Annual Report 2022 - We Raise Foundation

We Raise Foundation is honored to present our 2022 Annual Report,
which reflects the impact of your gifts from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.

Dear Friends,

We Raise Foundation is humbled to have been the beneficiary of so much generosity during the past year and we are pleased to share with you the investments we made on your behalf. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted our grantees in ways they couldn’t imagine just a few short years ago. The support they have received from We Raise, thanks to your generosity, has been critical in helping these organizations serve their community in new and innovative ways in the midst of an ongoing global pandemic.

Our work has evolved over the years to reflect a greater emphasis on partnerships. We value the opportunity to work with our donors and other funders to create greater impact to our grantees because we work with others. Our grants are larger; our value-add services generate greater support; we benefit from the learnings of others and contribute our own experiences to their growth.

Working with others allows us to engage people with our grantees that has generated additional support for their work. While not reflected in our accounting because these gifts went directly to the organization, nearly $2 million in additional funding has been generated over the past several years as a result of the work We Raise has done to engage our partners. We thought you should know our work is about much more than what is captured in our accounting.

We are grateful for your generosity this past year and we hope you are proud of the work we are doing together to bring hope, resources, and love to those with whom we partner. We couldn’t do it without you and remain so very grateful that you choose us to be your agent in impacting communities.

Gratefully,

Mr. Darron Lowe
Chair, Board of Directors

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Mr. Paul C. Miles
President and CEO

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Dear Friends,

We Raise Foundation is humbled to have been the beneficiary of so much generosity during the past year and we are pleased to share with you the investments we made on your behalf. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted our grantees in ways they couldn’t imagine just a few short years ago. The support they have received from We Raise, thanks to your generosity, has been critical in helping these organizations serve their community in new and innovative ways in the midst of an ongoing global pandemic.

Our work has evolved over the years to reflect a greater emphasis on partnerships. We value the opportunity to work with our donors and other funders to create greater impact to our grantees because we work with others. Our grants are larger; our value-add services generate greater support; we benefit from the learnings of others and contribute our own experiences to their growth.

Working with others allows us to engage people with our grantees that has generated additional support for their work. While not reflected in our accounting because these gifts went directly to the organization, nearly $2 million in additional funding has been generated over the past several years as a result of the work We Raise has done to engage our partners. We thought you should know our work is about much more than what is captured in our accounting.

We are grateful for your generosity this past year and we hope you are proud of the work we are doing together to bring hope, resources, and love to those with whom we partner. We couldn’t do it without you and remain so very grateful that you choose us to be your agent in impacting communities.

Gratefully,

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Mr. Darron Lowe
Chair, Board of Directors

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Mr. Paul C. Miles
President and CEO

The Power of Partnerships

In his pursuit of wisdom, Solomon reflected on the benefits of partnerships: “Two are better than one; because they have a good return for their labor.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9)

There is power in working together when we are motivated by God’s grace to share our unique gifts, talents, and resources to serve the least among us. At We Raise, we utilize this truth by collaborating with those who share our vision of a world free from poverty, violence, and inequality. Your partnership in this mission enables We Raise to propel community leaders and their programs forward—and turn innovative ideas into sustainable solutions within the areas of education, workforce development, and criminal justice.

The impact is exponentially greater when we labor together. Consider how God delivers astounding victory when people work together toward a common goal in Exodus 17:

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Israel marched into its first battle after leaving Egypt. Whenever Moses lifted his rod in prayer, Israel prevailed. But when he dropped his hand, the enemy overwhelmed them. As the day wore on, Moses’ strength waned and his hands became heavy, so Aaron and Hur stepped in and held Moses’ hands steady until the Israelites claimed victory.

This is a grand display of the power of partnership to accomplish God’s will. As in the days of Moses, God connects us with others to learn, to teach, and to stir up one another to love and good works. We Raise is well positioned—because of your prayers and faithful giving—to support and encourage grantee partners with bold ideas to respond to their community’s most pressing needs. By drawing on our collective strength, We Raise broadens the borders of our impact, engages more people with our grantees, and multiplies your generosity to help people thrive.

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OUR VISION

People free from poverty, violence, and inequality.

OUR MISSION

Called by Christ to serve others, We Raise Foundation partners with Christian organizations to support and develop sustainable programs that help people thrive.

PEOPLE SERVED IN FY2022

During Fiscal Year 2022, We Raise Foundation grant recipients

served over 4,100 people

through their programs!

