We get a lot of traffic through our front door. Our scholarship deadline is next Monday and we’ve had a steady stream of students (well actually its more often than not the parents) inquiring about necessary forms, financial documentation and the like. Last week it was potential grantees making sure their application made the 5pm deadline. Donors stop by to inquire about the fund they established or how best to make an additional gift. Representatives from our School Endowment Fund Boards stop by to drop off a packet of gifts they’ve received from their donors. Yes the People Who Care, that we work along side, visit us often.
But it is the other visitors that cause me to pause. At least once a day the phone or the doorbell rings and we are asked whether we can help with heating bills, know where mental health counseling is provided, who might help with medical care or physical therapy. Sometimes it nothing more than directions are needed, but in any case, our staff refer to 211, look up addresses in the phone book, or refer from a list of community resources we have posted by the front door. It isn’t our business, but we don’t want anyone leaving our office feeling like they haven’t been helped.
We try hard to provide the best philanthropic service possible to our donors. We try equally hard to provide both funding and intellectual benefit to our grantees, and servant leadership to our community. I hope that the reason that people contact us is that they believe that an organization called a “community foundation” is all about service. I want the community foundation to be inviting and helpful. I want people to know that when they call they’ll hear a warm, caring voice and sincere offer to serve. I want people to know that our doors are open, even if its just for directions to the speech and hearing center.
