Simple Gifts Foundation
hope when you need it most
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
We are a private charity in Columbus, OH, named the Simple Gifts Foundation. We formed this small charity to help what some would call the working poor. We raise money and use it to help qualified applicants who are often living paycheck to paycheck and have had something go wrong that threatens everything. We pay rent, fix a car, etc. to stave off financial disaster for people who are working hard, not on public assistance, but who fall on tough times. Our initial applicants found us through word of mouth. When we have advertised publicly, we have been inundated with inappropriate applications from people on public assistance who do not qualify, and we have also received a number of fraudulent applications. Our new strategy is to use word of mouth and limit to direct referrals from board members. Given the small size of our private foundation, this is a better match for our means.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Direct Assistance to Those in Need
SGF assists people who live in the Columbus Ohio Metropolitan Area with the basic needs of life. We are not a long term solution to chronic problems, but do want to provide a bit of relief to those who need us.
a. To qualify for SGF assistance, families/individuals must have a work history and must be referred to SGF by a member of the board. Those we help could be candidates who have recently lost their job or have been laid off. This also includes a spouse who has lost a job in the same household. Candidates also qualify who are still working but face a personal crisis that places them in temporary financial hardship.
b. Each case is vetted on an individual basis and all decisions will be at the sole discretion of the SGF vetting committee, whose decision is final.
c. We do not accept applications from the general public. We only accept direct referrals from members of the board of directors. Board members and their immediate families are not eligible for assistance from SGF.
Charitable Donations
The simple gifts board of directors may elect to donate some of its funds to organizations in our community who serve people in need and whose activities are consistent with our values.
Community Spirit Days
The simple gifts foundation may host community spirit days to help the working poor enjoy family time and to offer small prizes that could help with daily living expenses.
Where we work
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of clients served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Direct Assistance to Those in Need
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of applicants
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Direct Assistance to Those in Need
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn 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?
Goal 1: The Simple Gifts Foundation will have a network of direct referral sources that provides appropriate applicants at a rate consistent with our ability to provide help.
Goal 2: The Simple Gifts Foundation will have consistent fundraising success to provide support for about 10-15 applicants per year in the Columbus Metropolitan Area, along with funds sufficient to support spirit days once or twice a year, and excess funds to donate to local charities of our choosing.
Goal 3: The Simple Gifts Foundation will have a stable, sustainable, and effective pattern of operations that remains true to our original founding as a small, faith-based charity operating at a personal level
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Goal 1. Referrals at the appropriate rate. Use business cards and other simple means to provide information to people in need.
Goal 2. Sufficient Fundraising. Host Annual Golf Tournament in Summer and Annual dinner / fundraiser in Winter to raise funds and awareness. Receive support from Website Donations and Individual Benefactors. Publish Quarterly Newsletter and Annual Report to engage stakeholders, develop profiles of those we have helped, generate new and creative fundraising ideas.
Goal 3. Sustainable operations. Written and accessible operating procedures, policies, and position descriptions, develop subcommittees, recruit a sufficient pool of volunteers, secure risk management insurance, hold spirit days to keep up board morale.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We have a committed, capable board and volunteers and have been operating successfully while growing slowly for several years. We have pro-bono assistance for accounting and taxes as well as for legal work. By virtue of their professions, the members of our vetting committee bring a diverse set of computer skills, leadership and management skills, recruitment skills, business acumen, and legal knowledge to the board.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Our strategic plan was adopted in June 2018, sand this has been completed. Despite efforts at marketing on the appropriate scale, we either had very few referrals or a spate of inappropriate ones. As a small charity run by volunteers, we could not handle a recent run of 2-3 applications per week, most of which were fraudulent and did not meet our policy. Sadly, despite our clearly published guidelines, unscrupulous applicants looking for money ignored the guidelines and applied anyways, not answering the qualifying questions honestly. While our vetting committee discovered this and denied these applicants, the time drain on our volunteers was unsustainable. Our new plan ha been decided at a board meeting, as reflected above. We will move to direct referrals and we will also make donations to local charities of our choosing and host community spirit days.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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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.
Simple Gifts Foundation
Board of directorsas of 09/08/2023
Gary Markuz
Dan Berry
John Buford
The Simple Gifts Foundation
Scott Watkins
The Simple Gifts Foundation
Anne Watkins
The Simple Gifts Foundation
Rob Cadwallader
The Simple Gifts Foundation
Charles Lease
The Simple Gifts Foundation
Jan Markuz
The Simple Gifts Foundation
Kathy Patton
The Simple Gifts Foundation
Lisa Shoewalter
The Simple Gifts Foundation
Jeff Baird
The Simple Gifts Foundation
Barb Berry
The Simple Gifts Foundation
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
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The organization's co-leader identifies as: