Understanding that so many of our local nonprofits have been struggling to keep up with the increased demand for their services, members of the John’s Island Foundation stepped up on an even greater scale during its 2020-21 giving season, granting more than $915,000 to 23 agencies toward capital expenses.
“We did it all by Zoom, so it was challenging,” said Margie Wheeler, grant co-chair with Francie Cramb. The two were also among the nine captains who led some 40 site team members in evaluating the grant requests.
“We did it quite successfully, but at the same time our volunteers clearly missed going to the nonprofits and sitting down with the executive directors and other people at the agencies. You can’t see peoples’ body language and it isn’t quite the same feel-good experience. It’s not as personal,” Wheeler explained. “So people were creative, trying as much as they could to do their work on behalf of our foundation and the agencies.”
“A lot of the agencies went out of their way to produce videos. Someone in one agency actually held a phone as she walked through all the offices,” said Cramb. “Whole Family Health Center, for example, did this amazing video and they weren’t the only ones. A number of them put a lot of effort into producing something to make the site team feel, as much as possible, a sense of being there in the middle of COVID.”
Although many of the agencies were past grantees, others were either new, or hadn’t received funding in a long time, such as the Indian River County Volunteer Ambulance Squad.
“They’re a wonderful organization that provides door-to-door transport at no cost to anyone in Indian River to any medical appointment; they pick them up and take them back home,” said Wheeler.
The all-volunteer nonprofit had requested funding for a wheelchair van that could be accessed from the back, rather than the side, to accommodate two at one time.
“When you think of people, especially in wheelchairs, who don’t have any access to get to their appointments, this is a remarkable service for this community,” said Wheeler.
“Another new one was SafeSpace,” said Wheeler, noting that SafeSpace, which provides services to domestic violence victims and their children, had previously experienced some personnel and funding difficulties.
“They now have a very strong executive director, so we felt we wanted to take a risk and fund them to renovate the facility in Indian River County. We were very happy about that one as well.”
A couple of nonprofits received funding at a level above their standard $50,000 cap.
One was a $78,000 grant to the Substance Awareness Center, which focuses on substance misuse and programs for adolescents.
“They needed a new electronic medical records system that would comply with the state and also keep track of their clients,” said Wheeler. “We felt that it was so important, particularly during COVID, to give the entire amount.”
Another was a $75,000 grant to the Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy, which needed a new roof. John’s Island residents Jeff and Shari Wampler matched that amount to get the job done.
“So it was very nice that we could do that for Youth Guidance. They do such good work. We think they have a wonderful director; he has energy, ideas, enthusiasm and passion, and those are all good things,” said Wheeler.
The John’s Island Foundation raises its funds through an annual report and from appeals that are mailed throughout the year.“We want to get people enthusiastic about donations and the agencies and their needs,” said Cramb, hoping to encourage contributions to the 2021-22 grant cycle.
“Last year we were very concerned, and it turned out we raised more money during COVID. So it just sort of speaks to people’s philanthropy and their concern about the community,” said Wheeler, who would like to continue that momentum to enable larger, impactful grants when warranted.
“But sometimes smaller grants can be just as impactful,” said Cramb. “A smaller amount can be just as big a bang for the buck.”
For example, they granted $26,000 to the Hope for Families Center to purchase new mattresses, pillows and mattress covers.
“When you think of the number of people that arrive absolutely homeless, desperate, and they have turnover a lot. To have everything clean and fresh can make a huge difference, especially in this era of COVID,” said Cramb.
Other nonprofits’ COVID-related requests involved additional space, indoors and out, for meetings, dining facilities and client interactions.
After working with the United Way to see if there were other agencies they might assist, Wheeler said they sent out a 2021-22 letter of intent inviting a larger number to apply. Requests are already starting to come in from the 29 agencies moving forward in the application process.
“We’re also in the process of finalizing team captains and team members.
“It’s actually a big process. I think that because we are one of the only funders who meet the capital needs of nonprofits, we play a unique and distinctive roll in the community,” said Wheeler.
“We have so many wonderful donors. It’s a special community but we’re able to do this and it’s so important, it really is. And we have great relationships with United Way, the John’s Island Community Service League, the Community Foundation and other funding groups that are doing wonderful work as well. It’s really nice.”
Photos provided
