Greater Cleveland Community Shares

Programs: Distributions to member organizationstotal distributions to members and other non-profit organizations from the 2016 workplace campaign totaled $669,215. The unrestricted funds provided to member organizations enable them to provide community-building and social justice programs that are often restricted by other funders. Some of these programs include addressing predatory lending, advocacy for the homeless and those without health care, protection of civil rights, fighting housing discrimination, and many other program areas. Over the 31-year history of community shares, these distributions total more than $17 million. Campaignadministering charitable workplace giving campaigns in approximately 100 local work sites (i. E. Businesses, legal and accounting firms, schools, libraries, non-profits, and government agencies) for over 125,000 employees in 2016, community shares raised pledges for its member organizations and other non-profits, including the state of ohio combined campaign and north coast combined federal campaign. The state of ohio combined campaign is administered by greater cleveland community shares for our organization as well as for the mid-ohio, greater cincinnati and northwest ohio community shares organizations. There were 3,562 donors to the campaign in 2016. The funds raised through the 2016 campaign will be distributed to community shares' member organizations throughout 2017. In 2016 community shares had 45 member nonprofit organizations. Community shares organizations use these funds to support a variety of social justice missions, including bringing neighborhoods together for programs and services, promoting civil rights, working to break the cycle of poverty, educating communities about health and environmental issues, promoting animal welfare, providing arts and cultural experiences, and working to reduce violence in cleveland's neighborhoods. Donors to community shares' workplace campaigns can also designate any certified nonprofit organization to receive their payroll deductions or donations. Community outreachcommunity outreach in 2016 took the form of presentations to employees in the workplaces where community shares participates in annual charity campaigns. These presentations encouraged philanthropic giving, informed employees about community shares' member organizations and educated them about the choices they have when making their pledges. Numerous other presentations were made to decision-makers who were considering adding community shares to their workplace campaigns and to board members of many of community shares member organizations. Community outreach activities were also scheduled throughout the campaign season, including attendance at multiple information fairs, a campaign kickoff featuring a series of events, and fundraisers throughout cleveland during the fall campaign season. The annual power lunch celebration recognized distinguished activists in our community with our annual meeting and social justice awards with 226 attendees at windows on the river in cleveland, ohio on june 24, 2016. Social justice awards were presented to: joe cimperman (eleanor r. Gerson leadership in social justice award), rachel dissell and brie zeltner of the plain dealer (social justice communications-print journalism), preterm (social justice communications-advocacy campaign); diana cyganovich (social justice volunteer of the year), case western reserve university (campaign of the year) and bellaire puritas development corporation and near west theatre (members of the year). A new award category was created by the committee: rising activist that had three finalists: anna malefatto, mallory mcmaster and darius stubbs, with stubbs receiving the award. Board members were elected at the annual meeting of members that followed the luncheon. Management and generalthese items are mainly administrative in nature, paying for general supplies, postage, meeting expenses for the board of directors and committees, and some administrative salaries. Other program servicesservice to membersother services to member organizations include regular communication within the federation in the form of mailings, e-mail announcements and e-newsletter, and reminders. A link on the community shares website helps its members announce their job openings, and shares frequently refers qualified interns and volunteers to member groups and refers businesses to members with volunteer day projects. In addition, the website and monthly e-newsletter highlights members' accomplishments, activities and successes. We hold several brown bag lunch seminars throughout the year to help build the capacity of our members and increase their efficacy. Community shares also coordinates member relationships with the ohio association of nonprofit organizations (nonprofit education, discounted services, and consulting), western reserve historical society (archival services) and century federal credit union (financial services). All of these member services are geared toward improving communications, promoting cooperation, building organizational capacities, and seeking economic efficiency. Fundraisingother development activities go toward supporting the operations of community shares. These sources of funding include foundations, individual and corporate donors, and special events. With this very efficient use of dollars, community shares was able to plan, develop, and implement the program initiatives listed above more effectively. Donated servicesmember organizations provided over 2,500 hours of volunteer services for community shares, while community volunteers gave an additional 200 hours. Various individuals, institutions, and businesses donated services and products to be used as fundraising incentives and prizes. Annual reportgreater cleveland community shares publishes an annual report, which is disseminated at the annual meeting and also posted on our website.