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VOLUNTEERS ENGAGED IN FY2022

Volunteers are the lifeblood of so many nonprofit organizations.
During Fiscal Year 2022,

over 900 individuals volunteered

their time with We Raise Foundation grantees for a total of

20,000 hours!

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PROGRAM SUPPORT IN FY2022

We Raise’s grant programs are about much more than money. Long-term successful programs and leaders also benefit from expert advice, connections with other inspired leaders, and additional funding opportunities. We Raise grants aim to provide both financial support and expert resources to strengthen the program for sustainable impact.

Total Program Support in FY2022
$948,130

DONOR SUPPORT IN FY2022

Everything We Raise Foundation does is made possible by
our generous, faithful supporters.
We received donations from over 4,000 individuals
during fiscal year 2022.

Donors supported the work of We Raise in a variety of ways including planned gifts, IRA charitable rollover gifts, gifts of stock, memoriam/honorariums, Thrivent Choice Dollars, and Amazon Smile.

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GRANTEE HIGHLIGHTS

We’ve highlighted four We Raise program partners that inspired us this past year, projects made possible only by our partners and donors working together.

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Grantee Highlight
Keyway: Center for
Diversion & Reentry

St. Louis, Mo.

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Partnerships mobilize support to perpetuate a cycle of hope for inmates and ex-offenders and help them become integrated, contributing members of society.

Since 1980, the incarceration rate for women has skyrocketed by 700%. Yet the number of organizations that serve this population remain small. Most reentry programming is geared toward a male population, focusing on workforce and job training, while the objective for women is reunification with children and housing. With that knowledge, an organization in St. Louis, Mo., is stepping up to meet the distinct reentry needs of justice-involved women.

“We know what we do works: we have a 10.2% two-year recidivism rate, which is about one-third of the state’s average for women,” says April Foster, executive director for Keyway Center for Diversion and Reentry.

Inspired by Keyway’s success, We Raise and the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis awarded a joint $500,000 three grant that will help women transition back into the community and rebuild their lives.

We Raise President/CEO Paul Miles said the partnership was a great fit for both organizations: “We Raise gravitates toward programs that create opportunities. In this case, it focuses on women returning from prison, which aligns with the mission of our partner, the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis. When mission and opportunity align, we get excited about what that can produce.”

The grant will help Keyway (formerly the Center for Women in Transition) build on its 25-year history of ministering to incarcerated women. Funds will be used train staff to address specific issues and trauma that justice-involved women experience, support a full range of evidence-driven wraparound services, and boost fundraising efforts.

Foster is grateful to We Raise donors for their support. “Not only will this grant help us build our capacity, but it will also help us share our expertise throughout the state and potentially beyond. We are so incredibly excited to take our organization the next level,” she said.

Grantee Highlight
Keyway: Center for
Diversion & Reentry

St. Louis, Mo.

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Partnerships mobilize support to perpetuate a cycle of hope for inmates and ex-offenders and help them become integrated, contributing members of society.

Since 1980, the incarceration rate for women has skyrocketed by 700%. Yet the number of organizations that serve this population remain small. Most reentry programming is geared toward a male population, focusing on workforce and job training, while the objective for women is reunification with children and housing. With that knowledge, an organization in St. Louis, Mo., is stepping up to meet the distinct reentry needs of justice-involved women.

“We know what we do works: we have a 10.2% two-year recidivism rate, which is about one-third of the state’s average for women,” says April Foster, executive director for Keyway Center for Diversion and Reentry.

Inspired by Keyway’s success, We Raise and the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis awarded a joint $500,000 three grant that will help women transition back into the community and rebuild their lives.

We Raise President/CEO Paul Miles said the partnership was a great fit for both organizations: “We Raise gravitates toward programs that create opportunities. In this case, it focuses on women returning from prison, which aligns with the mission of our partner, the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis. When mission and opportunity align, we get excited about what that can produce.”

The grant will help Keyway (formerly the Center for Women in Transition) build on its 25-year history of ministering to incarcerated women. Funds will be used train staff to address specific issues and trauma that justice-involved women experience, support a full range of evidence-driven wraparound services, and boost fundraising efforts.

Foster is grateful to We Raise donors for their support. “Not only will this grant help us build our capacity, but it will also help us share our expertise throughout the state and potentially beyond. We are so incredibly excited to take our organization the next level,” she said.

Grantee Highlight
Social-Emotional Learning Initiative
By The Hand Club For Kids, Chicago, Ill.

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Partners like you who believe the power of strategic partnerships make it possible for young people to believe in the power of hope for a world where they have equal footing to succeed.

