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Leveraging Philanthropic Investment to
Expand Services |
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Foundations and corporations have a long history of supporting institutions that fill a critical need in our communities. One such group is the The Family Tree, a statewide organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of child abuse, which has received support from many funders, including the Osprey Foundation, Beechmont Foundation, David & Barbara B. Hirschhorn Foundation, Sylvan/Laureate Foundation, and the Baltimore Ravens All Community Team Foundation.
Recently, the Dresher Foundation took a further creative step by leveraging their long-time funding support to bring critical services and additional funding to The Family Tree efforts in Harford County by issuing a $50,000 challenge grant. The grant, which is designed to help the organization expand its funding base in the county and requires The Family Tree to raise an additional one third of the $50,000 from other Harford County sources, has helped establish several new delivery sites for services in the county in collaboration with the county's health department. It also has helped to support and expand parenting classes and home visiting programs.
"The Family Tree has a well regarded reputation throughout the state" says Robin Platts, executive director of the Dresher Foundation. "But they haven't been very aggressive in fundraising in Harford County. The challenge grant gives them the opportunity to expand their funding base and to sustain their program in the county."
More than 7,000 children are abused and neglected in our country every day - close to 3 million each year, and sadly, more children die at the hands of their parents than in car accidents, house fires, falls or drowning. It is no surprise that child abuse has serious long-term effects for every community that continue far beyond the suffering of innocent children. For example, more than 90% of prison inmates report being abused or neglected as children.
With a budget of $3 million, a staff of about 48, and a couple of hundred volunteers The Family Tree serves about 17,000 people a year in Maryland through a variety of community-focused services and a 24-7 hotline called the "stress line."
Funders of all types and sizes understand the need for support for this critical issue, including: the Louise D. & Morton J. Macks Family Foundation, Lois & Irving Blum Foundation, Henry & Ruth Blaustein Rosenberg Foundation, Joseph & Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds, and the Horizon Foundation. |
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Dresher's funding approach "Helps demonstrate that you can leverage dollars to gather strength in a specific geographic area," notes Pat Cronin, executive director of the Family Tree. "It has been a magnet for other people to become aware of what we do and to spark their interest in supporting our work to help make families stronger." |
