Month: July 2018

President’s Report – Summer 2018

Welcome Our Newest Board Member

In April 2018 the Board welcomed Chae (pronounced “Shay”) Swan as anew director. We have enjoyed working with Chae for years when he was the Executive Director of the South End Community Center. We were consistently impressed with his intelligence, grace, insight, and strategic abilities. Chae is a lifelong Springfield resident. He graduated from Cathedral High School, Springfield College, and will soon finish the MBA program at Bay Path University. Chae’s passion for youth and community development was inspired by his close-knit family. At the age of 30 Chae was the youngest executive director of a community-based organization in the City of Springfield, when selected for the position in 2007. For the past 11 years Chae has successfully navigated the South End Community Center through the recession of 2009, and the tornado of 2011 which destroyed the SECC facility. Chae and his staff ushered over eighty children to safety during the tornado.…

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Alternative Funding Survey

In February 2018 the Beveridge Family Foundation, Inc. (“the Foundation”) conducted a survey of prior grant applicants. The topic of the survey was alternative funding streams. Out of roughly 400 valid email addresses, 190 responses were received. A brief review of the results follows.

Government Funding

58% of respondents indicated that they currently receive some form of government funding. If the N/A responses are excluded, the rate is 73%. This was higher than expected and added urgency to our efforts as the Foundation anticipates the likelihood of cuts in government spending in the areas of focus for nonprofits. Still, there are good opportunities for the 10% considering, the 5% planning, and the 6% implementing government funding sources. In conversations, the Foundation heard many stories of organizations that had become dependent upon government funding who then suffered due to cuts, delays, or process issues. Clearly it is an area with large potential, but also many pitfalls.…

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