CJ's Thumbs Up Foundation
Every Day is a Bonus
Mission
To provide assistance to families of children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses.
Ruling year
2010
Director of Programs
Roger Reynolds
Managing Director
Rachel Reynolds
Main address
P.O. Box 854
Ashland, VA 23005 USA
EIN
27-1470541
NTEE code
Gift Distribution (P58)
Patient Services - Entertainment, Recreation (E86)
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2022, 2021 and 2020.
Register now
Communication
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
When a child is hospitalized, a family's world is put on hold. When that child needs to be in the hospital for an extended period of time or frequently due to chronic, life threatening illnesses such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, or heart disorders, this can place an extensive burden and stress on any family, regardless of their means. At CJSTUF, our goal is to make Every Day a Bonus for families in challenging situations. We do this mainly by providing a healthy and hearty meal, free of charge, to any family member or caregiver whose child is on the inpatient unit at the two hospitals that we (currently) serve. While this meal provides sustenance, it also provides hope and a tangible sign that someone cares for them.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Financial Assistance Grants
In 2015, the Board elected to formally end the Financial Assistance Grant program. Families in financial need may still be eligible for some funding to pay a specific bill through the Directors Discretionary Fund. Since 2010, we have provided over $140,000 in financial assistance to families of children with chronic and life threatening illnesses.
Meal Fairies Program
The goal of this program is to provide healthy meals and snacks to caregivers of children hospitalized at Children's Hospital of Richmond and at UVA Health Systems in Charlottesville. When we launched this program in 2012, we provided a weekly meal to families at Children's Hospital of Richmond to feed about 100 people. Working with local restaurants, we expanded the program in 2015 to UVA Health Systems as well. Since 2016, we have fed over 10,000 people each year at both hospitals.
Directors Discretionary Fund
The board has approved $5000 for the Managing Director and Director of Programs to use at their discretion to fund emergency needs as well as grants to families living or served outside of our geographic area. Referrals are provided by social workers and representatives from local agencies.
Where we work
Awards
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of meals served or provided
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Meal Fairies Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We provide meals weekly at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU and UVA Children's Hospital to families of hospitalized pediatric patients. We feed about 75-100 people weekly at each hospital.
Total dollars distributed for utilities assistance
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Directors Discretionary Fund
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We directly pay medical or other related bills for families whose children have been hospitalized for extended periods of time.
Total number of grants awarded
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Financial Assistance Grants
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
From 2010 to 2016, we provided financial assistance grants to families in the Greater Richmond area whose children had experienced extended hospitalizations due to a chronic illness.
Number of products distributed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Meal Fairies Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We collect and distribute handmade or store-bought blankets to caregivers while their children are in the hospital.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our goals are to serve families in their time of need by:
Providing weekly meals at UVA Children's Hospital and Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU. As our organization grows, we would love to extend this service to other Virginia hospitals, particularly teaching hospitals who often serve patients with the most challenging medical needs.
Providing financial support to families upon request through payment of a family bill. This may include rent, utilities, a medical bill, funeral expenses, or another basic need of the family.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Collaboration with local restaurants to provide meals at a reasonable cost ($300 to feed 75-100 people).
Collaboration with local community groups to provide volunteers for our fundraising events.
Deployment of a fund development strategy that will help us raise an endowment; this will keep us financially stable for decades to come, allowing our growing organization to move beyond year-to-year fundraising and strategy.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We are a small organization that runs with a part-time staff and volunteer board, plus additional community volunteers who help us accomplish our goals.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We were established in 2010. Since our founding, we have provided over $140,000 to 300+ families. We have also provided food for over 60,000 people.
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
CJ's Thumbs Up Foundation
Board of directorsas of 01/15/2023
Jamie Grant
Foodio
Term: 2023 - 2023
Bill Roberts
WHAN/Randolph-Macon College
Rebecca Wood
Henrico Public Schools
Anthony Keitt
ACES & Shiloh Baptist Church
Molly Sonenklar
Children's Hospital of Richmond
Aaron Gilley
VCU Health Systems
Michelle Alford
SOAR 365
Emily Arnold Fleming
Faison Center
Julia Klauer
Atlee YMCA
Rhonda Toussaint
Randolph-Macon College
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 12/27/2020GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Thanks for signing up!
An email has been sent to the address you provided. Click on the link in that email to get more GuideStar Nonprofit Profile data today!
(Don't see an email in your inbox? Click here to resend it.)
GuideStar Pro Reports
Report successfully added to your cart!
Want more data?
A GuideStar Pro report containing the following information is available for this organization:
- Financial data for the most recent year (2022)*
- Financial statements for 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017
- Letter of Determination
- Officer and/or Employee data for 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018
- Contractor and/or Paid Preparer data for 2022, 2021, 2020
- Board of Directors data for 2023
- *with the ability to download the data for 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018
Download it now for $125.
Need the ability to download nonprofit data and more advanced search options?Consider a Pro Search subscription.