2023
IMPACT REPORT
A WORD FROM THE FOUNDERS Over the past decade, our mission in Denver has been to abolish economic, relational and spiritual poverty through career and community development. During that journey, we felt compelled to share that mission with others so that communities across the United States could have the opportunity to do the same. Since 2017, we have organically connected to like-minded founders in cities across the United States and shared learnings about our program model. Each year, we have hosted an annual event, called Cultivate, with an open invitation to mission-aligned entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders. In 2022, after the dust settled from the pandemic, national interest in our model began to grow as cities even more acutely understood the barriers facing the poor in our communities. To respond to the increased demand for programs like ours, we launched the CrossPurpose National Network. A free resource for cities desiring to abolish poverty holistically right where they are, the Network provides resources to replicate our program model, builds a community of likeminded founders and leaders, and increases the credibility of start-up models in new locations. Our ultimate aim is to spark a neighbor-loving movement that walks with men and women across America from generational poverty to generational wealth. We deeply admire the leaders willing to embark on this immensely challenging task, and are excited to share about the national impact of their work with you.
JASON JANZ
JEN JANZ
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER
THE CROSSPURPOSE MODEL
Data as of February 2024
When we started working with our neighbors in northeast Denver in 2008, we knew that the problem of poverty could not be solved with fragmented or relief-based approaches. Instead, we focused on creating a model that would eliminate poverty itself, rather than simply lessening its effects. We stopped asking the question, “How do we help people in poverty?” and started asking the question, “How do we help people out of poverty?” By participating in our tuition-free career and community development program, our students (called Leaders) can graduate from poverty and participate in meaningful work.
HOW THE LEADER PROGRAM WORKS
THE PROBLEM
350,000 people in Denver live in economic poverty. We want to change that.
less than 2% of those in poverty are homeless. We serve the other 98%.
$17,000/year
Leaders apply and are accepted into a six-month long program broken into three phases.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
CAREER LAUNCH
tools for development 6 one on one coaching sessions
8 hours of counseling offered
100+ hours of personal development
35 life & career skills taught
CrossPurpose graduates complete the program with a new job skill, a livable wage career and a strong sense of community and support. After graduation, Alumni can receive financial coaching and professional development through our Legacy Fellowship.
is the average income of a single-parent in poverty.
LEADER PROGRAM RESULTS
929
Leaders have graduated to date.
2322
Men, women and children out of poverty.
79%
of alumni are still employed at 12 months.
$3275
average monthly wage post-program.
BUILDING COMMUNITY During the program, Leaders will develop over
70 new relationships.
The Ally volunteer program in tandem with a peer-cohort model results in increased social capital and community-building. Ultimately, a supportive social network protects graduates from cycling back into poverty, and emboldens them to continue growing––economically, relationally and spiritually.
MEMBERS OF THE NETWORK
Included here are the organizations adopting core elements of the CrossPurpose model to serve their local communities in 2023 and 2024.
EXPANDING THE MODEL The National Network offers free resources in programming, operations and fundraising to nonprofits who agree to share impact data, engage in quarterly CEO calls, attend an annual Cultivate event and honor the brand integrity of CrossPurpose. To date, franchising is not part of CrossPurpose’s strategic plan, but rather we invite organizations to retain or generate their own name and brand, and adapt the CrossPurpose model to their regional context. Different demographics, job markets, rural versus urban areas all contribute to the demand for moderately differentiated approaches to success. The unifying outcome for members of the National Network is to see Leaders become graduates making a competitive wage within their regional context. CrossPurpose is thrilled to see organizations launching cohorts, teaching personal development, investing in social capital through the Ally program, partnering with skill certification providers, and celebrating employment through powerful graduation ceremonies. Many organizations are partnering with or launched by a local church, and the upcoming year indicates that more cities and like-minded leaders desire to replicate this kind of neighbor-loving movement within their own neighborhoods.
“The heart of Christian leadership is climbing up on a bloody cross and taking responsibility for the brokenness in your neighborhood.”
Missoula, MT
Des Moines, IA
Canton, OH Virgina Beach, VA
Memphis,TN Albuquerque, NM Lubbock, TX
Dallas, TX Houston, TX
Provided programming in 2023 Launching programming in 2024
Birmingham, AL
Nashville, TN (2) Charlotte, NC Loris, SC
NATIONAL IMPACT At the close of 2023, CrossPurpose surveyed the national network to gain an assessment of organizational growth and program impact. Today, CrossPurpose is approaching 1,000 graduates since its founding and is currently expanding to four locations across Denver Metro to increase access to services and make a catalytic impact on generational poverty in Denver.
By 2026, the impact of the National Network is projected to eclipse annual CrossPurpose graduates across all four of its locations, resulting in a national poverty abolition movement across the U.S. making a lasting impact in neighborhoods like yours.
