health … body, mind and soul.”

Early on, Maureen focused on advocacy and eliminating the stigma of mental illness. She joined the boards of a number of behavioral health organizations, helping to make significant strides for communities from coast to coast and sharing her family’s own journey with mental health. Recognizing the need for longer-term, systemic change, she set her sights on policy to improve outcomes. In 2014, she joined the board of the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute for Texas, to fight for accessible, effective and efficient behavioral health care for all Texans. 

Three years later, she and her family made their largest gift yet to establish the Hackett Center for Mental Health in Houston. The first regional program of the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, the Hackett Center was established just after Hurricane Harvey devastated Texas and Louisiana in 2017, and immediately got to work helping children and their families deal with associated trauma. 

“I think the most important thing … when my parents were establishing the gift was to address initially and very immediately the trauma and grief amongst children in the Gulf Coast region,” Kelly said. She noted the center’s work during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey also helped prepare the foundation for the mental health challenges inflicted by COVID-19 just a few years later.

“It was through a lot of the work that was done at the Hackett Center in the early years with Hurricane Harvey that we learned how best to approach the unexpected [during COVID-19] and respond appropriately and effectively as donors and community advocates,” she said.

A Commitment to Curing Cancer

In addition to their commitment to mental health, the Hacketts are deeply invested in cancer research and treatment through their support of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Based in Houston, Texas, MD Anderson is the largest cancer center in the United States and was recently named the best hospital in the world for oncology and related cancer treatment by Newsweek magazine.

“My mother survived breast and colon cancer, so cancer is also top of my list,” Maureen said. “I always enjoyed my volunteerism at MD Anderson, which I did as a young wife with four little kids. And, now I’m a proud member of the Board of Visitors, even chairing the Philanthropy Committee. Kelly just recently joined the Board as well and it’s been so fulfilling to watch my lifelong passion in this area influence the next generation of family.”

The Importance of Faith

More generally, the Hackett family’s strong Catholic faith provides the foundation for how they live and give.

Maureen recalled her first charitable act was baking pies with her mother and delivering them to the nuns who lived in the convent attached to the school she attended. When she had children of her own, she shared with them the joys of faith-based giving, whether with time or money.

For her part, Kelly has spent her Sundays for over 12 years providing ministry and Eucharistic services to homebound residents of a nearby senior living facility, recognizing that philanthropy is about the giving of myriad resources. Kelly’s parents taught her and her siblings that fellowship and assistance are worthy treasures of their own and equally critical to the welfare of humankind. 

Kelly also takes pride in her family’s giving to Catholic education, something she was fortunate to enjoy for many years, and which reinforced the importance generations before her have always placed on a life of service. “It is the common thread that makes all of our giving make sense,” she said. “Our Catholic faith is the foundation for all of our values in life. And it’s … where we get the perspective that it’s critical to share our blessings with all those in the community.”

Learn more about “Doers to Donors,” and watch the full interviews featuring Maureen and Kelly Hackett, The Home Depot Co-Founder Bernie Marcus and Acton Academy Co-Founder Jeff Sandefer. Subscribe to the Roundtable’s YouTube channel to make sure you don’t miss future episodes.

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