We believe in change
Through selflessness and a willingness to enhance our communities we believe we can make all the difference.
Whether it’s offering a listening ear to a friend in need, promoting the glory of God, volunteering for a cause, or simply spreading positivity through small gestures, each instance of lifting someone up contributes to a collective upliftment of spirits and a cultivation of empathy and compassion. In this way, the exercise of reaching down and lifting people up becomes a vital practice for nurturing not just our hearts but also our souls, fostering a world where empathy and kindness reign supreme. Praise be to God!
Donating to charities not only supports causes close to your heart but can also offer a tax benefit. By making charitable contributions, you have the opportunity to reduce your taxable income through a tax deduction. To qualify for this deduction, it’s necessary to itemize your deductions when filing your taxes. The percentage of your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) that you can deduct through charitable donations typically falls between 20% to 60%. So, beyond the altruistic satisfaction of giving back, there’s also a tangible financial incentive to support the organizations and causes you believe in.
We prioritize programs and projects aligned with our strategic goals, giving them the utmost attention. We find projects that involve multiple funding partners particularly compelling. Clarity is key, so we highly value initiatives with well-defined goals, objectives, and anticipated outcomes outlined in the grant applications. When considering funding, we typically limit support to one to two years, emphasizing the importance of sustainability beyond our assistance. We also assess the internal workings of organizations, with a keen eye on executive leadership, board composition, and financial responsibility. Factors such as available operating cash and the balance sheet’s assets-to-liabilities ratio play a significant role in our decision-making process, ensuring that our investments are made wisely and responsibly.
As much as we’d love to support every worthy cause, the organizations we work with receive numerous requests, making it challenging to entertain more than one grant application within a year. If there’s a need for additional funding within that timeframe, we ask organizations to provide a detailed report on how they utilized the previous grant. This report should shed light on the achievements, obstacles faced, and overall impact of the program we supported. By understanding the outcomes of past investments, we can make informed decisions about future funding opportunities, ensuring our resources are utilized effectively and meaningfully.
The organizations and foundations we collaborate with review grant requests at the board of directors’ meetings, which occur three or four times annually. Generally, the journey from submitting a Letter of Inquiry to receiving a grant award spans approximately four months. This timeline allows for thorough consideration of each proposal, ensuring that decisions are well-informed and aligned with our collective mission and priorities.
Have further questions or need information about the various volunteer programs we offer, please reach out to us!
Lifting people up, metaphorically speaking, encompasses acts of kindness, support, and encouragement that have a profound impact not only on the recipients but also on the giver. When we extend a helping hand to others, we not only strengthen the bonds of community but also nourish our own sense of purpose and fulfillment.
