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To Leaders in Washington State (both elected and administrators in State, County, and City government):
You know well that government bodies rely on human service organizations to deliver basic services to constituents. However, do you know that requests for proposals (RFP) typically disallow human service organizations from being paid for the full costs of delivering those services? On average, government contracts pay less than 80 cents for every $1 in services human service organizations deliver. In addition to this, what funds are paid are tightly restricted, artificially reducing indirect costs (even after less that $.80 on the dollar is paid).
Human service organizations need operating expenses to deliver services.
As a direct result of this systemic underfunding, many, if not most, human service organizations are now in financial distress. Several long-standing, critical service providers have already permanently closed their doors. Governmental entities must change the restrictions and expectations associated with human service funding or risk losing critical service providers.
Underfunding critical service providers is not sustainable.
When governments short-change service providers, those organizations must skimp on the basics of internal controls, oversight, compensation, and benefits. As a result, human service organizations experience high levels of turnover, struggle to retain high-talent staff, and produce sub-optimal outcomes. The impacts are most severe on smaller nonprofits, which are more often led by members of the population they are designed to serve.
We, the undersigned, are calling on funders to move toward covering the full cost of delivering services through the use of performance-based, lowest responsible bidder contracts.
Supporters
Click the link above to add your name in support.
Name | On behalf of: (Organization or individual) |
Coalitions and Associations: | |
Mahnaz Eschetu, Chair | Brave Commitments |
Laurie Lippold, Director of Public Policy | Partners for our Children |
Jill May, ED | Washington Association for Children & Families |
Dr. Stephan Blanford, ED | Children’s Alliance |
Adan Espino Jr., Organizer | Pierce County Human Services Coalition |
Susan Brown, Organizer | Greater Seattle Child Care Business Coalition |
Tiffany Brace, Policy Director | Nonprofit Association of Washington |
Human Service Organizations: | |
Heather Fitzpatrick, CEO & Peter Drury, Chief Strategy Officer | Wellspring Family Services |
Janis Avery | As a retired human services executive |
Nela Cumming, ED | Encompass |
Steve Daschle, ED | Southwest Youth and Family Services |
David Newell, CEO | Children’s Home Society of Washington |
Dr. Pela S. Terry, ED | Atlantic Street Center |
Terry Pottmeyer | As a retired human services executive |
Karen Brady, CEO | Ryther |
Janice Deguchi, ED | Neighborhood House |
Mary Ellen Stone, CEO | King County Sexual Assault Resource Center |
Michael Heinisch | Executive Director, Kent Youth & Family Services (Retired) |
Phoebe Sade, CEO | Childcare Resources |
Faaluaina Pritchard, ED | Asia Pacific Cultural Center |
Wyonne Perrault, ED | North Counties’ Family Services |
Ray Deck III, CEO | Skookum Kids |
Gene Boes, CEO, and Laura Kneedler, Chief Mission Officer | Northwest Center |
Dr. Tafona Ervin, ED | Foundation for Tacoma Students |
David de la Fuente, ED | Communities in Schools of Kent |
Karin White, Interim CEO | YWCA Pierce County |
Bryan Flint, Executive Director | Sound Outreach |
Jon Botten, CEO, and Jon Gould, Chief Community Impact and Government Relations Officer | Childhaven |
Madelyn Carlson, CEO | People for People |
Jeananne Edwards, Executive Director | Community in Motion |
Deb Miller, Executive Director | Community Choice dba Action Health Partners |
Tim Sullivan, Executive Director | Washington 211 |
Gina Hall, CEO | Uplift Northwest |
Darlene Darnell, CEO | Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington |
Rachel Todd, Executive Director | YWCA North Central Washington |
Mary Steele, Executive Director | Compass Housing Alliance |
Cynthia Grayson, Executive Director | InterCultural Children and Family Services (ICCFS) |