While counseling students at By The Hand Club (BTH) in the past year, Daniel Bell noticed an increase in the number of students in Chicago struggling with social growth because of isolation and remote learning brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“They were out of school for almost a year. Now that they’re back, we’re seeing a lot of struggles around conflict within their relationships. How they’re responding to some of those situations is making them grow into larger issues,” said Bell, a social-emotional learning (SEL) specialist.

Bell noticed a positive difference as he applied a holistic approach to help students build relational skills using SEL principles. Some research shows SEL programs can bolster student well-being and academic achievement.

Bell received a We Raise Emerging Leader grant to spearhead the By The Hand’s SEL Initiative which will train staff members and students to understand and incorporate the practice of five SEL competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

After a year spent applying SEL principles in group therapy and private counseling sessions, BTH participant Mark says he’s learning to control his emotions and resolve conflicts in a healthy way. The sixth grader is earning better grades at school and emerging as a leader among his peers at BTH Club—a Christ-centered afterschool program that emphasizes nurturing the whole child—mind, body and soul.

“I’m learning to avoid situations that I know will lead to trouble. I’m just going to walk away,” said Mark.

Your generosity goes beyond program funding, it is an investment in the future of young students and the development of leaders like Daniel Bell to be an agent of transformation, bringing justice, equity, and healing to Chicago’s under resourced neighborhoods.

Grantee Highlight
Social-Emotional Learning Initiative
By The Hand Club For Kids, Chicago, Ill.

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Partners like you who believe the power of strategic partnerships make it possible for young people to believe in the power of hope for a world where they have equal footing to succeed.

While counseling students at By The Hand Club (BTH) in the past year, Daniel Bell noticed an increase in the number of students in Chicago struggling with social growth because of isolation and remote learning brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“They were out of school for almost a year. Now that they’re back, we’re seeing a lot of struggles around conflict within their relationships. How they’re responding to some of those situations is making them grow into larger issues,” said Bell, a social-emotional learning (SEL) specialist.

Bell noticed a positive difference as he applied a holistic approach to help students build relational skills using SEL principles. Some research shows SEL programs can bolster student well-being and academic achievement.

Bell received a We Raise Emerging Leader grant to spearhead the By The Hand’s SEL Initiative which will train staff members and students to understand and incorporate the practice of five SEL competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

After a year spent applying SEL principles in group therapy and private counseling sessions, BTH participant Mark says he’s learning to control his emotions and resolve conflicts in a healthy way. The sixth grader is earning better grades at school and emerging as a leader among his peers at BTH Club—a Christ-centered afterschool program that emphasizes nurturing the whole child—mind, body and soul.

“I’m learning to avoid situations that I know will lead to trouble. I’m just going to walk away,” said Mark.

Your generosity goes beyond program funding, it is an investment in the future of young students and the development of leaders like Daniel Bell to be an agent of transformation, bringing justice, equity, and healing to Chicago’s under resourced neighborhoods.

Grantee Highlight
Farming Hope
Farming Hope Impact Expansion,
San Francisco, Calif.

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Breaking the cycle of poverty and accelerating community stability require collective resources and partnerships with program innovators like Farming Hope.

Described as a modern-day soup kitchen, Farming Hope is feeding the hunger for a better quality of life and cultivating a culture of resilience by breaking down barriers for those who are motivated to find employment for a more stable life. Their efforts focus on those who have been incarcerated, adults experiencing homelessness, and people from extremely low-income populations in San Francisco.

Farming Hope manages a paid 12-week “garden-to-table” apprenticeship aimed at empowering individuals with practical skill development. Participants earn a fair wage while learning to grow food at urban community gardens and mastering cooking skills at food hubs and other places like social justice-oriented restaurant Manny’s in the Mission District.

“The journey is about confidence, having that first paycheck show up, listening to a boss, participating in a team,” explained Jamie Stark, co-founder and senior advisor of Farming Hope.

Since its inception in 2016, Farming Hope has been working within a diverse ecosystem of support services and partners to adapt to the changing and growing demands of those they serve. Your unwavering financial support enabled We Raise to award Farming Hope a $100,000 three-year grant in 2020 to help the social enterprise increase its services and expand to various strategic locations of the Bay area to better serve their community.

“Every day our team is training future food system leaders, and that takes resources. We can’t thank the team and supporters of We Raise enough for donating their time, energy, financial support, and prayer to make it possible to hire more apprentices and provide higher quality job training,” said Stark.

