Thread: NM-Adelante Unidos project aims to improve charities

Adelante Unidos project aims to improve charities

By Jason Gibbs Sun-News reporter
Article Launched: 06/09/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT


LAS CRUCES — Catholic Charities of Las Cruces is moving forward with its Adelante Unidos project, with help from a three-year, $60,000 grant from the state.

The group, first envisioned in 2004 and serving the Las Cruces community since August, 2007, received a HELP NM grant, which will provide private, non-profit community project partners with some additional assistance in organization, planning and program development, said Tom Chagolla, director of Catholic Charities of Las Cruces.

The grant will be used primarily for training and support for nonprofit agencies in Las Cruces and southern New Mexico. It will not go to providing services directly to those in need, but support for existing agencies in the area, Chagolla said.

"With a limited budget we don't want to get into direct services," he said. "We don't want to reinvent the wheel. There are great organizations doing God's work serving the needy and the poor."

Instead the funds will provide training in "hands on, best practice models for leadership, fundraising, and policy," he said. "You need to have that central core infrastructure. If you don't have that together you are going to break down somewhere.

"Our community partners are saying they need help and they don't know who to turn to," he added. "We are the center resource. We will also train and provide hardware for presentations, how to tell your story. It's not about raffles, it's not about enchilada dinners, it's really about how you raise the big dollars that you need.
Project partners include Jardin De Los Niños, HEAL program, EL Caldito Soup Kitchen, Gospel Rescue Mission, Red Cross, Boys and Girls Club of Las Cruces as well as the Pecos Valley Alliance, Jonah's House, and the Carlsbad Community Soup Kitchen.

Michael Zaragoza, vice president of the United Way of Las Cruces board of directors, said the United Way provides similar services to hundreds of non profits in the county and Southern New Mexico.

The key difference between the United Way and the Adelante Unidos project is that Adelante will not be raising funds beyond the grant money that has been awarded, Chagolla said.

The United Way already serves as a hub for nonprofits as well as human services organizations in the community — offering not only training and support, but financial backing for service providers, Zaragoza said.

"What's great about the United Way is we are a large nonprofit that is able to run a large annual campaign that will support nonprofits through the year," Zaragoza said. "If one person gives one time, they are able to affect not a few hundred but a few thousand people."

He said there are more than 800 nonprofit organizations registered in Doña Ana County. United Way distributed roughly $80,000 last year. Raising those funds is becoming harder as more people seek donations. The economy is placing a strain on services and further reducing donations across the board, he said.

United Way is offering organizational support and training and Zaragoza is concerned that services not be duplicated.

"Our board goal is to line everyone up and consolidate and start everyone working together to achieve those goals," he said. "We want the nonprofits to take care of the program, deliver their service and the United Way will provide the funding needs."

Chagolla said cooperation is vital and he hopes Adelante Unidos will help fill what he sees as gaps in training and support for participating groups.

"Things haven't gotten better. They've gotten worse," he said. "But we have faith and we have partnership."


Jason Gibbs can be reached at jgibbs@lcsun-news.com

http://www.lcsun-news.com/news/ci_9524724

He said there are more than 800 nonprofit organizations registered in Doña Ana County

Based on the population of about 200,000, that's 1 organization for every 250 people!

Originally Posted by gofer

He said there are more than 800 nonprofit organizations registered in Doña Ana County

Based on the population of about 200,000, that's 1 organization for every 250 people!

Wow...that is so unnecessary!