Placing Georgetown’s Nonprofits Center Stage
The Georgetown Health Foundation (GHF) is content to remain behind the scenes and let the spotlight shine on the many area nonprofit organizations they support.
The foundation was established in 2006 when Georgetown Hospital was sold to St. David’s Healthcare. Thanks to some shrewd negotiating by then-CEO of Georgetown Healthcare System, Ken Poteete, the foundation has flourished. The foundation retains a 1 percent ownership of St. David’s Healthcare, maintains ownership of many area commercial properties, and has invested well, which has allowed the foundation the luxury of not having to fundraise—something unheard of in most non-profit circles.
Foundation CEO Scott Alarcón works with a staff of seven and they operate with no marketing or public relations departments. Its other strength at the top is vice president of strategic philanthropy Suzy Pukys who joined the team in 2012 and brought with her a background in grant writing as a nonprofit program director. Her relationships with other community nonprofits gave her insight into how to form a strategic vision and helped define the foundation’s philanthropy process.
Serving the Community
The foundation abides by the World Health Organization’s definition of health as “a complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of infirmity.” It serves all those who live in the city but also takes the GISD boundaries into account. Organizations they support must serve GHF’s target population: youth, elders, and families who are either low-income or have a specific need.
Mini Grants
The mini grant program provides funding to facilitate first steps for startup nonprofits. When organizers find themselves in need of assistance to develop professional financial statements or business plans, being able to hire a consultant helps build confidence. Having solid founding documents are a step toward applying for a first round of grants.
Annual Grants
Each year, the foundation invites area organizations to apply for their annual grant program. Last year, they awarded $950,000 to 21 organizations representing a wide range of services.
The Boys and Girls Club used this grant to continue providing guidance and encouragement. More than 900 children have walked through their doors since 2018.
The Caring Place used their grant to assist 760 households with rent/mortgage assistance.
Strategic Grants
The strategic grant program was born of the need to address substantial issues that require in-depth solutions. Its purpose is to help organizations work toward solutions for ongoing success. At its launch, the GHF invested $750,000 across four initiatives for the first of a three-year period.
The new Family Resource Center opening this month at the old Carver Elementary School at 1200 West 17th Street will focus on multi-generational family resilience.
Georgetown ISD received a six-year grant to provide mental health counselors during the school day. Once in place, district leadership recognized the value of in-school counseling and secured funding to continue the program after the grant period.
The grant process is just the beginning of GHF’s involvement.
They also help nonprofits define problem areas and weaknesses—a valuable service that is instrumental in helping them move forward.
At the same time, relationship fostering and sharing in others’ struggles develops what Suzy calls capacity building—continuing an open, ongoing dialog to determine each organization’s aspirations and direction. That type of constant feedback can be translated into metrics that track grants and provide learning trends and community needs assessments.
GHF also nurtures collaboration among agencies through planning grants. Their mentorship gives participating nonprofits the opportunity to think through projects together prior to implementation. Working together on complex processes provides an anchor and a feeling that, in the big nonprofit world, each has someone advocating for them long after their grant money has been spent.
KEEPING IT LOCAL
Having been able to donate more than $30 million, it may be that GHF and Georgetown are blessed with a unique set of circumstances. Being the county seat may play some role in that the continuum of nonprofits dedicated to providing health and human services is more evolved here. But the city of Georgetown has also stepped up and supported ongoing programs like Head Start and Meals on Wheels.
As well, one need only alert Sun City as to the needs of its neighbors and that 55+ community will generously rise to the occasion with donations and volunteers.
Click here to learn more.