Annual Report FY2023

A caring community for Philadelphians experiencing homelessness.

ANNUAL REPORT

FISCAL YEAR

FROM OUR CEO

Tina Pagotto Chief Executive Officer

Thank you for your continued support and investment in the critical mission of Bethesda Project, to find and care for the abandoned poor and to be family with those who have none. As the effects of the pandemic continue to be felt, our mission has become more relevant than ever.

Our focus internally for our programs over the past year was determined by results from our Family Spirit Survey, a tool used to capture guest and resident feedback to gauge how well we’re achieving our mission. The areas we looked to improve were: enhancing site community meetings, bringing back human connection through site activities, and reinforcing positive staff engagement through all interactions. We’ve done this through support from partners and volunteers, making an investment in staff morale, and through additional professional development for our staff.

This year’s results point to a need to build a deeper understanding of community, respectful community, with our guests and residents. We’re leaning in with new ideas and creative approaches to model and cultivate healthy and positive interactions that help people heal and relearn what it means to be part of a caring family.

We welcome you to join us in this effort— through your financial support, volunteerism, or raising awareness of our essential work. Together we are transforming lives and promoting positive change in our shared community.

Tina Pagotto Chief Executive Officer

The Board of Directors devotes a Saturday each November to its Annual Meeting and Retreat, and this year our founder and Director Emeritus, Domenic Rossi, hosted us at Daylesford Abbey, the birthplace of Bethesda Project. Domenic told the story of how members of a prayer group meeting at the Abbey came to believe that God was calling them to serve those who were hungry and homeless. As a participant in that prayer group during my student years, I already knew the story. But hearing it again prompted me to reflect that the founding group likely never imagined that what began as a ministry of faith-inspired volunteers would evolve into a non-sectarian nonprofit organization operating 15 different sites caring for more than 1,000 individuals annually forty-plus years later.

So why has Bethesda Project persisted through the decades? I want to highlight three main reasons.

Fiscal Year 2023 Board of Directors

Marie L. Martino, President  M.L. Martino Consulting LLC

David T. Swoyer, Vice President Santander Bank (retired)

Daniel T. Hirst, CPA, MST, Treasurer AmerisourceBergen (retired)

Kyle J. Werder, Secretary

Comcast

Dwayne Edghill

Comcast

Glenn Hauler

Copy That!

Because gaping societal needs still exist that ensure the ongoing relevance of our mission “to find and care for the abandoned poor and to be family with those who have none.” Because Bethesda Project still effectively and compassionately responds to those needs by offering guests and residents shelter and housing, safety and security, dignity and community. And because our donors, volunteers and other partners – including all those reading this Annual Report – still generously open their hearts and share their resources to support our work year in and year out. Thank you for the critical role you play in sustaining Bethesda Project and all those we continue to care for and embrace as family.

Marie L. Martino President, Bethesda Project Board of Directors

Hazelita Hayes

Former Resident of Bethesda Project

Danielle E. LaGuerre, Esq. LLM Bank of America, Trusts & Estates

Erin Leffler

Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP

Carolyn Lewis Bradley

Morgan Stanley

Bennett Norcone

Former Bethesda Project Guest

Tina Pagotto, MSW CEO, Bethesda Project

James Paige Segora Group

Amedeo (Mike) Piccioni

Retired Financial Executive

Abbot Domenic A. Rossi, O. Praem.  Founder, Bethesda Project

Hon. David R. Strawbridge  United States District Court

Ann Watts

Fox Chase Cancer Center

Janice Wong

Gattuso Development Partners

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

WHO WE SERVE

In fiscal year 2023 we provided case management, housing, emergency shelter, as well as walk-up and outreach services to nearly 1,000 adults across 15 locations. Each site is designed for adults with specific sets of needs, and each case manager personalizes their work to best meet individual challenges while providing a dignified support system to help people achieve their goals. Whether guests and residents stay at a Bethesda Project site for a few nights or for years, all are welcomed as valued members of our caring community.

