Giving on the rise, but so is need
Patrick Tufts, CEO of Granite United Way, helps to distribute more than 177,000 pounds of food to NH families in need. Courtesy
Published: 2/15/2021 11:55:46 AM
For more than a century, Granite United Way reached donors at their workplaces or in their living rooms with traditional face-to-face conversations. Now with benefactors sitting tight in their homes to buffer against the coronavirus, CEO Patrick Tufts finds himself broadcasting to 300 boxes on a Zoom screen from his office.
Tufts, a fundraising veteran, laments the loss of that personal connection. It is challenging to maintain contact with people who still depend on a paper pledge card.
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Sarah Gibson, NHPR
YWCA NH CEO Jessica Cantin says her organization hasn’t yet determined how to channel this unexpected gift, but they’re trying to be thoughtful about how to best use this money at a time when their work is especially urgent.
“We are typically serving the most vulnerable, most at risk, most marginalized in the community, so we will use these funds to be able to deepen our impact and ensure we can grow in our work around racial justice and diversity, equity and inclusion,” Cantin said.
The YWCA NH anticipates sharing more details about their plans for Scott’s donation when they celebrate their 101st anniversary in March. In the meantime, they have been trying to offer support in lots of ways throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Cantin said, including offering digital access to some crisis supports and doing more mobile deliveries.
Among the recipients of a billionaireâs charitable bonanza this week were two New Hampshire organizations.
The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation received $6 million, and the YWCA New Hampshire got $1 million. Goodwill of Northern New England, based in Maine but serving New Hampshire, also received a gift.
The organizations were contacted by MacKenzie Scottâs representatives last week with news of the gifts. Scott announced gifts to 384 nonprofit organizations this week, totaling more than $4 billion.
In a blog post, Scott said the gifts were focused on âorganizations with strong leadership teams and results, with special attention to those operating in communities facing high projected food insecurity, high measures of racial inequity, high local poverty rates, and low access to philanthropic capital.â