CHARIOTS4HOPE 2022 ANNUAL REPORT

Demonstrating God’s love by removing transportation barriers

A MESSAGE FROM OUR FOUNDERS

REMOVING TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS

Last year was definitely a year to remember. As we reflect back on 2022, our numerous victories certainly didn’t come without our share of challenges. One of our largest challenges was redefining our mission to properly reflect what we do which is so much more than providing cars to people.

When Michelle and I started this ministry back in 2014, we had a strong desire to share the love of Christ and thought the best way we could do that is by helping people remove transportation barriers that were holding them back from experiencing freedom on a variety of levels. Our identity quickly morphed into a ministry that provides cars to the needy since this was one of the largest barriers facing our low-income communities.

Redefining our mission to reflect why we exist which is to demonstrate God’s love by removing transportation barriers has generated impact beyond our imagination. New services and programs have been created that extend way beyond the car, resulting in our ability to serve more than 600 people last year, an increase of 105% from 2021. We accomplished this all while developing an affiliate program that has helped launch this mission into our 5th market with many more on the burner. Considering the challenges of developing new services and new markets, the outcomes we’ve been able to witness through God’s mercy and grace have literally brought us to our knees. YOU once again have gone above and beyond with your prayers, love, and support for this ministry.

We thank our entire Chariots4Hope family for believing and supporting this life-changing mission.

JASON HURT CO-FOUNDER CHARIOTS4HOPE

&

MICHELLE HURT CO-FOUNDER CHARIOTS4HOPE

JULIE’S STORY

Sometimes you meet people who you can glean an immediate sense of genuineness and authenticity from. They let you into their heart space without time passing by, or loyalty being forged. They just feel deeply, and they share openly.

Julie is one of those people.

We first encountered Julie – a single mom struggling to make ends meet – when she was referred to us and approved for our RIDE program. The day of her blessing (the surprise event where recipients receive their vehicle), she opened up about some painful things happening in her life. Her identical twin had died from an overdose; which broke her heart and left her feeling like a part of her was missing.

Julie also had been a therapist; and loved it, but got caught up in substances and toxic relationships.

At the time, she was going to work early every morning to make donuts and put out breakfast pizza; filling in when people needed it, working extra hours. Needless to say, Julie was EXHAUSTED. She was searching; and yearning for more.

Over time, Julie had achieved sobriety, but needed a vehicle to get her young son to school, to her appointments, work, and everywhere else. We were INCRERDIBLY happy to help her get into a reliable vehicle the day of her surprise blessing!

A year later, Julie is THRIVING! She recently reached out to us with an update, and a heartfelt message of gratitude. This is that message: “Dear Chariots4Hope,

Thank you for blessing me with a car!! Since receiving a 2007 Toyota Camry in January 2022; God has continued to bless me. I started working for Lutheran Family Services as Peer Support Specialist in May 2022. Having a vehicle has given me freedom to have a flexible work schedule as well as transport my son to and from school. I continue to put God and my recovery first in my life, which allows everything else to fall into place.

I am currently studying for the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination which will allow me to apply for my provisional license to practice counseling. My son continues to do well at his school. I am an active member of AA and enjoy sharing the journey of sobriety with the participants I support at LFS and Community Corrections.

Chariots4Hope is an organization I feel honored to call family; and hope to give back to this community as my recovery and wellness journey continues.

Thank you for blessing my life! In God’s Amazing Grace, Julie” We love you, Julie!

#beyondthecar

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Another outrageous year of support from our amazing community partners. Thank You for your unconditional love and support for the people we serve. We’ve developed hundreds of partnerships that have been instrumental towards our impact but need hundreds more in order to keep up with the needs of our communities. Check out this feedback from a few of our partners on why they give back to their community through Chariots4Hope:

ADAM MEYER ALEX BUSSKOHL

WHITING TURNER ARROW STAGE LINES

“We love supporting Chariots4Hope because we have witnessed the freedom they give by breaking down transportation barriers for men/women/ families.

Chariots is changing lives not only by providing reliable transportation and education, but also by creating an eternal impact on families and future generations by sharing the love of Jesus Christ!”

“Meeting Michelle & Jason along with their C4H team has been an amazing experience. They saw a need within our communities and didn’t hesitate. Their passion and love that they bring every single day is absolutely contagious and the impact is real!

When a recipient is blessed with a vehicle and knowing just a little piece of what they had to endure to get to that moment…WOW! Hard to put into words those raw emotions express during powerful moments like that. We at Whiting-Turner are extremely grateful for C4H, their actions, and allowing us to be a part of the journey.”

REFERRING ORGANIZATIONS

VOLUNTEERS 117

200+ 500+

HOURS SERVED

1,960

SUPPORTERS

VEHICLE DONORS

102

PROGRAMS & SERVICES

NEW PROGRAMS, SAME CHARIOTS

This past year, the difficulties and challenges presented to us by the increase of costs across the country - as well as the extremely low availability of used vehichles/vehicle parts - allowed us the opportunity to re-evaluate whether or not we were doing our absolute best in providing for those needing help with their specific transportation barriers.