Our Guests and Residents

65% Black, African American, African

28% White

7 % American Indian, Alaska Native, Indigenous, Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Multi-Racial, Other

89% self-identify as male

10% self identify as female

< 1 % self-identify as trans or declined to respond

KEY STATS

10% identify as Hispanic/Latin(a,o,x)

85% have a disabling condition or illness

1 out of 13 is a retired Veteran (8 %)

Photos courtesy of Leah Evans.

RACIAL DIVERSITY

GENDER IDENTITY

“I feel truly like the people here care about me. Bethesda Project says, ‘they are like family’— but you know, I do truly feel they are my family now.”

Billy enjoys reading, going for walks, swimming, and watching Philadelphia sports on TV. Enjoying these things feels a lot more special in a place of his own. When speaking about the future and what is in store down the road, Billy speaks with an air of true optimism. However, it was not always like this.

Like so many folks who experience homelessness, Billy faced fear and worry about coming inside to a shelter site. Billy first came to Bethesda Project as a guest at Bethesda Project’s Our Brothers’ Place Emergency Shelter.

“I was out on the streets for a long time, I never wanted to come into a facility. But I heard about [Bethesda Project], so I decided to give it a shot.”

Billy worked with staff at Our Brothers’ Place on his ultimate goal of finding a placement at a supportive housing site, specifically one at Bethesda Project.

“The staff here have helped me a great deal. There are a lot of things I could not do on my own that they have assisted me with. They were patient with me. I knew I wanted to stay with Bethesda Project, they really care.”

Billy now is a proud resident of Bethesda Project North Broad. With the support of staff at Our Brothers’ Place and Bethesda Project North Broad, the move was an easy transition. Billy worked with his Bethesda Project case manager through all the necessary steps to apply for housing. Some of the process felt daunting and monotonous, but with dedicated staff by his side, Billy never gave up. Now that Billy has settled himself into a place of his own, he is excited for all the other possibilities life has in store for him.

“I’m excited. I’m happy. I feel like I can relax. I feel truly like the people here care about me. Bethesda Project says, ‘they are like family’— but you know, I do truly feel they are my family now.”

2023 was a year full of impactful and inspiring moments, including these highlights:

✔ 269 positive housing moves made across the organization.

✔ Through The Pew Fund’s Evaluation Capacity Building Initiative, members of our social services team worked together to finalize the organization’s “The Theory of Change.”

✔ Bethesda Project engaged insight from residents, guests, leadership, our full staff, and Board of Directors to design the 2023-2028 strategic plan.

✔ Awarded $150,000 from the Philadelphia Housing Finance Agency to complete a major bathroom renovation project at Bethesda Project North Broad.

✔ We celebrated our Annual Party & Auction at a new venue, Reading Terminal Market, with Honorary Chair, Wesley R. Payne, IV, Esquire and Champion of Change, St. Norbert Parish.

✔ Community partner OUTFRONT Media provided a pro bono city-wide marketing campaign valued at $19,830.

✔ We had a greater focus on ensuring that all faith traditions are honored including special meals and observances of dietary restrictions.

WHO WE ARE

Our staff are a key part of our Bethesda Project family. Ensuring that they feel respected and valued when coming to work remained a top priority for us in fiscal year 2023, and beyond. At Bethesda Project, equity is essential. It is a key part of the work that our staff does, and a touchstone we consider when making every workplace policy. With this in mind, we continue to make organizational shifts that reflect our everchanging world, including:

• Increasing our minimum wage to $15.75 per hour.

• Ongoing salary analysis by job category to identify potential wage gaps.

• Offering a new commuter benefit which gives staff the ability to use pre-tax dollars for public transit expenses.

• The CEO, HR Director, and President of the Board attended a professional training series on DEI sponsored by the Independence Foundation that helped to both educate and guide us in our next steps to becoming an Anti-Racist organization.

• Expanding mental health and wellness support for all staff.

• Over 135 professional trainings have been offered to staff across all levels of the organization.

After years apart due to COVID, volunteers finally returned to sites in full capacity in fiscal year 2023. Welcoming back volunteers fully was such a joyous experience for guests, residents, and staff – all who missed the presence of larger groups over these last three years. In fiscal year 2023 we successfully hosted several beloved Bethesda Project events, including Bethesda Games, themed holiday parties, and our Annual Family Picnic at FDR Park.

