Reflecting to Move Forward

When you look at The Patterson Foundation's initiatives from the outside, the threads that weave the 17 initiatives together aren't always obvious. As Inaugural Fellow, I was asked to author the Budget Narrative addressed to the Governing Board, a task for the last nine years CEO and President Debra Jacobs has undertaken. The opportunity offered deep value. In just two pages, I was challenged to showcase not only the work I have been a part of since joining the TPF family, but also identifying the threads that bind it all together -- our core mission to strengthen individuals, organizations, and the community. The Patterson Foundation is truly an organization where we live the mission. Enjoy a brief glimpse into what our team has been up to and what's still to come as our community and the world continues to adapt and innovate.

In 2019, The Patterson Foundation undertook planning a year of celebration to share ten years of impact through Honoring & Onward. Little could we know how necessary TPF's flexible, innovative, and responsive operations method would become. In light of the global pandemic with no clear end in sight, all TPF initiatives will continue to evolve into greater creative avenues and increased impact.

Unprecedented times call for unprecedented community responses. The Giving Challenge 2020 raised a record-breaking $19.1 million with The Patterson Foundation's dollar for dollar match on any unique donation $25-$100 contributed an incredible $7,498,640. Season of Sharing continues to offer critical last-resort funding to individuals, with TPF supporting the campaign's resurrection as part of COVID-19 Response efforts.

Aspirations to Actions will continue to evolve to match the needs of the community. The Patterson Foundation learned through new work in community book circles and virtual community conversations that there is a critical role in facilitating the creation of space for productive discussions across communities -- another sparkling example of the value beyond the check.

Aspirations Journalism has reached new heights through its utilization as a critical part of the Census 2020 Education Project and new initiative Digital Access for All. Census 2020 Education project has activated TPF's community relationships and built new connective tissue to raise awareness around the importance of Census 2020. Through TPF's partnership with the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and other community advocates, we estimate that we have reached more than 80,000 community members across four counties with at least two counties on track to exceed 2010 self-response rates.

COVID-19 exposed great inequities in our communities around digital access. From online learning to the social isolation of older adults, it seems that everyone is struggling to understand what is necessary to stay safe, connected, and productive in uncertain times. Out of this struggle, The Patterson Foundation decided to undertake Digital Access for All. While still "airy," Digital Access for All will explore the efforts of multiple sectors working to enhance access to technology that connects people in ways that foster inclusion and well-being.

Ever-adaptable Patriot Plaza saw wonderful engagement throughout 2019 and into 2020 with a packed house at the Presidents Day event. When field trips were abandoned as part of learning-from-home plans, the Patriot Plaza team immediately devised ways to create meaningful, interactive virtual tours and EdExploreSRQ lessons. The work, in partnership with former TPF initiative The Collaboratory at Ringling College, is on-going, but there is no doubt that the impact of Patriot Plaza will only be magnified through these new engagement methods.

Margin & Mission Ignition continues to work with more than two dozen nonprofits on embedding earned income. Additionally, the MMI team played a major part in the Future of Philanthropy experiential class during spring 2020, connecting Lilly Family School of Philanthropy students with current and former MMI organizations to put theory into action. In summer 2020, MMI shifted focus to Advancing Mission Thrivability in response to the stress nonprofits felt due to COVID-19 restrictions. The first iteration of "labinars" and "webversations" have been high value-high engagement events with more than 50 area organizations attending.

While the best-laid plans for an on-site experiential class for ten Lilly Family School of Philanthropy students were thwarted, TPF was able to pivot to a fantastic virtual experience in less than a week, laying fertile groundwork for additional distance learning opportunities in the new era of online learning. The Advancing Philanthropic Leadership initiative continues to deepen as connective tissue with IU strengthens. In spring of 2020, TPF welcomed its second class of Fellows, cementing the beginning of a true network of leaders dedicated to transforming the sector.

Center for Disaster Philanthropy and NetHope both underwent leadership transitions in early 2020. TPF continues to engage with both organizations while seeing how things evolve. However, clearly there has never been a more important time to be engaged in disaster response work.

As The Bay works through gaining Phase 1 site plan approval with the city, The Patterson Foundation anticipates that the next match will be triggered after approval is official.

Suncoast Nursing Action Coalition continues to be a pride point in terms of return on investment with significant impact throughout the region, with only the TPF investment of initiative shepherd Deborah Gauvreau's time.

Suncoast Campaign for Grade-level Reading continues to earn national, regional, and local recognition for excellence in engagement and impact. With the great uncertainty caused by COVID-19 in early learning, SCGLR has met challenges with relentless focus and creativity. Innovative programs like THIS BOOK IS COOL! and live virtual family engagement events have presented more than 4,000 children and parents the opportunity to stay connected and learning even in the most difficult circumstances.

While many organizations will view this time as a great "pause" in productivity, The Patterson Foundation has never been more focused on strengthening individuals, organizations, and our community. With the Governing Board's support, TPF will continue to demonstrate what's possible when we approach philanthropy through the lens of caring, connecting, collaborating, contributing, and creating.