To meet the evolving needs of our communities and our donors by raising funds and giving responsibly to a broad range of human service and other organizations that strengthen Concord and Carlisle.
Since 1947, the Concord-Carlisle Community Chest has strengthened our community by fundraising and allocating money (in FY08, over $500,000) to a broad range of human service organizations that help Concord and Carlisle residents. When you give where you live, you can see your donation at work. Your single contribution supports agencies and programs that offer a broad range of community services to young and old alike—family and individual counseling, legal assistance, job retraining, support for domestic violence victims, adult respite care, preschool scholarships, parenting support, substance abuse prevention, adolescent programs, and much more.
Funds are raised through our annual community campaign, through bequests and also through special events such as our auction and triathlon race. Money raised is distributed annually through a stringent allocations process that ensures not only that donations go to those most in need, but that the agencies being funded are those providing professional and efficient services. This process begins every January, when the Chest accepts proposals both from member agencies and other organizations committed to meeting human service needs in Concord and Carlisle in the coming year. Members of the board of directors and community representatives then form review teams. Each team visits four or five agencies, both those that have received Chest funding in past years and those making first-time requests. Finally, the teams recommend funding for each agency and the Chest’s board of directors approves the allocations in May. Agencies receive quarterly funding beginning in July.
In addition to supporting member agencies financially, the Chest acts as a catalyst for community collaboration, providing assistance in the areas of fundraising, public relations, and long-range planning. New ideas and initiatives are always welcome. We are proud of both our tradition of caring and our responsiveness to the ever-changing needs of our community.
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