The last several years have taught us to become adaptable and creative with volunteers. We saw a rise in skill-based volunteerism. We welcomed a yoga instructor, photographer, interior designer, podiatrist, and others who donated their specific skills to our guests and residents.

In 2023 we completed our formal participation of the Service Enterprise Program, which we started in fiscal year 2022. At the conclusion of the program we were presented with an official certification. With knowledge gained from our training, we now have a clear set of goals geared towards volunteer experience enhancement. Additionally, we also formed the Guiding Collation committee and revitalized the Community Life Improvement Council. Both committees aim to foster engagement and increase organizational participation in Community Life initiatives.

Volunteers by the Numbers

104 donation drives

169 Ambassador activities

3,175 volunteers

9,692 volunteer hours

Photo courtesy of Miles Kennedy.

In our Entry-Level Programs, staff are engaging with vulnerable individuals experiencing chronic homelessness who struggle with severe and persistent mental illness, serious medical conditions and/or substance abuse – working to ensure they receive food, shelter and referrals to much-needed services.

In Entry-Level Programs we remained focused on building relationships with the most vulnerable and shelter reluctant individuals while providing a safe environment for guests to receive meals and case management. Some highlights of this include:

✔ Maintained high and stable occupancy rates throughout the year across all Entry-Level Programs sites.

✔ The Covid Prevention Space at Oxford Street received its certification to prepare daily meals in-house, eliminating the need for external catering.

✔ Completed necessary facility renovations, including a major kitchen update at My Brother’s House.

243 unique individuals served

At a Glance

154 Days average stay

169 housing moves (72%)

Bethesda Project’s Our Brothers' Place is run in conjunction with the City of Philadelphia and provides emergency shelter for 149 men.

Positive moments are happening nearly every day at Our Brothers’ Place, and this wouldn’t be possible without our community partners, dedicated staff, and inspiring volunteers. Some of the highlights include:

✔ Added a new ventilation system and made improvements to the bathrooms thanks to support from the City of Philadelphia.

✔ Received over 26,000 pounds of donated food through our partnership with Philabundance.

✔ PHMC Health Food Council started their food series on site. Guests can participate in demonstrations of healthy food being prepared and receive information on appropriate food choices. PHMC also works with staff to maintain the community garden in the yard.

✔ Offered a wide variety of religious celebrations and educational events for guests of all faiths.

At a Glance

612 individual guests

89 moves to permanent housing

1,832 successful referrals

Bethesda Project works with individuals to assist them in maintaining long-term residential housing stability through case management and supportive services.

Maintaining a welcoming sense of home is vital at all our Supportive Housing sites. This year we invested in improving our housing spaces, ensuring our residents’ homes are a comfortable space emotionally and physically. Some highlights include:

✔ Keeping residents engaged in the neighborhood and community through the return of in-person volunteering at sites.

✔ Completion of important renovation and upgrade projects across several Supportive Housing sites, including: the restoration of the basement & first floor bathrooms at Bethesda Bainbridge which was provided to us free of charge thanks to our community partner BOMA, boiler and water heater replacement at Bethesda Spruce Street and upgrading the elevator at Bethesda North Broad.

✔ Created a new Social Services Coordinator position to increase continuity of service delivery.

At a Glance

150 total units 6.6 years average stay

96% maintained housing stability

11 residents moved into more independent housing in the community

FY 2023 Financials

Net Assets $4,194,922

Domenic Fund $526,855

Revenue

68% Government $4,748,512

22% Contributions $1,530,611

4% Special Events $285,036

3% Other $189,743

3% Rental Income $187,501

Total $6,941,403

Expenses

87% Programming $6,091,799

8% Administrative $556,031

5% Fundraising $318,252

Total $6,966,082

THE DOMENIC FUND

Bethesda Project's Board of Directors established The Domenic Fund in 2015 to honor our founder and first executive director, Abbot Domenic Rossi. This fund ensures the organization's sustainability and commemorates Abbot Domenic's lifelong commitment to serving the most vulnerable individuals in our community.