The Volunteers of America has successfully revitalized its image and improved its fund-raising capability. Its efforts began in 1996 with the development of a strategic plan aimed at harnessing the American spirit of giving and preparing the organization for the 21st century. The plan included new fund-raising staff investments, community-based capacity building and reorganization of its structure and assets. The plan led to a 33% growth in contributions between FY 1996 and 1997 to $43.8 million. When Volunteers of America's Utah affiliate drafted a financing plan, three years ago, to build a 20-bed detox center for alcohol and drug-addicted women near Salt Lake City, no one thought to ask anyone personally for the money. President/CEO Jeff St. Romain and his board were just facing facts. The organization had virtually no donor base. Its community profile was low. And it had never undertaken a traditional capital campaign. A majority of the Utah agency's $1.6 million operating budget for human services came from government contracts. ()
So the building project would have to rely on government funding, with some high-stakes grantsmanship added to the mix. There would be $1 million from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, matched by $600,000 from state and local governments, $75,000 from Volunteers of America's national endowment, $50,000 from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and $40,000 from the Intermountain Health Care Foundation. Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, spiritually based organization providing local human service programs and opportunities for individual and community involvement. From rural America to inner-city neighborhoods, Volunteers of America provides outreach programs that deal with today’s most pressing social needs. Volunteers of America helps youths at risk, frail elderly, abused and neglected children, people with disabilities, homeless individuals and many others...............
