We are approaching the end of the year, and so many of us use this time consider what charity is the most deserving of their hard-earned dollars. All of us at SNAP want to make a simple pitch to you: SNAP best charity to give to this year-end.
Here are 10 reasons why SNAP is the best charity:
1. Our Experience:
We’ve helped Spokane County neighbors exit poverty for over 55 years. We’re the only designated Community Action Agency in Spokane, with over 30 programs to give a hand-up!
2. Our Adaptability:
Rental Assistance is a great example of a new program we added as a way to adapt to community needs during our housing crisis. We provided Rental Assistance to over 2,500 households last year!
3. Our Footprint:
Our impact goes beyond the individual clients we serve. You can see our footprint in the 124 small businesses we helped start or expand last year, and in the 189 jobs we helped to create or retain in our community. Even if you didn’t receive support from SNAP, you likely still benefited from our services!
4. Our Values:
Our charity is guided by our values of Community, Respect, Justice, and Equity. It is these values that allow us to feel confident that each of the nearly 40,000 Spokane County neighbors who come through our doors or phone lines are treated with dignity and respect.
5. Our Staff:
Our staff are incredible – and they feel the same about SNAP! In fact, 93% of our staff report they are proud to work for SNAP. Many of our staff are donors. If you need any more proof that we have a worthy mission and impact, look to our staff to see how strongly they believe in our charity’s mission!
6. Our Impact:
SNAP emerged out of the War on Poverty, and we still take this vision seriously. We provide a spectrum of services that help clients LIVE (provide basic needs – warmth, shelter), LEARN (grow their futures with knowledge – financial literacy), and THRIVE (equipped to exit poverty – homeownership, entrepreneurship, etc.) We strive to be more than a stopgap to those enduring financial struggles – our charity is a pathway out of poverty!
7. Our Growth:
In the past few years, SNAP has grown leaps and bounds. New programs, new staff, new technology, all designed to serve our community better. We are dedicated to our equity journey, and served 5% more BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) clients last year than the previous year.
8. Our Partnerships:
At SNAP, we are proud of the partnerships we maintain within the community. Government, corporate supporters, and other local nonprofits and service groups comprise the over 200 partnerships we maintained last year. We are particularly proud of our partnerships and support to agencies that assist underserved, diverse populations.
9. Our Environmental Sustainability:
Our Weatherization program, along with Energy Conservation Education help to reduce emissions, help vulnerable communities most impacted by climate extremes, and have the added bonus of helping families save money each month on their energy bills!
10. Our Fiscal Responsibility:
SNAP is a fiscally strong charity that has never had any financial audit findings. Our Board of Directors is governed by elected officials, the private sector, and representatives of low-income persons, all of whom ensure we are responsibly spending our funds with the goal of helping low-income people work toward self-sufficiency. As a donor, you can feel assured that you are helping our Spokane community – $0.90 of every dollar goes to client programs!
Are you ready to donate?