Sue Camou Arrant, Executive Director | Kent Youth and Family Services |
Lillian Sherman, Executive Director | Pike Place Market Foundation |
Daryl J. Campbell, President & CEO | Evergreen Goodwill of Northwest Washington |
Jim Theofelis, Executive Director | NorthStar Advocates |
Colleen Speer, ED | Communities In Schools of Peninsula |
Thomas Reynolds, CEO | Northwest Harvest |
Liz Heath, CEO | Sound Nonprofits |
Joe LeRoy, CEO | HopeSparks Family Services |
Michelle McDaniel, CEO | Crisis Connections |
Stephen Woolworth, CEO | Evergreen Treatment Services |
Stacy Dym, Executive Director | The Arc of Washington State |
Lisa Yeager, Executive Director | Sno-Valley Senior Center |
Darla Helt, Executive Director | PEACE NW |
Misty Messer, Executive Director | CarePoint Clinic |
Jolene R. Seda, CEO | Triumph Treatment Services |
Matthew Wilson, Executive Director | Oasis Youth Center |
Debbie Meyers, Executive Director | SKCAC Industries and Employment Services |
Susan Brown, CEO | Kids Co. |
Jennifer Nobiling, CFO | Volunteers of America Western Washington |
Karen Williams, Executive Director | Trillium Employment Services |
Human Service Organization Board Members: | |
Ethan Norris | Board Member, Wellspring Family Services |
Hayden Williams | Board Member, Wellspring Family Services |
Brandy Reed | Board Member, Kent Youth and Family Services |
Robin Callahan | Board Member, Wellspring Family Services |
Mo Malakoutian | Board Member, Wellspring Family Services |
Jason Schindler | Board Member, Wellspring Family Services |
Tavish MacLean | Board Member, Encompass |
Clayton Ritter | Board Member, Encompass |
Chris Garcia | Board Member, Encompass |
Joan Vaughn | Board Member, Encompass |
Chuck Nordhoff | Board Member, Wellspring Family Services |
Charlie Ogle | Board Member, Northwest Center |
Stephanie Gebhardt | Board Member, Northwest Center |
Lynn Tuttle | Board Member, Wellspring Family Services |
Walt Gordon | Board Member, Community in Motion |
Doug Conrad | Board Member, Atlantic Street Center |
Jonathan Perrino | Board Member, Compass Housing Alliance |
Paul Hogle | Board Member, Compass Housing Alliance |
Grace O’Loan | Board Member, Ryther |
Joyce Jackson | Board Member, Northwest Center |
Diane Taniguchi | Board Member, HopeSparks Family Services |
Joyce Jackson | Board Member, Northwest Center |
Concerned Washington State Residents: | |
Diesha Rodgers | As a concerned Washington State resident |
Shwetha Panchal | As a concerned Washington State resident |
Judy Mahoney | As a concerned Washington State resident |
Michelle Codagnone | As a concerned Washington State resident |
Jim Yearby | As a concerned Washington State resident |
Michelle Mitchell-Brannon | As a concerned Washington State resident |
Janice L. Bronkema | As a concerned Washington State resident |
Joseph Leavitt | As a concerned Washington State resident |
Sue Camou Arrant | As a concerned Washington State resident |
Laura McMillan | As a concerned Washington State resident |
Asa Tate | As a concerned Washington State resident |
Cori Walters | As a concerned Washington State resident |
Bevette Irvis | As a concerned Washington State resident |
Karly Lee | As a concerned Washington State resident |
Wanda Oliver | As a concerned Washington State resident |
Amara Reitz | As a concerned Washington State resident |
Nancy Spurgeon | As a concerned Washington State resident |
Anne Jannetti | As a concerned resident of Washington State |
Morgan Miller | As a concerned resident of Washington State |
Briony Ball | As a concerned resident of Washington State |
Sidney Pandes | As a concerned resident of Washington State |
Linda Woods | As a concerned resident of Washington State |
Michael Oaks | As a concerned resident of Washington State |
Valerie Stewart | As a concerned resident of Washington State |
Boots Winterstein | As a concerned resident of Washington State |
Hannah Mistry | As a concerned resident of Washington State |
Jenny Timmons | As a concerned resident of Washington State |
Diane K Taniguchi | As a concerned resident of Washington State |
Kristin Johnson | As a concerned resident of Washington State |