Press Release: March 30, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carol Harmon, Director of Communications and Marketing, 614/545-3236 or 614/738-2755
THE COLUMBUS FOUNDATION’S CRITICAL NEED ALERT
LEVERAGES $1,523,706 MILLION FOR 20 NONPROFITS
ADDRESSING EMERGENCY NEEDS IN CENTRAL OHIO
Columbus, OH (March 30, 2009)—The Columbus Foundation today announced the completion of its Critical Need Alert and success in reaching the goal of leveraging
$1.5 million through the
Safety Net Fund for 20 central Ohio nonprofits providing emergency food and shelter. The organizations received gifts ranging from
$20,000 to $330,000.
The Foundation’s
Critical Need Alert, launched in early February, offered a match for donors in the amount of 50 cents of every dollar contributed. The initial
$400,000 matching pool of funds was made up of charitable contributions from Columbus Foundation donors, Supporting Foundations, and unrestricted funds. The match was extended in early March thanks to a generous donation from
The American Electric Power Foundation—
$100,000 to support the effort and
$100,000 to extend the match.
“Columbus’ generosity shines brightly on an otherwise stormy economic landscape,” said Douglas F. Kridler, president and CEO of The Columbus Foundation. “Robust charitable giving is a point of community pride here, and we are so proud of the donor who developed the idea for this Critical Need Alert, and all those donors who helped build up the Matching Funds. They gave to the Safety Net Fund to the tune of $1.5 million in just a few short weeks. At a time when the Federal government is the one so many are looking to for help, this is a remarkable story of people helping others in their own community, through their own giving.”
Key to this effort was one anonymous Columbus Foundation donor, who was inspired to help after seeing the Foundation
raise more than $2 million for the community last year through “Match Day” opportunities.
The donor contacted the Foundation last fall to ask if there was a way to offer a matching grants program to help those most affected by the economic downturn. “We could be in for a very long winter, and housing and hunger will be big issues.”
The Columbus Foundation issued the Critical Need Alert due to the economic downturn to help the community’s most vulnerable residents and the nonprofits that support them.
Central Ohio’s response was remarkable. In a matter of weeks, a group of
662 Foundation donors and the
community, made gifts totaling
$1,523,706. A chance conversation with Columbus BlueJackets’ owner, John P. McConnell, on March 18, resulted in a generous gift that helped the Critical Need Alert reach its goal.
The following nonprofit organizations participated in the Critical Need Alert: Choice Pantries: Broad Street Presbyterian Church, Catholic Social Services Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center, Gladden Community House, Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio, Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio, Neighborhood Services, Inc., The Salvation Army, and Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM). Emergency Shelters: Faith Mission, The Homeless Families Foundation, Huckleberry House, Inc., Maryhaven, Inc., Southeast, Inc. (Friends of the Homeless), Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio, YWCA Columbus (Family Center), CHOICES for Victims of Domestic Violence. Basic Needs Systems: Community Shelter Board, Mid-Ohio Foodbank, Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (Ohio Benefit Bank).
The Columbus Foundation periodically holds “matching opportunities” to stimulate giving in the community. The Critical Need Alert and Match Days utilize the Foundation’s online community resource, PowerPhilanthropy®. PowerPhilanthropy allows Foundation donors and the community to access detailed program, management, and financial information at anytime on more than 450 area nonprofit organizations online at
www.columbusfoundation.org. There are currenty
6,326 registered PowerPhilanthropy users.
About The Columbus FoundationThe Columbus Foundation is the trusted philanthropic advisor to 1,700 individuals, families, and businesses who have created unique funds to make a difference in the lives of others through the most effective philanthropy possible. Serving the region for 65 years, The Columbus Foundation is one of the ten largest community foundations in the United States today.