Wheres the money tree?
Executive Director Kevin Winge said its top three money sources, in order, are individuals/special events, private foundations and corporations. Government grants are only 15 percent of the budget. Open Arms’ plan is ambitious, Winge said. “We are rolling the dice on this and trusting that the community will support it.” Part of the growth gamble comes from believing that Open Arms has a mission that people get. “You don’t have to have cancer, you don’t have to have AIDS, to understand what Open Arms does,” Winge said. “We have all had the flu or been sick at some point and not been well enough to go grocery-shopping or to cook meals for ourselves. The difference is that most of us have a family member to get us through that illness. The majority of our clients don’t.” If empathy doesn’t raise enough money, Open Arms is counting on its expanded kitchen. Like many nonprofits, Open Arms is trying to support its mission through enterprise. Winge is talking with Meals on Wheels programs ab
