The Importance of General Operating Support

THE IMPORTANCE OF GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT

WHAT NONPROFITS WHO HAVE RECEIVED UNRESTRICTED FUNDING THROUGH THE PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE IT MAKES.

FLEXIBILITY “General Operating Support grants are vital. They entrust the organization to determine the most essential areas in which to use funds and are adaptable for changing organizational needs.” — Diane Cornman-Levy, Executive Director, Federation of Neighborhood Centers

“As a result of the funding, we have been able to meet the needs of our constituents as they arise, bending and shaping customized programs or operational plans to exceed expectations and help where we are most needed.” — Stephanie Borton, Associated Director, Art-Reach

“We have a huge demand for work that is not specifically funded by other grants. Having the freedom to use The Philadelphia Foundation funds for that important work (such as our direct-service intake line) allows us to serve many vulnerable children who would otherwise not be served.

“This grant has enabled us to continue to provide direct legal advice and representation to families and to test ways to provide expanded and more comprehensive service through the use of law students, technology, and written materials.” — Rhonda Brownstein, Esquire, Executive Director, Education Law Center “This support provided us with the necessary flexibility to pursue new initiatives and to sustain existing but underfunded programs in 2011 – our 25th year of ensuring that no one faces HIV disease alone. — Kevin Burns, Executive Director, Action AIDS “General operating funds are always more flexible than specific program money. It allows you to make program course corrections. We were able to develop Partnering with Parents, which not only included amazing brain work but also incorporated physical discipline and assessment of family violence. This expansion took the work to another level. We were afforded this flexibility because of General Operating Support. ” — Martha Davis, MSS, Executive Director, Institute for Safe Families

STRATEGIC PLANNING “With an effective self-evaluation infrastructure that promotes data-driven decisions in both overall programming and individualized services, we now have a better chance at catching students before they slip into life-long poverty.” — Kimberly Hall, Executive Director, Chester County Futures “As an organization with limited resources, there is a quality of getting immersed in the day-to-day of our work, with rarely the luxury of taking time to assess and review.

“Having outside consultants gives us the opportunity to see our work and gain a perspective that is impartial and experienced. The work of the consultants has played a major role in our ability to be more effective and strategic.” — Stephanie Phillips, Assistant Director, John Bartram Association “By becoming a more effective organization we were able to double the number of children we serve. Clearly that has impact on the social and environment well-being of our students, families and communities in which they reside.” — Ina B. Lipman, Executive Director, Children's Scholarship Fund Philadelphia (CONTINUED ON BACK)

“The work done through this grant helped Greensgrow to clarify its vision, and to get that done with outside eyes.

“We are entering our fifteenth year with a mission statement that better reflects our community focus; our board is growing and is energized by the clearer focus; and we feel we are better able to launch new projects that will be successful in part because we have a stronger framework to assess program and fundraising options.” — Mary Seton Corboy, Executive Director, Greensgrow

CREDIBILITY “A General Operating grant from the Philadelphia Foundation reassures other funders that your organization has the leadership and program quality that will achieve consistent results, be accountable and make a positive impact in the community which it serves.”

— Cheryl Cunningham, Executive Director, Chester Education Foundation

“The Center believes that The Philadelphia Foundation’s wellknown name and sterling reputation helped it to secure grants from other local funders.”

— Ken Mullner, Executive Director, Adoption Center of Delaware Valley

WEATHERING CUTS IN OTHER FUNDING “Especially in light of recent and anticipated funding cuts, General Operating Support is truly instrumental in CFL’s ability to be a leader in serving the literacy needs of our region.”

— JoAnn Weinberger, President/Executive Director, Center for Literacy “ACLU Foundation of PA is working to grow in the face of economic challenges, while remaining financially stable. We are currently operating in the black, and this GOS grant helped us accomplish that.”

— Reginald T. Shuford, Esquire, Executive Director, ACLU of Pennsylvania 10/10/12

SUPPORTING VITAL WORK “The Philadelphia Foundation’s General Operating grant allowed us to carry out our programmatic goals of providing women with the skills and resources needed to secure employment. Of the 2,510 women we served, 43% are employed and 42 percent have secured full time jobs.”

— Sheri K. Cole, Executive Director, Career Wardrobe

“This funding allowed Community Learning Center to provide top quality adult education programs and serve over 700 adults. We were able to help 104 adults obtain their GEDs, 56 adults enter employment, 55 enter postsecondary education or training.” — Rebecca S. Wagner, Executive Director, Community Learning Center

“With support from funders like The Philadelphia Foundation, Musicopia was able to deliver nearly 600 programs to approximately 40,000 children and their families in the greater Philadelphia area during the 2010-2011 academic year.” — Denise Kinney, Executive Director, Musicopia and Dancing Classrooms Philly

Because of the flexibility of this grant, ITWorks graduated two classes (Spring and Fall 2011) and was honored this year by ComputerWorld magazine as a Laureate program. ” — Patrick Callihan, North American Power

“With Philadelphia Foundation support, Juvenile Law Center addressed legal issues affecting older youth who were involved with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The grant helped us ensure that those youth have a chance to make a successful transition to adulthood.”

— Robert G. Schwartz, Executive Director, Juvenile Law Center

THE PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION

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