Why Fund Our Community Builders?

Nov 15

We are growing, and that brings new challenges!

Throughout 2021, the RIC has been a flurry of activity, completing compliance requirements for grants while dealing with new challenges that arise when an organization is growing: adding more insurance, learning a new Quickbooks budget, and outgrowing current payroll systems. Furthermore, as COVID protocols eased and we began to see more of our neighbors, we dealt with a jump in domestic violence issues, and even bullying among our neighbor children. By July, we had so many neighbors contacting us, we couldn’t keep up! We were thankful to welcome Hamida to the staff in August, as well as our two OSU interns for the year. By mid September, all were comfortable helping our neighbors and we were still busier than ever! We have grown to the point where we are serving so many people - 2 new families a week in addition to the hundreds of individuals we already serve - that there is too much operational, governance, and financial management to handle without the addition of a full time executive director.

What do we need to continue to excel and grow?

We need to fill the position of a full time executive director. In April the RIC staff and board navigated the resignation of our founder and executive director, Kirsta Benedetti, causing the RIC to lose valuable institutional knowledge and community connections. Diane Linton, RIC fundraiser, stepped in to fill in this gap, but she is unable to take on the workload of both the Fundraiser and Executive Director positions. Additionally, our current staff are wonderful, and each is an important asset to the RIC, but they are not adequately compensated for the high level of work required of them. With our current budget, we cannot afford to offer a competitive salary or benefits package in order to fill this critical executive director role or retain our existing talent.

We need to raise money for our staff. The "Fund our Community Builders” campaign will significantly move the RIC towards our goal of adding a new position of full time Executive Director and increasing the pay of our current staff.

“There is not a stronger story to tell than this. We are still here and still strong and still caring for the community.” - Lara, RIC Board member

Em and Fabiha celebrate their birthdays together

Hamida and her daughters visiting the RIC after they moved to Ohio from Algeria

Souad, Khalil, and Emelia at our 2021 Community Festival

How much is needed?

$70,000 is needed to reach our goal. Our focus is fundraising at these levels:

Sustainers Level: $1,000 given annually, with a pledge of 5 years
Partner level: Any recurring monthly amount under $1,000
Corporate Sponsor: $1,500

Your generous gift will help the RIC continue to hire and retain top talent, in order to build relationships and support our neighbors.

SUPPORT THE FUND TODAY!

Why fund our Community Builders?

We want to continue to help our neighbors connect with employment, and we aspire to be an attractive and competitive employer. Being able to provide equitable pay and benefits is important to the RIC; this not only honors the expertise, kindness and hard mental and emotional work of the staff, but also helps ensure longevity in their roles, which allows for trust to be built with neighbors, partners, volunteers, and other staff. Your generous gift will help the RIC continue to hire and retain top talent, in order to build relationships and support our neighbors.