Open Hearts Foundation

IN 2023, THE OPEN HEARTS FOUNDATION HOSTED A VARIETY OF VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES INSPIRING VOLUNTEERISM ACROSS THE GLOBE AS WELL AS SUPPORTING ITS CHARITY PARTNERS AND VARIOUS CAUSES. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED GRANTS IN ITS LARGEST GRANT CYCLE IN ITS HISTORY GIVING 19 GRANTS TO CHARITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. THE FOUNDATION ALSO RETURNED TO ITS PRE-PANDEMIC FUNDRAISING MODEL OF HOSTING A TWO DAY CELEBRATION OF ITS MISSION THROUGH ITS CELEBRATORY GALA IN MAY. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION ENGAGED ITS DONORS IN TWO CHIT CHATS AND A PRIVATE DONOR RECEPTION IN NOVEMBER.

THE OPEN HEARTS FOUNDATION MADE INVESTMENTS THROUGH ITS GRANTMAKING PROGRAM IN ALIGNMENT WITH ITS OPEN HEARTS PHILOSOPHY, WHICH IS INSPIRED BY JANE SEYMOUR'S MOTHER, MIEKE FRANKENBERG. THIS PHILOSOPHY DRIVES THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION FORWARD AND ITS GRANT CYCLE FUNDED $250,000 TO CHARITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. THE FOUNDATION HAS FOCUSED THESE GRANT INVESTMENTS PRIMARILY TO SUPPORT SMALL, EMERGING CHARITIES WITH BUDGETS OF LESS THAN A MILLION DOLLARS. THROUGH THE FOUNDATION'S EXTENSIVE INTERNAL VETTING PROCESS, 19 CHARITIES RECEIVED GRANTS TO SUPPORT THEIR LIFESAVING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OKLAHOMA, PENNSYLVANIA, TEXAS, AND VIRGINIA. THESE CHARITIES SERVE HIGH RISK COMMUNITIES IN NEED OF FOOD, CLOTHING, HYGIENE KITS, MEDICAL SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, AND WORKPLACE READINESS PROGRAMS SO THAT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES CAN CONTINUE TO THRIVE. AS PART OF THE GRANTMAKING PROGRAM, THE FOUNDATION SHARES THE MISSION OF EACH FUNDED CHARITY WITH ITS GLOBAL FAMILY OF DONORS AND VOLUNTEERS. ADDITIONALLY, ABOUT HALF OF THE CHARITIES LEVERAGE THE FOUNDATION'S GRANT AS A MATCHING GRANT AND RAISE DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THE FOUNDATION'S GRANT. SOLIDARITY SANDY SPRINGS, FOR EXAMPLE, RECEIVED A $12,000 MATCHING GRANT WHICH INSPIRED THEIR COMMUNITY OF DONORS TO RAISE A TOTAL OF $88,257 FOR THEIR HUNGER RELIEF PROGRAMS IN GEORGIA.

VOLUNTEERISM IS A CRITCAL CORE INTIATIVE OF THE OPEN HEARTS FOUNDATION BECAUSE WE BELIEVE WE ALL CAN DO SOMETHING TO HELP OTHERS. INSPIRING VOLUNTEERISM AND HOSTING VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES ARE CORE STRATEGIES TO THIS PROGRAM. SINCE THE PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN 2018, THE FOUNDATION HAS HOSTED MANY VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES THAT HAS ENGAGED A GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF VOLUNTEERS. IN 2023, THE FOUNDATION LAUNCHED ITS VOLUNTEER BLOG WITH THE GOALS TO INSPIRE VOLUNTEERISM THROUGH INTERVIEWS, PROVIDE RESOURCES TO HELP A PERSON BEGIN OR STRENGTHEN THEIR VOLUNTEER GOALS AND TO EMPOWER OUR CHARITY PARTNERS WITH OUR VOLUNTEER FAMILY TO HELP THEM REACH THEIR GOALS. THE VOLUNTEER BLOG WAS LAUNCHED IN APRIL DURING NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK IN APRIL AND WE MADE A CALL TO ACTION TO OUR VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE WORLD TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP CLEAN UP THEIR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS. LOCALLY, THE FOUNDATION JOINED BALLONA CREEK RENAISSANCE DURING THEIR EARTH DAY CLEAN UP OF THE BALLONA CREEK. IN NOVEMBER ON FAMILY VOLUNTEER DAY, THE FOUNDATION HOSTED A PILOT INITIATIVE WHERE WE COORDINATED VOLUNTEERS TO SUPPORT LOCAL FOOD BANKS AND WE PARTNERED WITH TWO OF OUR CHARITY PARTNERS IN SUPPORT OF THEIR LOCAL FOOD PANTRY. THE FOUNDATION HOSTED OVER A DOZEN VOLUNTEERS LOCALLY AT MANNA CONEJO VALLEY IN CONEJO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA AND A FEW DONORS SUPPORTING SOLIDARITY SANDY SPRINGS IN GEORGIA. ADDITIONALLY, VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE WORLD SHARED HOW THEY SUPPORT FOOD HUNGER IN THEIR COMMUNITIES VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.