Assistance League of Charlotte

Assistance League of Charlotte is a nonprofit member-volunteer organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and families through community-based philanthropic programs – we feed, we clothe, we mentor, we educate. Assistance League of Charlotte serves at-risk children in the Charlotte community through the work of five philanthropic programs: (1) Operation Check Hunger; (2) Operation School Bell®; (3) Mecklenburg County Teen Court; (4) Scholarship; and (5) Outreach.

These five programs contribute to lasting change by:
• Keeping at-risk children focused while in school by providing proper nutrition and eliminating food insecurities;
• Improving school attendance and self-confidence by providing proper clothing;
• Giving first-time juvenile offenders a second chance and keeping them out of the criminal justice system;
• Providing educational, creative learning, camp and job enhancement scholarships; and
• Partnering with other non-profit organizations to increase the overall community benefit.

Member volunteers have adjusted programs and processes to provide services during and following the pandemic and continue to work in close partnership with area agencies to stay informed of critical needs.

Assistance League has four strategies for providing every child an opportunity to succeed:
1. Ensure the growth of philanthropic programs to positively impact the community, lead social change, and improve upward mobility
2. Ensure sufficient active membership, skills, and resources to support the goals of the organization.
3. Maintain adequate funding for current, increasing and long-term support of philanthropic programs, and chapter administration while meeting our targets for return to the community.
4. Maintain excellence in management, administration, communication, technology, and stewardship of chapter assets.

Monitoring and improving Assistance League's philanthropic programs to ensure the changing needs of the community is the organization's number one strategy. In order to serve the maximum number of children and families, Assistance League maintains and administers a thrift shop that provides low-cost merchandise to the community and generates over $500,000 annually in revenue and continues to grow.

Assistance League of Charlotte has active member volunteers who share a passion for serving children. All members receive continuous training on organizational processes and procedures.

A volunteer Board of Directors oversees the work of the members as they execute programming and manage the organization's thrift shop. With the exception of an administrator for the chapter's Mecklenburg County Teen Court program, volunteers serve as staff for thrift shop shifts and programming. National Assistance League provides annual leadership training on best practices.

The philanthropic programs continuously assess the value provided by analyzing end-of-year results. In addition, each program maintains documented repeatable processes that are improved whenever process failures occur. Assistance League’s strategic planning and policy of maintaining a year’s operating budget in reserves to cover for disastrous situations allowes for continued program operations.

Financial requirements are met through the net proceeds from the thrift shop, from solicitation of private and corporate donations and grants, from other fundraising events and from support of the newly formed Assistance League of Charlotte Foundation.

Indicators

Output and outcome accomplishments for the five programs are measured by the number of children and families served and through the surveys that are returned by the teachers and administrators of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to ensure Assistance League continues to meet the changing needs of the community.

In alignment with the strategies above, Assistance League of Charlotte has grown its programs by at least 10% each year, excluding 2020 due to the impacts of COVID. ALC membership continues to grow along with its annual revenue streams by focusing on excellence in management, continuing education programs, implementation of new technologies, and administration support.

In 2022, Assistance League of Charlotte sold its existing facility and purchased a new facility capable of housing the thrift shop and associated warehousing while expanding facilities necessary for philanthropic programs and chapter activities. Net profits from the sale were used to expand operating reserves and fund a non-profit supporting organization dedicated to the mission of Assistance League of Charlotte. All of which demonstrate excellence in stewardship of chapter assets.