Helpers Community Inc

The organizational goal of Helpers Community is to provide resource support and to help enrich the lives of Individuals with Developmental disabilities and the organizations that serve them.

We provide this support through 3 strategic initiatives:
1) Operating a retail store, at 1947 Union St in San Francisco, CA which mentors and trains individuals with developmental disabilities in the basic policies and procedures of retail, to better prepare them for full time employment opportunities down the road.
- 100% of all products sold in our store are made by, designed by or provided to us by companies that support individuals with developmental disabilities

2) Residential Housing: Helpers Community owns 2 residential homes on Fulton Street in San Francisco which are leased to the Pomeroy Rehabilitation and Recreation Center in SF for purpose of providing permanent residences for 5-6 individuals with developmental . disabilities in each home.
- Each resident is fully independent and participate in work programs or planned program activities at the PRRC daily.

3) A Grant Giving program; Helpers Community accepts grant proposals from other nonprofit organizations in the Greater SF Bay Area and beyond, who also support Helpers mission of providing resource support to I/DD. Since 2017, the Helpers' grant program has disbursed over $3M to over two dozen organizations who are in need of financial support to help launch, enhance or maintain their own programmatic initiatives. Helpers' goal is to disburse a minimum of $400,000 annually, with a minimum 10% increase to our budget each year. We also strive to add 1-2 new organizations who have not received prior support from Helpers to our grant portfolio each year.

Relaunching our charity over the past two years with a sole focus on our Mission; supporting individuals with developmental disabilities

1) In 2017/ 2018 , Helpers invested over $450,000 of our own revenue to renovation and update two of our current homes for purpose of re opening residencies to house individuals with developmental disabilities.

2) In 2018, Helpers Community invested in the hiring of a Full time Executive Director to manage, administer and over see all operations of the charity

3) In 2018, Helpers made the investment to redesign, and enhance or website and social media presence for purpose of raising a new level of awareness to the program

4) In 2018/2019, Helpers invested in a new, digitized data management program, helping to streamline, communicate with and solicit much needed donation support with our over 2100 " contacts"

5) In 2019 , Helpers relocated our former Helpers Bazaar retail store, located in SF Ghirardelli Square, to the vibrant retail environment of Union Street , for purpose of increasing our awareness and maximizing or retail potential for our clients. This also came at a cost of a 3 fold increase in rent ( at our expense) for purpose of optimizing our potential.

6) In 2019, Helpers re-launched a Quarterly News update to our 2100 person contact list, ensuring our neighbors, clientele, colleagues, constituents and community is aware of the work we are doing and the services we provide.

7) In mid 2019, it is our intent to create our 3 year Development Plan as well as finalize our annual fund raising initiative for purpose of ensuring a sustainable revenue stream.

8) In November 2020, Helpers Artisan Boutique surpassed FY 2019 retail sales by 12%. December 2020 store sales tripled in the in the same period vs prior year despite the pandemic and with store closed the first 3-months of 2020

9) Successfully launched the first e-commerce online store at http://shop.helperssf.org in June 2020

10) Hired the first two full time store employee at Helpers; A Retail Marketing Manager and a Chief Job Coach and Mentor at HAB

11) In 2020 Helpers' grant program disbursed more than 50% ( $375,000) more award grant support than 2019, including an additional $60,000 in emergency Covid 19 relief support to 10 Bay Area non profits. Six of the grant recipients were first time grant award recipients.

12) In 2021, Helpers created our first employee handbook , new board member criteria and established our Anti- Discrimination policy.

13) In 2021, Helpers updated and enhanced our organizational By Laws to reflect more accurately the current realities the organization faces today.

14) In Decembers of 2021, Helpers recruited, vetted and nominated for membership 5 new board members to the organization.

15) Helpers Executive Director and Board committee chairs are in the process of finalizing our next 3-Year Strategic Plan, ( 2022-2024)

1) The hiring of a full time Executive Director

2) the engagement of a willing and participatory fully volunteer Board of Directors

3) the hiring of critical outsourced resource support to ensure the effective and efficient day to day operational support of the organization;
- general accounting and bookkeeping, data entry management , IT and web support services, marketing and In-store program services.

Invest in People

4) The hiring of two full time employees to Helpers in 2020/2021; A Retail Marketing Manger to help generate brand awareness and consumer demand at our retail store, and a Primary job coach and Mentor at HAB

5) Added 5 new board member with a broad base of experience, diverse skill set, from both the business and nonprofit sectors. In addition, added a parent of an I/DD to the Helpers board to add that much valued perspective.

Strategic Planning:

Clearly identified the key areas of need and primary areas of focus to ensure our future sustainability. Completed the 2020-2022 Strategic and the next 3-Year Strategic plan is in progress.

Fund Raising:

Successfully developed and launched our first targeted fund raising initiative in late 2020 and exceeded expectations in December of 2021.

Developed a case statement template with a strategic goal of submitting 8-10 RFF'S/ LOI's for our own needed support in 2021/2022

Successfully planned and launched 4 In Store cultivation receptions in 2021, with 4 planned annually in 2022 and beyond. All have resulted in building awareness and generation revenue

-Our 2 homes have been completely renovated
(one has been occupied since January 2019, the 2nd planned for May '19 move-in)

- A new website has been built, redesigned and enhanced

- a new Data Management system was implemented in April '19

- our new Retail Store, relocated, newly renovated and opened for business in Mar' 19

- launched our new direct to our constituent news letter in Dec'18 with plans to distribute quarterly updates of our progress and needs

- 1st online e-commerce store launched in June 2020

- Hired two full time Helpers employees in 2020 ( Retail Marketing Manager and Primary Job Coach and Mentor at Helpers Artisan Boutique

- Update Company By Laws, Created new Employee handbook

- Added 5 new Board Members