In addition to job training, Farming Hope also addresses food insecurity by offering free meals to families in need. They also source cosmetically imperfect products from farmers and suppliers and find creative ways to use the product in its entirety.

Grantee Highlight
Farming Hope
Farming Hope Impact Expansion,
San Francisco, Calif.

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Breaking the cycle of poverty and accelerating community stability require collective resources and partnerships with program innovators like Farming Hope.

Described as a modern-day soup kitchen, Farming Hope is feeding the hunger for a better quality of life and cultivating a culture of resilience by breaking down barriers for those who are motivated to find employment for a more stable life. Their efforts focus on those who have been incarcerated, adults experiencing homelessness, and people from extremely low-income populations in San Francisco.

Farming Hope manages a paid 12-week “garden-to-table” apprenticeship aimed at empowering individuals with practical skill development. Participants earn a fair wage while learning to grow food at urban community gardens and mastering cooking skills at food hubs and other places like social justice-oriented restaurant Manny’s in the Mission District.

“The journey is about confidence, having that first paycheck show up, listening to a boss, participating in a team,” explained Jamie Stark, co-founder and senior advisor of Farming Hope.

Since its inception in 2016, Farming Hope has been working within a diverse ecosystem of support services and partners to adapt to the changing and growing demands of those they serve. Your unwavering financial support enabled We Raise to award Farming Hope a $100,000 three-year grant in 2020 to help the social enterprise increase its services and expand to various strategic locations of the Bay area to better serve their community.

“Every day our team is training future food system leaders, and that takes resources. We can’t thank the team and supporters of We Raise enough for donating their time, energy, financial support, and prayer to make it possible to hire more apprentices and provide higher quality job training,” said Stark.

In addition to job training, Farming Hope also addresses food insecurity by offering free meals to families in need. They also source cosmetically imperfect products from farmers and suppliers and find creative ways to use the product in its entirety.

Grantee Highlight
Raising Children Up
Flint Mission Network, Flint, Mich.

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Working hand in hand with Christian non-profits, like Flint Mission Network, to address disparities can increase their network capacity to catalyze systemic change.

With the belief that tackling inequality begins as early as in the womb, the Network launched the Raising Children Up project, which supports several ministries that provides entry points in the lives of mothers and children in Flint, Mich.

“We believe the strongest way to make an impact is to begin providing care and fostering relationships as early as possible in a person’s life,” said Rev. Christian Jones, an Emerging Leader grant recipient.

In addition to personalized leadership coaching, a We Raise grant will help expand the Network’s reach and provide resource development for sustainability.

“Grateful does not begin to sincerely describe the amount of thanks I give to We Raise for their commitment to support us in being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ as we proclaim the Gospel, empower neighbors, and life one another up in the city of Flint,” Jones said.

The Raising Children Up project focuses on the work of The Luke Clinic and Mercy House and relies on a network of partners. At the Luke Clinic, medical professionals from the University of Michigan lend their expertise to provide accessible, high quality medical care for expectant mothers and infants. Mercy House is a long-term transitional housing ministry. The Network partners with licensed clinical works from Wellspring Lutheran Services to help single mothers at Mercy House to develop parenting skills, job preparedness and financial planning. Participants in both ministries are also encouraged to attend free faith building and community-based programming like the Franklin Ave Diner, where they can access free meals, clothing, and personal items.

Diverse community partners with varying abilities and a shared commitment have been key to the inspired work of the Raising Children Up project, Jones explained. “It takes ministry partners and a network of staff, volunteers, and the faith community to make systemic changes. We are stronger and better together.”

Grantee Highlight
Raising Children Up
Flint Mission Network, Flint, Mich.

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Working hand in hand with Christian non-profits, like Flint Mission Network, to address disparities can increase their network capacity to catalyze systemic change.

With the belief that tackling inequality begins as early as in the womb, the Network launched the Raising Children Up project, which supports several ministries that provides entry points in the lives of mothers and children in Flint, Mich.

“We believe the strongest way to make an impact is to begin providing care and fostering relationships as early as possible in a person’s life,” said Rev. Christian Jones, an Emerging Leader grant recipient.

In addition to personalized leadership coaching, a We Raise grant will help expand the Network’s reach and provide resource development for sustainability.

“Grateful does not begin to sincerely describe the amount of thanks I give to We Raise for their commitment to support us in being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ as we proclaim the Gospel, empower neighbors, and life one another up in the city of Flint,” Jones said.

