AGENCY PROFILES

Eligible Genesee County nonprofit organizations may apply to participate in the BEST Assessment Phase. Following participation in the consultant led organizational assessment, agencies may choose to apply for the Capacity Building Phase based on consultant recommendations. To date, BEST has provided funding to more than twenty nonprofit organizations.

The first cohort took place from 2003-June 2006. In January 2006, BEST launched the second cohort; eight agencies are currently participating in their first year of capacity building. The list below includes all past and current participants; we have noted those agencies that participated in the Assessment Phase only. To learn more about the Assessment and Capacity Building Phases, including eligibility requirements for agencies, please visit the Project Overview.

BEST will be accepting new applications in the fall of 2008; the RFP will be announced and distributed in July/August 2008. Organizations must be 501(c)3 organizations in Genesee County; regional or national affiliates should contact BEST staff before applying. If you would like to participate in the next cohort please visit Agency Application and submit your contact information.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint
Many of the children served by this agency come from single parent homes; BBBS provides them with friendship and mentoring from early elementary ages through adolescence. Additional programming focuses on education, social development, cultural awareness and relationship building. Big Brothers Big Sisters partners with numerous organizations including the Genesee County schools, local nonprofit and community organizations, and the Flint Police Department. BBBS has recently moved to a new office located at the YMCA.

Executive Director: Reta Stanley
Board Chair: Sara Jo Gallock
Staff Size: 18
Founded: 1944
Budget: $934,675.00

Boys and Girls Club of Greater Flint
The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Flint currently serves more than 1,200 members, providing programming in Sports, Fitness & Recreation, the Arts, Character & Leadership Development, Education & Career Development, and Health & Life Skills. With dedicated full and part-time staff and measurable outcomes, the Club is able to inspire and enable area young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. BGCGF has undergone a substantial turnaround under new leadership, and the BEST Project has been an integral part of this success.

Executive Director: James Gaskin
Board Chair: Kenneth Duetsch II
Staff Size: 12 - 35 adjusted to higher number for summer program
Founded: 1997
Budget: $650,000.00

Catholic Charities
They offer counseling, family reunification, substance abuse treatment, senior services, foster care and adoption, Spanish Speaking Services, and operate a soup kitchen food program. Some of their programs have been added to core services as a result of partnerships with formerly independent agencies that weren’t able to be self-sustaining. Last year they served 29,000 individuals in 19 different programs.

Executive Director: Deborah McCormack
Board Chair: Lauretta Montini
Staff Size: 77
Founded: 1941
Budget: $2,659,409.00

Christ Enrichment Center
CEC was formerly part of the St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church but became an independent 501(c)3 in 2004.. Their mission is to provide outreach service to the neighborhood with an emphasis on literacy training for children and adults. They were not funded in 2004-05 because of a major organizational restructuring, but they are beginning capacity building in 2005-06 based on the earlier assessment.
*CEC participated in the Assessment Phase in 2003-2004. In 2004-2005 the agency decided not to apply for capacity building funding due to competing internal priorities. However, they received capacity building funding in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007.
Executive Director: Lee Williams
Board Chair: Kelly Beardslee
Staff Size: 13
Founded: 1988
Budget:

Court Street Village Non-Profit Housing
They own and operate affordable housing facilities for seniors, families and low-income populations including Court Street Village East and West Apartments and Avon Park. Their housing complexes are in and around downtown Flint. They are a Community Housing Development organization; they also serve as a Community Development Block Grant agent for rehabilitation. CSV works with a number of partner agencies and community development corporations.

Executive Director: Jerry Vogler
Board Chair: Doris Sain
Staff Size: 15
Founded: 1986
Budget: $191,000.00

Crim Fitness Foundation, Inc
They have a long-standing reputation in the greater Flint community and are well known for their annual race. The organization recently changed their name from the Crim Festival of Races to more accurately reflect their full mission. Current programming includes a youth development and fitness program, a training program for racers, and an adult fitness and health activities.
Executive Director: Gerry Myers
Board Chair: Mark Yonan
Staff Size: 7
Founded: 1985
Budget: $809,000.00

Flint Neighborhood Improvement and Preservation Project Inc.
Their mission is to improve the conditions that stabilize, revitalize, and provide affordable housing within Genesee County. They provide emergency repair assistance and owner occupied rehabilitation and other housing assistance.
Executive Director: Bitha Tucker
Board Chair: Theresa Allen
Staff Size: 5
Founded: 1964
Budget: $526,513.00

Flint Public Library
This institution has a long history on the Flint Cultural Center Campus providing services to children, adolescents and adults throughout the region. The library not only collects, transmits and provides access to information in written, audio and virtual forms, but it also facilitates and provides space for a variety of educational, cultural and artistic programs. In 2004, they were one of six winners of the National Library Service Award for Excellence.

