PORT TOWNSEND — United Good Neighbors and the Jefferson County Community Foundation are combining resources, sharing an executive director and administrative support while maintaining their separate identities.
On May 1, the two nonprofits will begin sharing office space at Shold Business Park, 216 W. Patison St., Port Hadlock.
Carla Caldwell, director of United Good Neighbors, will head both organizations.
“This is not a merger,” Caldwell said.
“It’s a collaboration. The missions of both organizations will overlap.
“They are closely aligned, and we have many of the same donors.”
The two organizations will keep their respective boards of directors, but a combined board will meet to provide strategic counsel.
United Good Neighbors
United Good Neighbors’ annual campaign for 2011-2012 wrapped up Feb. 28 with total pledges of $246,000, $6,000 more than its goal, Caldwell said.
It is providing financial support to 24 community nonprofits in 2012, all focused on services to Jefferson County’s most vulnerable citizens, according to its website at www.weareugn.org.
Total assets of the Jefferson County Community Foundation surpassed $1 million in 2011 and are approaching $1.25 million.
Grants from the foundation exceeded $57,000 in 2011.
The foundation issues grants to nonprofits dealing in education, environment, art and culture, health and human services, aging, organizational capacity-building and special initiatives, according to its website at www.jccfgives.org.
The agency is committed to supporting “safety net” organizations that provide social services for people who cannot afford them, while the foundation takes a wider view and funds scholarships and special projects that benefit the community at large, according to foundation President Herb Cook.
Cook said discussion about consolidation began after Kris Mayer, who helped found the foundation in 2005, said she wanted to step down as director this year.
Mayer’s last day is April 30.
“One option was to look for another director, but then we began talking with Carla and determined that the two organizations can work very closely,” Cook said.
“They aren’t identical but have parallel missions.”
Parallel missions
“Collaborating will ensure that UGN and JCCF cooperate in pursuing their goals as cost-effectively as possible,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell, who worked part-time for UGN, will combine her work with the foundation to add up to a full-time job.
Each organization is paying her $20,000 a year, she said.
Caldwell said the two jobs will require similar skills, though UGN is campaign-oriented and has a target for every year, while fundraising for the foundation requires an individual approach.
Caldwell said she did not expect the flat economy to adversely affect fundraising for either organization.
“In a bad economy, people are sensitive to the needs of those who have fallen through the safety net,” she said.
“With the foundation, people are thoughtful about how they invest; they want to see their resources leveraged and invest in organizations that will provide the maximum benefit for the community.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.