RAP Quarterly - Spring 2022 Newsletter Vol. 34 |
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Hello everyone! As we transition to warmer weather and as the threat of Covid-19 continues, hopefully, to wane, I am cautiously optimistic that many of us might be attending in-person events to see friends and enjoy social activities. We recently welcomed our two faithful volunteers, Ruth Christensen and Angie Nieto back to the office. They were eager to return to the team and we are thankful for their dedication and friendship.
RAP has transitioned to a hybrid of Zoom and in-person meetings with our Coffee With… a monthly networking opportunity. Coffee With … presents an opportunity to speak with seasoned nonprofit professionals about fundraising, event planning, management, leadership, board development, and current nonprofit trends. RAP staffers (including me) are attending more in events and meetings, and we are also seeing many more groups reserving meeting spaces in our facility.
In addition to using our rooms, several organizations have utilized our facilitators for creating or updating their Strategic Planning.
"We recently worked with Stephanie Minor, of NPO Centric, on our Strategic Plan,” says Martha's Village and Kitchen Executive Vice President Sam Hollenback. "Stephanie is an excellent facilitator, skillfully guiding our discussions and course of action. With her help, we stayed focused, ensuring the best use of our time.
“She provided great insight and ideas to help us determine our goals and how to focus on steps to obtain those goals. Our time together was productive but also fun for us as a group. We left feeling accomplished."
As a result, says Sam, the end product is an authentic, actionable, and useful plan to help guide the organization over the next several years.
"I highly recommend NPO Centric and Stephanie Minor as a consultant to get your strategic/annual planning process reinvigorated or off the ground."
RAP’s NPO Centric program has knowledgeable and inspiring facilitators to assist in this process. If you’re interested, feel free to contact Stephanie Minor at: SMinor@RAPFoundation.org
Here's some news of grants awarded that I would like to share with you:
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Recent Grants
The R.A.P. Board allocated the following grants to these organizations recently:
· Vision To Learn
· Senior Inspiration Awards
· Palms to Pines Parasports
· CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation
In partnership with the Desert HealthCare District, the following organizations were awarded grants for the Mental Health Initiative Request for Proposal:
· A.C.T. for Multiple Sclerosis
· Alianza Coachella Valley
· Autism Society Inland Empire
· Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo (Newly named “Innercare”)
· Consejo de Federaciones Mexicanas den Norte America
· Desert Recreation Foundation
· Inland Southern California 211+
· Jewish Family Services
· Mama’s House Ministries
· Olive Crest
· Riverside County Latino Commission on Alcohol and Drug Services, Inc.
Platinum Seal of Transparency
The R.A.P. Foundation is a public Foundation and works to achieve accountability and transparency for the use of our public funds.
R.A.P. has once again earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar, the world’s largest source of nonprofit information. We are proud to share our key metrics with the public to demonstrate the progress and results we are making toward our mission.
Desert Fast Pitch Set for October 6, 2022
We hope you will join us on October 6 at the U.C.R.- Palm Desert Campus for Desert Fast Pitch 2022. Nonprofits serving residents in eastern Riverside County will compete for cash grants; A panel of judges will determine the winner of the Top Prize of $20,000, as well as $15,000 for Most Innovative. Everybody gets into the act with the award of $10,000 for Audience Choice.
Each contestant will deliver a three-minute “Pitch” to the judges in front of the audience. The more compelling the pitch, the better the chance of securing one of the top cash grants.
No group is a loser, though; all participants in the program will receive smaller cash grants and will also have received several free training sessions on how to improve their “pitch” to potential grantors.
Be safe, take care; wishing you all good health.
Lety De Lara, CEO
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Updates from Riverside County
By V. Manuel Perez, Riverside County Supervisor, and RAP Foundation Board Member
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The RAP Foundation Is Once Again
Sponsoring the Annual Senior Inspiration Awards
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The Senior Inspiration Awards event taking place on March 31 will recognize 11 seniors from the Fourth Supervisorial District of Riverside County who have volunteered countless hours of their time and who deserve recognition. Each honoree personifies a healthy, active and giving attitude and lifestyle.
