On Requests for Assistance in General

[pinboy3niner]

26. I prefer to give cash so our resource center has the flexibility to apply the money where needed

It started as a food pantry 24 years ago and has expanded into a full resource center, homeless shelter and thrift shop, each in a different location. They have now outgrown all of these facilities and I know they've been in talks with various local agencies about moving and consolidating all of the facilities at one new location.

If they wish, donors can earmark a gift for one or more of many program categories, but a category has not yet been added for the building fund. Yesterday I was working with our resource center director at a charity event for an unrelated project, so I asked him if I should send a non-earmarked donation or if money is needed for the building fund. He gave me an update on the progress of the talks on a new resource center and said they just learned that for the site they're looking at they will need two environmental impact statements costing a total of about $800,000 (the total annual budget for the center and all facilities is about $2.2 million). So, he told me, right now they really can use some money in the building fund. Though it isn't listed as a category on the online donation form, noting it in the memo on the form will assure that the money goes there.

I'm glad I asked, as I don't believe they are using or can use any of their general funds for the building project. So I'm following the director's advice and making a donation to the building fund today.