Hundreds of Cleveland-area nonprofit organizations strive to improve the quality of life for thousands of Clevelanders, but they can’t do it alone.
These nonprofit organizations rely in part on the generosity and benevolence of other people who choose to donate or bequeath financial support toward the mission of these organizations, who also strive not only to help those they serve but to build friendships and mutually beneficial relationships with their donors.
Peggy Sobul, chief development officer of the Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity, said the organization invites donors to attend dedications and house blessings to allow the opportunity for donors to witness the impact their contributions can make.
“There are a variety of things we do to engage our supporters,” including encouraging their presence at celebrations where families receive keys to their new homes, as well as providing updates on those families and the personal cards and correspondences we send to our donors throughout the year, Sobul said.
The Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity was established in 1987 to serve families living in Cuyahoga County. In 2022, Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity expanded into neighboring Lorain County.
Other Habitat for Humanity organizations serves families in other counties.
Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity is increasing the number of families it will serve this year, largely through the American Rescue Plan Act, a federal assistance program tethered to COVID-19 pandemic assistance.
Prior to receiving this assistance, the Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity relied on philanthropy from individuals and corporations for almost half of its costs to provide services, according to Sobul.
This year, the organization will receive $4.5 million in ARPA funding, and when combined with $1.5 million from the state of Ohio, will allow the Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity to reach 30 families in 2024, more than twice the number of families – 12 – that the organization housed last year, Sobul said.
But private funding is still needed as much as ever, she said.
The organization does not provide the houses free, Sobul said.
Under the terms of the program, homeowners pay a mortgage but the organization assists qualifying low-to-moderate income families in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties with building a new home or rehabilitating an existing home.
While some donors are familiar with the broader missions of Habitat for Humanity organizations across Ohio and the United States and seek out the Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity to offer support, the organization still works to proactively identify new donors, shel said.
“We host events such as our ‘walk, run, mosey’ 5K and one-miler,” where we can interact with people who potentially could become regular donors, Sobul said.
The Tri-C Foundation, the fundraising arm of Cuyahoga Community College, similarly benefits from the philanthropic acts of its donors.
In some instances, those donations are bequeathed in an estate or a planned donation, “from people we never had a chance to meet,” said Melanie Majikas, executive director of development ser-vices and resource development, Tri-C Foundation, Cuyahoga Community College.
But in many other instances, Tri-C Foundation has the change to meet those who choose open up opportunities for students to attend the college.
“We focus on building long-term relationships with our donors (and) find paths that benefit our students but that are also a (financial) benefit for our donors,” Majikas said.
In doing so, Majikas said the Foundation learns about its donors
“We pride ourselves in knowing the individual interests of our donors,” while assisting them in establishing “meaningful gifts” to help qualifying students achieve a post-high school education, Majikas said.
While graduates, faculty, employees and retirees of Cuyahoga Community College are naturally inclined to consider endowments and other acts of support, Tri-C Foundation also reaches out to the general populace through advertising and social media platforms to showcase its mission, she said.
“We’ve seen significant growth in the last few years through our marketing tools,” as we continue to both grow and maintain our support, Majikas said.
Kevin Corvo is a freelance journalist.
