My Nonprofit Reviews

As immediate past Board Chair of AGFT, member of the board for over 7 years and a contributing partner to the organization for almost 20 years, I'm proud to share that AGFT's mission, operational excellence and success through community outreach and giving is every bit as exceptional as it seems to be. As a community partner for a number of years, I simply loved their dual mission of helping children and teachers in need while advancing sustainability initiatives that prevented waste from entering landfills by identifying creative uses for used, unused, unloved items to be repurposed into learning tools that teachers could share with their students. It was a pretty simple and humble mission to get behind, and I clearly saw how we could help.

Moving years ahead to joining the board, I quickly came to realize, through the professionally run board meetings and the thoughtful, deliberate and detailed board packages outlining operations, expenses, campaigns, initiatives, etc., that this was far more than a well-meaning organization...this team of staff and board members were every bit as dedicated and passionate about exceeding the goals and expectations they set for themselves as any startup would be - there was an enthusiasm and passion about every new initiative, every metric exceeded, every new partner. It was truly inspiring to see.

When you understand how few full time employees and how many volunteers that are engaged to make all of this work, you really begin to respect just how much effort and hard work goes into making AGFT successful in accomplishing it's mission. And when you think about just how much work it really is, you see clearly that it can only be accomplished by people with a heart and selfless drive for giving and helping others. Together they operate at an astounding +-96% efficiency rating, which means that 96% of all donated funds and the value of goods donated is provided to teachers and students, with just +-4% going to the overhead operations of the company.

Fast forward to my time as Board Chair…what stands out to me was how much help I had in that role. The very deliberate mentoring of the board chair by the immediate past board chair and the consistent communication and thoughtful scheduling done by the donor relations, community engagement, marketing and operations and finance teams allowed me to easily work events into my professional schedule. It was at this stage, too, that I really witnessed just how well respected (envied even) AGFT is in the community. The best known, well run and respected organizations in our community and around the country recognize the exceptional success of AGFT in serving those most in need in our communities and they know that their contributions will get to the people who need it the most.

About those who need it the most…#2 pencils. That is the most requested supply from teachers that their students need, but do not have with them when they start the school year/day. #2 pencils. When something so base is the top need, you know the need is so much greater, and therefore the opportunity to serve is that much more important and challenging. No one reading this needs to have their heartstrings tugged, you already know the powerful impact these gifts for learning have on children…it is profound, and the effect is far more than a ripple in a pond.

To accomplish their goals, year over year, AFGT has a core mission promise to innovate and seek to get ahead of the needs of the community. These innovative and evolving programs include: A Gift For Music (providing musical instruments, lessons, access to instructors, concerts and experiences), Pencil Boy Express (a mobile delivery service that holds teacher shop days at schools outside a 3 mile radius of the Free Store), Pencil Boy Online (online ordering service for deliveries across the school district) and GB3 (The Great Big Backpack Build, our yearly fundraising/supply campaign that builds tens of thousands of backpacks stuffed with requested supplies and delivers to schools across the network for distribution to kids at the start of the school year).

A Gift for Teaching and A Gift for Music are life changing organizations for the children who are the future of our communities. If you’re looking for an organization to support in Central Florida, or one that is a national leading example in the Kids In Need Foundation network, teaching and mentoring other community programs around the country, please consider AGFT as your partner. Thank you.

Jim Hair
Partner | Office President
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