The RAP Foundation supports the event by issuing a grant to the nonprofits selected by the SIA Honorees. In honor of the late Jean Benson, RAP’s annual contribution is known as the SIA Jean Benson Award. Jean served on the Inaugural Senior Inspiration Awards Committee and on the RAP Board from 2000-2016. She was a true inspiration for her never ending commitment to improving the quality of life for all residents.
Congratulations to all of the 2022 Honorees!
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Terry Nelson- Cathedral City
Noelia Gonzalez - Coachella
Donna Lozano - Desert Hot Springs
Clive Weightman - Indian Wells
Eugenie Balentine - Indio
Victor Grund - La Quinta
Ricardo Loretta - Palm Desert
Bunni Benaron - Rancho Mirage
Kathleen C. Cohn -Palm Springs
Sharon Huddleston- Riverside County
Josie Martinez - Riverside County
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There will be a party, with people! FINALLY!
Please join us for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, prizes, and FUN as we relaunch our capacity-building program. Center For Nonprofit Advancement is now NPO Centric!
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We Will Be Giving Away Four Stagecoach Tickets With Preferred Parking! Must Be Present To Win. |
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We will also be giving away other fantastic prizes! |
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Introducing the newest RAP Board Member, Karina Quintanilla |
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Karina was elected to the Palm Desert City Council in 2020. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of Riverside. Since 2005, Karina has worked as a Career Guidance Specialist at Cathedral City High School.
In 2015, she was recognized by the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) Leadership Institute for her community engagement and leadership efforts.
Karina enjoys getting involved to make a difference in people’s lives and divides her time in serving on the CVAG Public Safety and Homelessness Committees, the Cultural Arts and Cove Communities Commissions, Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert, CV Animal Campus, Dr. Carreon Foundation, Riverside County Foundation on Aging, and the American Civil Liberties Union.
“Through my community work, I am aware of the great work that RAP does,” says Karina. “I am looking forward to increasing awareness of the resources it has to offer to our residents.”
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Introducing the newest RAP Team Member, Sandy Garcia |
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RAP welcomes Sandy Garcia to our Team, who will take on the duties of Accountant. Sandy was born and raised in Palm Springs. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science/International Relations from the University of California, San Diego and recently graduated with an Associate’s degree in Accounting.
“My best friend is my fiancée Chris, we have a beautiful little 2 year old named Christopher. I love to go running, it’s a great stress reliever and I love to eat; pizza and cheeseburgers are my favorite. I also really enjoy math and love to spend time with my dog, Waffles,” Sandy said recently.
Sandy has earned several Certificates in Accounting, Payroll, and Math but is looking forward to becoming more proficient as our Accountant. She will take on more responsibility and have the opportunity to demonstrate her leadership skills and contribute her ideas to strengthen our Team.
"I really like that each person has a different perspective due to our distinct backgrounds and because our duties overlap, we are able to learn from one another," Sandy says. "And we work really well together."
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Grants Corner
By Nora Duffy, Grants Director
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This past quarter was dedicated to releasing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for nonprofit Mental Health providers that will address our target population of primarily low-income Eastern Riverside residents with an emphasis on Black, Indigenous, People of Color family units with children. Additional special consideration is being given to those agencies that can support the Palo Verde Valley area, and our Funding Strategy for this fiscal year.
That Funding Strategy includes:
· Improving quality mental health service to remote areas through innovative systems that address policy, access, and delivery channels.
· Improving awareness of mental and emotional health resource services for residents through systems that address access, policy and delivery channels.
· Supporting cultural competency of service providers and reduction of language/stigma/cultural barriers to service access for clients.
RAP has approved 13 agencies so far for funding of this 12-month initiative. While many of these agencies were augmenting their existing program with our funding, several are willing to start up an effort in the Palo Verde Valley area. We will be utilizing Results Based Accountability® (RBA) to evaluate these funded programs at the end of the grant period next year. RBA’s Scorecard captures data in a meaningful and precise way to insure that our funding goals are being met.
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RAP Office Available for Lease |
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As you may know, RAP makes space available for nonprofits at below-market rates. Currently, 25 organizations are taking advantage of not only these low rental opportunities, but also the ability to be located in the same building with other nonprofits.
Good news: RAP currently has one cubicle space available. If you and your organization find this an attractive possibility—and why not?—contact Mireya Reyes by email at mreyes@rapfoundation.org.
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