14
CITIES IN THE NETWORK
929
CROSSPURPOSE GRADUATES ALL TIME
507 163 LEADERS SERVED IN 2023
475
GRADUATES ALL TIME*
LEADERS GRADUATED IN 2023
325
GRADUATES PROJECTED IN 2024
THROUGH THE NATIONAL NETWORK,
THROUGH THE NATIONAL NETWORK,
AMERICANS ARE OUT OF POVERTY
IN ANNUAL WEALTH GENERATED
1404
$40M+
*Includes data from 86% of survey respondents, and does not include CrossPurpose graduates.
DATA ACROSS THE NETWORK Most organizations are in the early years of programming, with some more established organizations celebrating 5-7 years of active programming. Here you’ll see a snapshot from survey respondents indicating the Network’s makeup of organizational growth.
CHURCH PARTNERSHIPS are operating
45% independently
5
Full-Time Staff on average across all network organizations
AVERAGE ORGANIZATIONAL OPERATING BUDGET
55%
are engaged in a church partnership
$560,000 $485,000
ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS operating through a church ministry
18%
9%
obtaining 501(c)(3) status
2023
2024 have 501(c)(3)
73% status
OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE SUPPORT A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL NETWORK To support the efforts of the National Network, CrossPurpose encourages you to connect with an organization near you and support them by donating, volunteering or partnering with them as a congregation. On the next page, you’ll find the contact information for each organization, or visit our website to learn more. Consider the neighborhood you live in and the cities you’re connected to, and reach out to the organization listed to engage.
SUPPORT THE CROSSPURPOSE NATIONAL NETWORK INITIATIVE To date, the National Network is supported through: 1. Cultivate event registration fees, 2. Consulting costs for organizations interested in additional resourcing and staff support beyond the free resources provided to the National Network, and 3. CrossPurpose General Operating revenue. CrossPurpose’s current resources are inadequate to support the National Network as it grows. Less than 1% of its operating costs are currently allocated to the support of the initiative.
FREE PROGRAM RESOURCES
AFFORDABLE CONSULTING
LIKE-MINDED LEARNING COMMUNITY
Consequently, if you feel passionate about sparking a neighbor-loving movement in our country, and have not identified a particular city participating in the National Network to support, CrossPurpose invites you to give towards this initiative to support other cities with free resources, affordable consulting and a transparent, like-minded learning community.
IMPACT STATEMENT LINDSAY BECK, NPX FOUNDER & CEO “NPX vetted approximately 100 economic mobility nonprofits in Colorado against a unique impact-first criteria and CrossPurpose was selected as one of the Top 4. NPX also vetted dozens of the world's largest NGOs against the same criteria and the vast majority failed. CrossPurpose was a stand out in Colorado, and met standards even some of the most well known global NGOs couldn't meet. It is one thing to make it through the diligence process and another to deliver on your impact goals. As we know from private equity and venture capital -- 1 or 2 of 10 usually deliver on their plan. With NPX funded cohorts, CrossPurpose hit the cover off the ball and achieved 116% of its impact targets — which were purposely set at a very high bar. They reported out on gold standard metrics -- graduation, job placement, living wage and 6-month job retention rates. Others in the same category, same geography, and same time period (e.g. post-COVID-era), were unable to deliver similar results.” Statement provided February, 2024
Photo of 2023 Cultivate Attendees
Neighborhood
Love the Hub
Albuquerque Leadership Foundation
Josh Jones thisisneighborhood.com Chesapeake, VA
Mark Daniel lovethehub.org Lubbock, TX
Ed Cook abqleadershipfoundation.org Albuquerque, NM
The Collective Blueprint
Good Works Collective
North Strand Housing Shelter
Sarah Lockridge-Steckel thecollectiveblueprint.org Memphis, TN
David Ten Have goodworkscollective.us Houston, TX
Darrin Dick northstrandhousingshelter.org Loris, SC
Uprise Nashville
Project Connect Nashville
Oak Tree Ministries
Carole Peterson uprisenashville.org Nashville, TN
Jeff Darnell projectconnectnashville.org Nashville, TN
Raquel Patterson oaktreeministries.org Birmingham, AL
Summit Career Center
Elevate Life Network
Builders Bridge
Jaqueline Stevens summitcareercenter.org Stephensville, MT
Diana Spaulding elevatelifenetwork.com Canton, OH
Jake Kennedy buildersbridge.com Charlotte, NC
Change Course
Northwest Community Center
Joseph Johnson change-course.org Des Moines, IA
Jeff Cross nccrefugees.org Dallas, TX
Interested in joining the National Network or attending our next Cultivate event? 3050 Richard Allen Court, Denver, CO 80205 www.crosspurpose.org
Click here, or go to crosspurpose.org to learn more. 3