2010: A Snapshot

As we close out another year, it is a good time to reflect on the work and accomplishments over the past twelve months. In spite of a weak economy and financial challenges, 2010 has been an outstanding year for the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

The Foundation served thousands of South Carolinians and more than 60 organizations through over $2 million in grants.

More than 200 representatives from nonprofit organizations took advantage of the Foundation’s Carolina Academy for Nonprofits. The Foundation launched distance learning opportunities with five sites participating in South Carolina and Ohio allowing more than 75 people to participate from outlying locations. We completed our first Nonprofit Leadership Training Certificate Program, a partnership with Columbia College, and held a graduation ceremony in August.

In September, Bishop Guglielmone traveled to Columbia and met with individuals and representatives from organizations served by the Foundation.

The Foundation held four listening sessions around the state and learned a great deal from those living in poverty.

The Collaboration for Ministry Initiative (CMI) held its sixth annual statewide conference, and more the 70 women religious attended.  Through CMI, several Sisters in South Carolina were able to travel to Cleveland, O.H., to see the national exhibit Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America.

The South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, an outgrowth of the Foundation’s Fatherhood Initiative, ran its first fund raising campaign, The Ugly Tie Campaign, in conjunction with Father’s Day. The Center also had an article on its Alternative to Incarceration program published in the Child and Family Social Work Journal.

The Foundation served on the on the AmericaSpeaks Engagement Committee to recruit participants and promote the AmericaSpeaks 21st Century Town Meetings® on the budget and economy in Columbia, S.C., one of the six primary cities selected for the event. In the spring of 2010, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina engaged all South Carolina gubernatorial candidates by asking them five questions around poverty and economic opportunity in the state. Additionally, the Foundation continued to raise awareness on the impact of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding in South Carolina and advocate for TANF reauthorization.

A new branding campaign was implemented, and the Foundation launched a new Web site.

It has been an influential year as the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina implemented the first stages of its strategic plan. While these are just few highlights of 2010, the Foundation is already planning how we can maximize impact in 2011, and how we can strategically uses resources to reduce poverty through action, advocacy and leadership so that families in South Carolina have the resources to live out of poverty.

Research Through Listening

I recently visited a small rural community in South Carolina, and passed a homeless young woman sitting in her car on a side street. I learned that during the long, cold winter nights, she sleeps bundled up with in blankets. When it is too cold for her body to bear, she turns her car on―in desperation―to generate a little extra heat. As I entered the building across the street from her parked car, she discretely moved her vehicle farther down the street as not to attract any further attention.

Although she hoped to be “invisible,” her presence over the past few weeks had already been noticed by the local community pastor. Realizing her needs, he enlisted a community member to approach her car and compassionately inquire about her well-being, “Are you okay? It’s cold out here; you could die.”

“If I’m lucky, I will,” was her response, reflecting the vast depth of her hopelessness and despair. Since that encounter, the pastor has quietly worked behind the scenes recruiting the community to watch over her, acknowledging her presence in a way that maintains her fragile sense of dignity and respect.

As I saw this woman sitting in her car and heard the pastor share her story, a million questions flooded my mind. Did she have family or friends concerned about her well-being and looking for her? What had happened in her life that had brought her to this place of desperation and loneliness? Would she ever trust someone enough to express her current needs and concerns?

Unfortunately, this young woman is not alone. South Carolina is a state with a history of significant poverty.There are twelve counties that have experienced persistent poverty for years, and there are many other men or women facing the same sense of isolation and hopelessness.

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina works to identify ways to document its collaborative efforts to reduce poverty in South Carolina. Often termed as “research,” it also includes listening to those experiencing poverty directly, along with other leaders and stakeholders in their community. It is one way to find answers to some of these questions and seek solutions to better our communities.

In an effort to really listen to those experiencing poverty and hear the voices of those who work daily in service to the poor, the Foundation is conducting several “Listening Sessions” in selected communities across the state this year. The first Listening Session was held in Allendale in March, and the Foundation will travel to Johns Island this month.

According to the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, “Change can only happen when everyone who is affected has a seat at the table and has the opportunity to speak.” The Foundation hopes the listening sessions will allow us to use the gift of listening in order to better understand the potential concerns and solutions that could be utilized to meet unmet needs, and identify ways to facilitate change across the state where persistent poverty and hopelessness can abound.

Stephanie Cooper-Lewter is the senior director of research and special programs for the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Thinking About the Year End

As we approach the end of the calendar year, there is hopefulness among charitable organizations that something good is going to happen. There is a hope that people will feel more benevolent during the holiday season and give money. They recognize that the first 11 months of 2009 have been far less successful than anticipated. Organizations are “holding out hope” that this final month of the year will “pay off” financially. Additional optimism occurs when charities think about donors who need a tax break and will give generously to their organization.

What a wonderful fantasy they are having. I don’t think there is much chance this will happen in December 2009. Why? Well, most people are either struggling to make ends meet (average incomes), need assistance from others to survive (below average incomes) or lost 55% of their portfolio in the stock market (higher incomes). Those who lost money are trying to recover those funds and are worried about their own future retirement possibilities. Any of these three scenarios does not bode well for charities this year end.

The good news; I believe, that 2010 will be a far better year for all charities. I truly believe we have weathered a very tough storm and that we can begin repairing our organizations next year. Charitable giving will improve in 2010 and it will improve in the business, grant making and individual/private sectors. So, don’t expect a huge windfall in December, it likely won’t come. Do expect more funds and better circumstances for all of next year. I really think help from generous supporters is just around the corner and better times are ahead for charities.

Happy Holidays to All.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina