Foundation for the Developmentally Disabled

Transcription

1 Foundation for the Developmentally Disabled General Information Contact Information Nonprofit Primary Contact First Name Primary Contact Last Name Address Foundation for the Developmentally Disabled Karen Govern th Ave. N Naples, FL Phone (239) Organization Web Site Facebook Twitter info@fddswfl.org allydisabled At A Glance Year of Incorporation 1983 Organization's type of tax exempt status Public Supported Charity Organization EIN#

2 Statements & Search Criteria Mission Enhancing the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families through: education, social, and recreational activities; advocating for employment and housing options; and raising community awareness. Background The Foundation for the Developmentally Disabled (FDD) began 35 years ago with parents wanting to provide some activities for their adult developmentally disabled children. Starting with bowling on occasion, the organization has grown to serve over 220 participants and their families. Approximately 140 individuals bowl weekly on Mondays at Beacon Bowl and Thursdays at Woodside Bowl. Baseball has expanded to four teams. Approximately 150 people annually attend monthly social events. Life skills including cooking, fitness and nutrition are taught year-round. In September, 2016, FDD launched the Trailblazer Academy, a full-time, structured program designed for post-transition young adults with a focus on vocational training, job readiness, daily life skills training, nutrition & health and discovering the arts. This community-based program is unique to SWFL and interest and participation was immediate. After 4 months the program doubled its capacity but still has a long waiting list. Additional special events are coordinated with other groups such as FGCU, Naples Art Association, Naples Orchestra & Chorus and more. These provide additional enriching opportunities. From 2016 to 2017, FDD also started a recreational basketball league and became the only affiliate in SWFL of the Next Chapter Book Club, a book club designed specifically for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Volunteer echo readers work with those who cannot read, but all book club members participate in discussion of book topics. CEO/Executive Director Statement Since 1982 FDD has been providing innovative programs and services to enhance the quality of life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Southwest Florida. FDD is a local, private non-profit committed to ensuring that the people we serve and their families have the lifelong support and resources they need to be full and active members of the community. With limited state and federal funds available, and scant local supports, families desperately need the types of programs FDD offers. FDD has built a track record of success through our educational, social and recreational activities. Some of our programs, such as monthly social events and weekly bowling leagues have been going on for nearly 30 years. FDD continues to advocate for housing and employment solutions for all special needs individuals and we are a trusted resource for referrals and information for families to get the help they need. It was this history of trust and quality, along with the recognition that a solution was needed to help address the issue of a "services cliff," that prompted FDD to develop the Trailblazer Academy. At age 22, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities age out of the school system and the structure and support that provides. Research states that over a third of this group find themselves not working or attending school in their early 20s. They are said to step off a services cliff, with half receiving no life skills or vocational training during that transitional young adult period. Transition services are critical for these individuals to learn and develop skills necessary for various employment, independent living and overall quality of life. In Collier County, services for these young adults is severely limited. The continuing demand for the Trailblazer Academy demonstrates how desperately families need this type of program. Areas Of Service Areas Served Areas Served ALL Geographic areas served in Collier County Collier County and Lee County Florida Service Catergories 2

3 Developmentally Disabled Services/Centers Autism Alliances & Advocacy 3

4 Programs Programs Monthly Social Event Description Long-Term Success Examples of Long-Term Success Target Population 1 Target Population 2 Every month of the year, FDD hosts a social gathering with food, refreshments, entertainment (including music and dancing) that members share and enjoy with family and friends. Members and their families are brought together to celebrate, make connections and form friendships. Out of FDD's nearly 200 members more than 50% participate in the monthly socials on a regular basis. In addition, new family members and friends are introduced to FDD each month. People/Families with People of Developmental Disabilities People/Families with of People with Disabilities 4

5 Trailblazer Academy Description Long-Term Success Examples of Long-Term Success Target Population 1 Target Population 2 Launched in September 2016, the Trailblazer Academy is a program unique to SWFL. After age 22, special needs young adults age out of the school system and the structure and support that provides. Transition and post-transition services are critical for these individuals to learn and develop skills necessary for various employment, independent living and overall quality of life. Trailblazer is a full-time, structured, program which offers opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to have daily vocational training at various job locations, fitness and recreational activities, nutrition education and classes to enforce daily living skills and job readiness. The program is community based - participants are active and engaged with local employers, nonprofit organizations, recreational centers and art programs. In addition, the participants will explore self-employment opportunities and regularly practice skills necessary for employment such as interpersonal skills, resume writing and job application processes. The Trailblazer Academy is goal-centered and the Program Director works directly with each participant and their family to achieve their own personal goals, whether it's employment, developing necessary life skills for independent living or exploring the community. With severely limited opportunities for this population in our community, FDD felt it was imperative to begin this program as soon as possible, so that young adults currently 22 and older were able to participate and so that special needs students still in school could have a program they could step right into post-transition. The focus of this program is vocational training and job readiness, so the ultimate goal is for participants to be prepared for competitive employment. This process is not as straightforward for the developmentally disabled as it is for the typical population. Some participants may take months to achieve this goal, while others, years. In the process, however, they will remain active and engaged and in a supportive, structured environment. The Trailblazer Academy currently has 14 participants and we have a waiting list. We have partnered with 6 local businesses and organizations to provide vocational training. We are developing plans to expand the program by acquiring a larger location and additional vehicle. People/Families with People of Developmental Disabilities Unemployed, Underemployed, Dislocated 5

6 Recreational Physical Activities Description Bowling League: What began as 6 families meeting at the bowling center once a week over 20 years ago has grown into two weekly bowling leagues with over 100 participants and an annual bowling banquet where top scores and participation are recognized and awarded. Bowling is a great way for individuals with disabilities to strengthen and maintain physical, mental and emotional well being, and regular participation improves balance and coordination, sharpens reasoning, raises confidence and boosts social interaction. Baseball League: A non-competitive league for all ages and skill levels plays January through April. Everyone fields and everyone has a turn at bat. Since 2013, the league has grown to 4 teams over 150 players. It s a great opportunity for socializing, physical activity and teamwork. Basketball A non-competitive basketball league meets weekly to learn techniques of the game through drills, activities and scrimmages. All levels and abilities are welcome and this is a great opportunity for physical exercise, learning teamwork and improving coordination. Long-Term Success Individuals with developmental disabilities are less likely that the typical population to get the amount of physical activity they need. This is because often times they need adaptions or extra supports. The recreational programs FDD offers ensures and enables all participants. Regular physical activity can lower stress and boost mood, increase strength, endurance, balance and flexibility, help control blood pressure and blood sugar, improve self-esteem and boost energy during the day and aid in sleep at night. Examples of Long-Term Success FDD's bowling league participation increases every year. In the year we had over 130 bowlers. The baseball league has grown from 2 teams to 4 in 4 years and has had over 150 players. Basketball started with just 5 participants and now has over 30. Target Population 1 Target Population 2 Other Health/Disability Elderly and/or Disabled 6

7 Photography Workshop Description Long-Term Success Examples of Long-Term Success Target Population 1 Twice yearly, FDD gives individuals with developmental disabilities the opportunity to express themselves through photography in our photography workshops. Participants learn the basics of photography from an experienced instructor and discover their own creative voices through the use of cameras adapted to their individual physical abilities. Many photographers have never had the opportunity to take a picture before. Photo shoots take place throughout the community and the photographers work is exhibited through displays at special locations. Experiences in the arts can be a form of therapy for people with developmental disabilities. Learning to take photographs, seeing images through a camera lens, and sharing photos taken with friends and family can give a sense of personal accomplishment. Art projects can help to improve a person's outlook on life, give voice to unexpressed emotions -- especially for those with developmental disabilities. The photography workshops are limited to 15 people and once advertised, quickly fill up. Patty, a photographer in the workshop had this to say: "I loved learning to take photos. I was so proud when everyone came to see the pictures we took." Other Health/Disability Target Population 2 7

8 Next Chapter Book Club Description Long-Term Success Examples of Long-Term Success Target Population 1 FDD is the only affiliate in SWFL for the Next Chapter Book Club (NCBC), a book club designed especially for adolescents and adults with intellectual disabilities. NCBC promotes literacy learning, community inclusion, and social connection. As an affiliate of NCBC, FDD can form as many book clubs as desired, with 5 to 8 people with intellectual disabilities and 2 to 3 trained volunteer facilitators in each club. FDD currently has 5 book clubs that meet in local cafes and bookstores to read and discuss a book for 1 hour a week. The members take turns reading aloud and non-readers will have an echo reader (a volunteer who reads the sentence and the book club member repeats it as they follow along in the book.). The primary goal of the weekly meetings is to include everyone in the process of reading and talking about the story. The NCBC challenges as well as assists the members to read in a group setting with others who share their interests and the group completes about 3-4 books in a year. There is a common misconception that people with special needs are not capable of lifelong learning and not interested in books. Beyond school, meaningful opportunities for literacy and ongoing learning are rare. Lower literacy skills usually result in a lower quality of life, with fewer employment and leisure opportunities. The NCBC provides people with intellectual disabilities a place where they can enjoy reading and don't feel obliged to do so. While they may have had bad experiences with learning to read in school, they are eager to participate in a book club and feel like a member of the community. Reading in a group is an essential part of the book club that empowers the members. They have the chance to relate what is happening in the story to their own lives and learn from one another. By meeting in popular social gathering places, book club participants have the opportunity to experience cafe culture and helps raise awareness of this exceptional population. Some of the initial results from the book clubs have been amazing. Chuck, age 49, was considered a non-reader his whole life and is now sight-reading words. Mo, age 26, who reads at a 4th grade level, said "I feel good helping the others in the book club who don't read as well as me." The consensus from early all participants has been happiness and a sense of accomplishment to have read a book and learned something new. Other Health/Disability Target Population 2 8

9 Impact Goals What are your organization's long-term strategic goals? FDD works to enhance the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities. We do this by providing quality education, social and recreational activities, acting as a resource and referral center for families and advocating for employment and housing opportunities. Our main purposes are: Educational programming Social & recreational activities Life skills training Employment advocacy Informational resource for members Support and community building among caregivers Advocacy and community awareness in Southwest Florida Our current target population is individuals 18 years and older who have intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in SWFL. We currently have approximately 220 members and our goal is to reach the entire population of individuals with developmental disabilities in our community to help them lead full and rewarding lives. We are also continually seeking feedback from our members on the types of programs they want and need and developing high quality programs and activities that make a difference in our members lives. The transition from school-supported services at age 22 can be very challenging and difficult for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. With limited opportunities for quality continuing education, vocational training and life-enriching activities, families find themselves facing a "services cliff." FDD successfully responded to this need with the launch of the Trailblazer Academy in September Demand was tremendous and the program is currently at capacity. In order to accommodate the waiting list and add complimentary full-time programs for our members, FDD is developing a plan to increase our physical space and grow our organizational capacity. Our goal is to create a community center for the intellectually and developmentally disabled in Collier County - a place of their own. Once developed, we plan to also serve students still in high school, to help ease the transition to adulthood and eventual independence. Strategies What are the major strategies you will do to accomplish your goals? In alphabetical order: 1. Advocacy: To enhance community awareness of our organization and to the needs of the developmentally disabled, particularly in employment and housing. 2. Community Outreach and Marketing: To broadly market the services and activities of FDD to enhance membership and member experiences. 3. Financial Sustainability: To ensure sufficient funds from diverse sources to secure the future of FDD and its ability to achieve its goals. 4. Organizational Development: To optimize functioning and continuity of Boards, committees, and staff. 5. Physical Space: To acquire the necessary space and equipment to provide desired programs and activities for the developmentally disabled in our community. 6. Programming: Expand and diversify program offerings (social, recreational, educational, employment) in response to the growing needs of the developmentally disabled and their families. Capabilities What are your organization s capabilities for doing this? FDD's strengths are: 9

10 Leadership: an active and engaged Board and Executive Director Professional, well-trained staff Commitment of dedicated volunteers History of service - FDD was founded in 1982 and has had an active role continually since that time. An above average donor retention rate with several key donors increasing their contributions over a decade. Serves a need within the community where there is a void. We provide a real opportunity for families with developmentally disabled members to communicate, connect and participate. We offer programs and activities that are not offered through other organizations. FDD's credibility has been growing in the community and continued outreach is planned to establish partnerships and collaboration. Our leadership, staff, volunteers and members all have a strong belief in the purpose of the organization. Indicators What indicators do you use to measure progress? Membership levels and participation rates are the key indicators of organizational progress. Our membership has remained steady for the past 3 years, but doubled over the past decade was our largest membership year with 220 members (membership renews annually). Our monthly social events are typically at capacity and we often have a waiting list. Over 1,600 people participated in the past year. We have over 120 members participating in each the bowling and baseball leagues. Our Life Skills classes have served over 230 participants. The Trailblazer Academy has served 28 people since its inception and currently has a waiting list of over 20 people. We have 17 vocational partners - businesses and local organizations that are committed to giving the participants consistent, quality job experiences. The Trailblazer participants receive skill and progress assessments on a regular basis. Future indicators of progress in this program will include participants who "graduate" from the program to competitive employment. Our donor base is expanding and we have acquired several significant new donors in the past year. FDD's annual signature fundraising event has grown exponentially in the past 2 years. Over 300 people attended the event in 2017 and $230,000 net was raised, an over 50% increase from This demonstrates the increased awareness of our mission and support for our work and organizational objectives. Progress What have and haven t you accomplished so far? Our Board of Directors has added 4 new members since 2016, community leaders committed to our mission and goals. Established the Trailblazer Academy in September 2016, a full-time, post-transitional vocational training and education program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 17 vocational partners for the Trailblazer Academy offering on-site job training for the participants. Grew our signature fundraising event to over 300 attendees and net proceeds of over $230,000. Over 60 donors giving $5,000 or more from 1/1/2016 to 6/30/2017. Added two new recreational programs (basketball and yoga) and the Next Chapter Book Club, a book club designed specifically for individuals with intellectual disabilities. New systems and processes have been established internally to enable more efficient and effective day-to-day operations at FDD. What we have not accomplished is identifying a physical center from where our programs can grow and 10

11 expand. We also need to identify and strongly advocate for more housing opportunities for the developmentally disabled in our community. We also have not developed programs to thoroughly engage the transition ages (14-21) in the community through a junior membership program. 11

12 Board & Governance Board Chair Board Chair Ed Smith Board Members Name Affiliation Status Robin Boies Community Volunteer Voting Stacy Bolesky Sweet Art Finishes, Inc. Voting Carrie Cooney Community Volunteer Voting Ken Gilman Retired Voting Arnold Karp Retired Voting Angela Lanctot Lanctot Law Voting Domenic Lucarelli Lucarelli Law Voting Myles McHale US Bank Private Wealth Management Voting Larry Novick Retired Voting Joshua Rudnick Edward Smith Woods, Weidenmiller, Machetti, Rudnick & Galbraith, PLLC Southwest Florida Estate Planning, PLLC Voting Voting Board Demographics - Ethnicity African American/Black 0 Asian American/Pacific Islander 0 Caucasian 100 Hispanic/Latino 0 Native American/American Indian 0 Board Demographics - Gender Male 67 Female 33 Unspecified 0 Governance Board Term Lengths 2 Board Term Limits 3 Board Meeting Attendance % 0 Written Board Selection Criteria? Written Conflict of Interest Policy? Under Development Yes 12

13 Number of Full Board Meetings Annually 12 Standing Committees Finance Special Events (Golf Tournament, Walk / Run, Silent Auction, Dinner / Gala) Development / Fund Development / Fund Raising / Grant Writing / Major Gifts Board Governance Advisory Board / Advisory Council 13

14 Management Executive Director/CEO Executive Director Term Start Jan Mrs. Karen Govern Experience Karen Govern brings years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising and event planning areas to her position as Executive Director. Within Southwest Florida, she has served as Development Director for Naples Alliance for Children, the Development Manager for Friends of Foster Children of SWFL, and was also a nonprofit consultant with Montecalvo & Associates where she consulted to over 15 local nonprofits on fundraising strategies, board development and nonprofit management systems. Karen holds a Masters in Public Administration from John Jay College and a Bachelors in Business Administration from Boston University. Staff Full Time Staff 8 Part Time Staff 0 Volunteers 100 Plans Organization has a Strategic Plan? Yes 14

15 Financials Current Fiscal Year July Fiscal Year 2015 Projected Revenue $784, Projected Expenses $713, Detailed Financials Revenue and Expenses Fiscal Year Total Revenue $312,725 $668,486 $530,351 Total Expenses $297,015 $287,999 $238,454 Revenue Sources Fiscal Year Foundation and Corporation $152,255 $131,242 $134,244 Contributions Government Contributions $0 $0 $291,545 Federal State Local Unspecified $0 $0 $291,545 Individual Contributions $152,255 $131,242 $134,244 Indirect Public Support $5,000 $0 $0 Earned Revenue $26,509 $24,552 $20,587 Investment Income, Net of Losses $26,033 $6,058 $0 Membership Dues $10,281 $12,220 $6,972 Special Events ($59,837) ($34,237) ($4,029) Revenue In-Kind $68,511 $62,747 $351,124 Other ($20,720) $397,302 $37,788 Expense Allocation Fiscal Year Program Expense $167,909 $152,673 $156,075 Administration Expense $73,809 $86,680 $44,551 Fundraising Expense $55,297 $48,646 $37,828 Payments to Affiliates Total Revenue/Total Expenses Program Expense/Total Expenses 57% 53% 65% Fundraising Expense/Contributed Revenue 22% 21% 7% Assets and Liabilities Fiscal Year Total Assets $1,565,095 $1,557,220 $1,173,053 Current Assets $369,365 $381,083 $506,684 Long-Term Liabilities $6,020 $6,020 $12,195 Current Liabilities $7,315 $685 $10,015 Total Net Assets $1,551,760 $1,550,515 $1,150,843 15

16 Capital Campaign Currently in a Capital Campaign? No Goal 0 State Charitable Solicitations Permit Permit? Yes 0 Created Copyright