As a result of prayer and refinement, we’re excited to now offer four incredible programs that will help cast a much wider net on who we’re able to help. Here is a list of our major programs and services that are now in operation:

RIDE PROGRAM

Responsible. Informed. Developed. Equipped.

This program consists of a Transportation Plan Workshop that focuses on the most common transportation barriers faced by our community and how to overcome them.

At the end of the workshop, each client is given an opportunity to participate in building a Transportation Plan specifically designed for him/her to help them overcome their barriers.

VEHICLE OWNERSHIP PROGRAM

The Vehicle Ownership Program is designed to help your client secure a vehicle, a warranty, and build a long-term transportation plan. There are two ways, based upon your client’s situation and/or qualifications, that we accomplish this:

(1) The original $500 entry-level route for those with the greatest needs

(2) 50% match of savings, up to $2,500, for purchase of vehicle

PROGRAMS & SERVICES

EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION GRANTS

Emergency Transportation Grants focus on meeting the transportation needs of those in crisis. Here are a few examples of those who qualify:

A person who has lost a job

A person who has lost income due to losing a loved one

A person who experienced health problems with growing medical bills

A person who has experienced natural disaster

A person coming out of domestic violence and is starting all over

TRANSPORT & HAULING SERVICE

This service will provide assistance to individuals in need of transport and hauling assistance. Here are a few examples of the services we offer currently in Omaha:

Furniture Removal

Estate Cleanouts

Foreclosure cleanouts

Construction Debris

COMMUNITY CAR CARE CLINICS

Donation Transport

Illegal Dumping

Emergency Relocation for victims of DV and sex-trafficking

AND MORE

Classes designed to educate individuals on the importance of vehicle maintenance, safety, and how to keep your car running healthier and longer. A few examples of areas of focus are: how to check your fluid levels, how make your vehicle more fuel efficient, how to care for your tires, importance of preventative maintenance, warning lights and sounds to pay attention to, and many more.

FINANCIALS

We’re excited to announce that we added another level of financial transparency by earning our GuideStar Platinum level certification last year, which fewer than one percent of nonprofit organizations earn this designation. As we continue working hard at being the best stewards of the resources God has given us, we also received our ECFA seal of integrity and accountability. We’re beyond thankful for our supporters and donors who contributed financially towards our mission. Because of YOU, we witnessed another year of outrageous giving!

2022 saw the economy become a challenge for all Non-Profits in attracting new donors and maintaining ongoing support, including Chariots4Hope. The year came with our own challenges in total donations as our programs and services continued to grow to meet the needs of the communities we serve, as well as expanding our communities through our affiliate program.

With these expansions of programs, services and markets came up front costs that have led to a larger than normal loss for 2022. We consider this an investment in the future of the ministry and anticipate recovery of these investments in future years.

PROGRAMS

PIT CREW MEMBERS

New in 2022; our PIT CREW (which stands for PURSUING IMPACT TOGETHER) is our incredible collective of monthly donors.

341

19 NEW DONORS

139 718

IN-KIND DONORS EVENT ATTENDEES/ SUPPORTERS

2022 EXPENSES 2022 PROGRAM EFFICIENCY

2022 IMPACT

623

PEOPLE SERVED (^105%)

Individuals served through one of our programs and services.

127

BLESSINGS(^72%)

62

VEHICLES AWARDED

People who received a car through our Vehicle Ownership Program

22 RIDE GRADUATES

Long-term transportation plans completed with clients.

People who received financial assistance towards removing a major transportation barrier

409

GOSPEL SEEDS

Opportunities to share the hope of Jesus through presenting the Gospel.

2023 MONETARY NEEDS

Please check out the areas of need in 2023 for ways YOU can give back to the community through Chariots4Hope:

JUMPSTART SPONSOR

Sponsor a recipient by providing him/her a vehicle and a bumper-tobumper warranty.

$25/MONTH AND UP

PIT CREW

MONTHLY DONOR

PURSUING IMPACT TOGETHER

Join our community of monthly donors removing transportation barriers for people in need.

BUILDING EXPENSES

Cover 1 year of building expenses to help us continue providing services and programs to our amazing recipients.

$2,500 $50,000 $75,000

NEW MINISTRY SITE

Want a program started in your city or state? Launch it yourself with a check!

Provide a year’s worth of towing to help secure reliable transportation for our programs.

$40,000

EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION GRANTS

$2,700 $93,500

TOWING PROGRAM VEHICLE REPAIRS

Provide emergency assistance to individuals in need of transportation for employment, medical or childcare related reasons.

Help provide supplies, labor and parts towards the repairs of our recipient’s vehicles.

OUR MISSION

WE EXIST TO DEMONSTRATE GOD’S LOVE BY REMOVING TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS

OUR VALUES

Passion, Family, Performance, Collaboration, Compassion, Fostering economic stability, cultivating abundant life, creating hope

OUR BOARD

Michael Lechtenberger (Board Chairman), Dan Tucker, Rachel Knapp, Toby Asplin, Greg Westbrook, John Ewing, John Parsons, Jason Hurt, Mike Anderson