Executive Director: Jo Anne Mondowney
Board Chair: Sally Kagerer
Staff Size: 65
Founded: 1851
Budget: $5,322,801.00

Flint Youth Theater
The Flint Youth Theater operates under the auspices of the Flint Cultural Center Corporation. The Flint Youth Theater joined the FCCC in 2003, having previously been a part of the Flint Board of Education. FYT manages and operates two on-site theaters and provides intergenerational productions and programming throughout the year. They are known for presenting original, innovative productions as well as theater classics for youth of all ages.
**Assessment Phase Only
Executive Director: Bill Ward, Flint Youth Theater; Cindy Ornstein, Flint Cultural Center Corporation
Board Chair: Tim Keener
Staff Size: 9.5
Founded: 1957
Budget: $1,041,021.00

Genesee County Habitat for Humanity
Their mission is to provide safe, decent, and affordable housing to families in need. They have built 45 homes with the help of volunteers.
Executive Director: Margaret Kato
Board Chair: Doug Wyrwicki
Staff Size: 5
Founded: 1990
Budget: $543,847.00

Greater Flint Arts Council
They serve the local arts agencies, artists, and downtown revitalization groups with Community Cultural Planning. They are both a membership organization and a presenter, and have initiated a number of programs in partnership with others as well as on their own. They own a large facility on the main street in Flint, two-thirds of which remains undeveloped.
Executive Director: Greg Fiedler
Board Chair: Sue Lauber
Staff Size:
Founded: 1967
Budget: $700,100.00

IMA Children’s Recreation Fund
Originally, known as the IMA Foundation, the Children’s Recreation Fund has a significant historical link to multiple recreation facilities in the Flint area. The Children’s Recreation Fund facilitates and oversees social, recreational and educational programs and facilities. Their partner agency, the IMA, raises funds to support the CRF’s activities and provides both administrative support and fiduciary oversight of the CRF.

Executive Director: Sherlynn Everly
Board Chair: Jeff Sabolish
Staff Size: 2
Founded: 1998
Budget:

Jewish Community Services
The agency has been a part of the community since 1936 when it began under the direction of the Flint Jewish Community Council. They provide medical transportation, senior congregate and mobile meals, casework coordination services to seniors, a refugee Resettlement and Acculturation Program, as well as family and youth educational and cultural programming. JCS works closely with the Jewish Federation staff and administration; they are co-located in the same building.

Executive Director: Yuliya Gaydayenko
Board Chair: Shelley Spivack
Staff Size: 10.5
Founded: 1987
Budget: $483,500.00

Leadership Genesee

Executive Director:
Board Chair:
Staff Size:
Founded:
Budget:

Loose Senior Citizen Center
The center serves an average of 975 participants a month and has recreational programs, continuing education classes, wellness and health programs, and volunteer opportunities available for anyone fifty years of age and older.
Executive Director: Marjorie Hodges
Board Chair: Carl Gabrielson
Staff Size: 4
Founded: 1995
Budget: $169,800.00

Metro Housing Partnership
Metro Housing was founded in an effort to coordinate the many housing support agencies in the greater Flint area. Their primary programs are housing counseling and financial education for potential home owners. They staff the Continuum of Care (a coordinated effort to address homelessness) program and have a revolving loan fund.
Executive Director: Ravi Yalamanchi
Board Chair: Sixto Christo Olivo
Staff Size: 7
Founded: 1992
Budget: $414,990.00

National Council on Alcohol and Addictions-Greater Flint Area
The organization provides diagnosis and treatment for individual and families of addiction and mental health disorders, a significant issue in Flint and Genesee County.
Executive Director: Michael Hunt (Interim)
Board Chair: Tina Fielder-Gibson
Staff Size: 17
Founded: 1952
Budget: $569,000.00

Planned Parenthood of East Central Michigan, Inc.
As a regional agency, they serve a number of areas with a variety of local needs and politics. The current executive director has been with the agency for more than 20 years. They provide birth control information, physical examinations and educational services to women, seniors, and youth.
Executive Director: Jim Richardson
Board Chair: Eileen Hayes
Staff Size: 28
Founded: 1964
Budget: $1,707,023.00

Priority Children
They are an advocacy and information gathering organization, helping to bring people and organizations together to improve the lives of children and families in Genesee County. In addition, in 2004, they assumed sponsorship of the Carrera Program-a long term, holistic approach to teen pregnancy prevention. Two of the four full-time staff members are exclusive to the grant supported Carrera Program.
Executive Director: Gail Stimson
Board Chair: Linda Moxam
Staff Size: 3
Founded: 1990
Budget:

Salem Housing Community Development Corporation
They provide education for home ownership and rehab a few houses each year within their geographic boundaries.
Executive Director: Raymond Hatter
Board Chair: Earl Proctor
Staff Size:
Founded: 1984
Budget: $2,535,092.00

The Resource Center
The Resource Center was founded as a merger of three organizations: the United Way’s information and referral program for volunteers (Volunteer Action Center), UW’s Management Assistance Program (MAP), and the local Executive Service Corps. Their services include consulting, training, and information resources for non-profit organizations as well as a number of other programs that were formerly housed elsewhere. Their on-line service helps organization recruit volunteers.
Executive Director: Dale Weighill
Board Chair: Ingrid Halling
Staff Size: 3
Founded: 1997
Budget: $317,251.00

The Urban League of Flint
The Urban League was founded in 1943 to address race relations and serve the north end of Flint. They were not funded in 2004-05 and did not apply for funding in 2005-06.
**Assessment Phase Only
Executive Director:
Board Chair:
Staff Size: 3
Founded: 1943
Budget: $605,760.00

YWCA of Greater Flint
Their core programming includes health and fitness education and facilities, a child development center, domestic violence and sexual abuse services, and racial justice education and dialogue. The YWCA operates an eight story facility in downtown Flint.
Executive Director: Karen Folks
Board Chair: Lauri Prochazka
Staff Size:
Founded: 1908
Budget: $3,063,664.00