The Raising Children Up project focuses on the work of The Luke Clinic and Mercy House and relies on a network of partners. At the Luke Clinic, medical professionals from the University of Michigan lend their expertise to provide accessible, high quality medical care for expectant mothers and infants. Mercy House is a long-term transitional housing ministry. The Network partners with licensed clinical works from Wellspring Lutheran Services to help single mothers at Mercy House to develop parenting skills, job preparedness and financial planning. Participants in both ministries are also encouraged to attend free faith building and community-based programming like the Franklin Ave Diner, where they can access free meals, clothing, and personal items.

Diverse community partners with varying abilities and a shared commitment have been key to the inspired work of the Raising Children Up project, Jones explained. “It takes ministry partners and a network of staff, volunteers, and the faith community to make systemic changes. We are stronger and better together.”

2021 RICHARD E. HERMAN LEADERSHIP AWARD

Mr. Jerome Harris

The Leadership Award recognizes the commitment and service of one leader interrupting the cycles of poverty, violence, and inequality in the United States, whether through their professional work or as a volunteer. The Leadership Award was established in honor of Dr. Richard Herman, We Raise Foundation’s fourth president (2006-2015), a passionate supporter and encourager of young adult Christian leaders.

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Jerome Harris founded and serves as president of Urban Golf of Greater St. Louis (UGOLF) in St. Louis, Mo. The mission of UGOLF is to prepare youth in urban St. Louis to be successful beyond high school and expose them to the vast golf community.

Since its founding in 2019, UGOLF has served over 300 students. During in school physical education hours and while participating in UGOLF’s after-school programs, students learn the basics of golf. Participants are also engaged in social-emotional development, conflict resolution, college preparation courses, career development and/or entrepreneurial development. Mentors also support the youth both inside and outside of the classroom.

Under Harris’ leadership, 90% of UGOLF’s participants have enrolled successfully in college. Over $500,000 in student scholarships has been secured and he has secured partnerships with Gateway PGA Reach Foundation, Nike, St. Louis Public Schools, and Harris-Stowe State University. Harris also established a successful mentoring and caddy program at Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Mo.

“This award is an amazing honor for me to receive from We Raise Foundation. The call of God to serve my community and its youth is a charge I take very seriously because it is one of complete service that allows me to serve Him by serving others. To be blessed with an award like this is a boost of motivation and encouragement to stay the course.”
– Jerome Harris

THANK YOU!

The global pandemic and the ensuing isolation brought many challenges, but it was also an opportunity for We Raise and our partners to work together to demonstrate our adaptability and find creative ways to leverage technology and resources to create sustainable programs in our neighborhoods.

We are thankful for partnerships with like-minded individuals and organizations that strengthen our resolve to answer a call to advance freedom in Christ and hope for a vibrant future. Our partnerships maximize and multiply generosity and thoughtful donor gifts. Our partnerships unlock peak potential of every joint endeavor for the greatest impact. Our partnerships accelerate transformative social change.

That’s the power of partnership, and We Raise is proud and humbled to work alongside our donors and grantee partners to serve as conduits for a better tomorrow.

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FY2022 FINANCIALS

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Program Expense is comprised of: Grants and Projects ($372,416), Program Education ($324,768), and Program Support ($250,946).

Total Net Assets at 6/30/22 were $10,199,611.

View our audit report.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Fiscal Year 2022

Mr. Mark Duesenberg
Former Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Ferro Corporation, Rocky River, Ohio

Mr. Gregory Jordan
Senior Vice President and Senior Managing Director, Foundation & Institutional Advisors, Northern Trust, Chicago, Ill. (Vice Chair)

Dr. Ciuinal Lewis
Senior Executive Director, Gateway Foundation, Chicago, Ill.

Mr. Darron Lowe
Vice President, Wells Fargo Consumer Credit Solutions, O’Fallon, Ill. (Chair)

Mrs. Christine Messerschmidt
Associate, Thrivent Financial, Barrington, Ill.

Rev. Wayne Miller
Former Bishop, Metropolitan Chicago Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Chicago, Ill.

Mrs. Monique Nunes
Director of Diversity, Success Coaching, and Lead Conduct Officer, Concordia University Irvine, Irvine, Calif. (Secretary)

Mr. Carson Williams
Investment Banker, Croft & Bender, Atlanta, Ga.

CURRENT STAFF

Paul Miles
President and CEO

Meredith Capocci
Senior Accountant

Matt Croll
Director of Finance

Sandi Croll
Director of Finance

Rebecca Davis
Program & Events Coordinator

Jennifer Sievers
Manager of Advancement Services

Anne Schoenherr Turner
Director of Development & Communications