|
|
|
ABAG's Adventures in Philanthropy Column
|
|
|
"Charitable Giving - How to Build Healthy Neighborhoods"
The Daily Record
May 14, 2004
Betsy Nelson
Building healthy neighborhoods in Baltimore is a goal that many of us share. Accomplishing that goal just got a little bit easier.
Building home ownership and strengthening undervalued neighborhoods in Baltimore is at the heart of a new nonprofit organization, Healthy Neighborhoods Inc.
The new nonprofit originated from the Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative, a three-year pilot program which was launched in the summer of 2000 as a collaborative effort of the Baltimore Community Foundation, Goldseker Foundation, France-Merrick Foundation, Baltimore City, and other public and private organizations.
The Healthy Neighborhoods strategy is simple:
Target strong but undervalued neighborhoods; Provide concessionary capital to encourage the purchase and rehabilitation of homes; Support the work of community organizations to build strong connections among neighbors and to market their communities; Seek measurable results, such as increased home sales and decreased time on market.
The Healthy Neighborhoods pilot yielded these and other tangible results in the participating neighborhoods, including rising sale prices, fewer vacant houses on targeted blocks, and increased traffic by interested homebuyers.
“Given the success of the Healthy Neighborhoods pilot, the lessons we've learned from it, and the current challenges facing Baltimore, we believe this is the right time to turn this into a permanent organization dedicated to helping revitalize Baltimore,” commented Thomas E. Wilcox, president, Baltimore Community Foundation.
Mark Sissman, president of Healthy Neighborhoods, stated, “When Healthy Neighborhoods gets to scale, it will make a significant impact. Recent data tell us that homeowners in Baltimore's undervalued neighborhoods may have failed to realize more than $1 billion in equity, due to stagnant housing values during a rapidly rising real estate market. “This translates into $24 million in lost city tax revenues annually. Healthy Neighborhoods aims to reclaim those dollars for Baltimore,” Sissman said.
The Healthy Neighborhoods pilot focuses on 10 Baltimore City neighborhoods: Belair-Edison, Garwyn Oaks, Midtown, Patterson Park, Reservoir Hill, Southern Mondawmin, Charles Village, Ednor Gardens, Neighborhoods of Greater Lauraville and Southeast CDC.
The initiative was based on a program started in Battle Creek, Mich., that found an important component to urban revitalization was to invest in undervalued neighborhoods. Targeting neighborhoods that are vulnerable to destabilization because of stagnant property values and deteriorating housing stock, the pilot Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative helped homeowners make investments in their homes.
By using a variety of tactics, including lower cost loans to encourage residents to invest in purchase and rehab of homes in these areas, the original initiative found that property values increased and the neighborhoods attracted new home buyers.
Building upon the progress made by the three-year pilot initiative, the new nonprofit, Healthy Neighborhoods Inc., will continue to help homeowners and community associations find new ways to fund home improvements and market their communities.
In turn, the improvements will increase property values and stabilize communities, thereby encouraging movement back into revitalized Baltimore City neighborhoods.
Other archived articles from ABAG's Adventures in Philanthropy Column:
"Charitable Giving - How to Build Healthy Neighborhoods"
"Charitable Giving - Neighborhood Excellence Initiative"
"Charitable Giving - Annie E. Casey Exec Inspires"
"Charitable Giving - Maryland's eSource for Advisors"
"Charitable Giving - Local Donor Collaborations"
"Charitable Giving - ABC and African-American Philanthropy"
"Charitable Giving - Local Foundations Show Support for Baltimore School System "
Charitable Giving: Maryland Business Giving Workbook
Charitable Giving - Take care with the Care Act
"Charitable Giving - Local Foundation Investment in Baltimore High School Reform"
"Charitable Giving - Shape Up...Live Well"
Charitable Giving - The Cost of Raising Money
CareFirst plus WellPoint equals foundation
Charitable Giving - National Philanthropy Day Celebrates Giving in Maryland
Charitable Giving - A Plan of One's Own: A Woman's Guide to Philanthropy
Charitable Giving - Defining moments
Charitable Giving - Corporate Caring
Charitable Giving - Conflicts of Interest
The Baltimore Fund of the TRF Urban Growth Partners
Teaching That Achievement Counts
"Charitable Giving - Good Time to Decide How Much to Give"
Charitable Giving - Capital/Endowment Fund Campaigns
Making Education a Priority
Charitable Giving - B'MORE Fund
State of Giving
How Effective Nonprofits Work
"Charitable Giving - Women Begin to Realize Full Potential as Philanthropists, Expert Says"
"Charitable Giving - Charitable Planning from the Advisor's Perspective"
"Charitable Giving - Expanding Corporate Giving"
"Charitable Giving - IYF Addresses Critical Concerns Facing Youth"
"Charitable Giving - Strategic Planning Part One
"Charitable Giving - Tips for Developing a Strategic Business Plan"
"Charitable Giving - There's A Right Way to Do the Right Thing"
"Charitable Giving - While You're Passing the Turkey, Take a Minute to Reflect"
"Charitable Giving - What We Give and Where It Goes"
"Charitable Giving - MD Companies Working to Make Holidays Special for Less Fortunate"
"Charitable Giving - Coming Together: Global Community Responds to a Natural Disaster"
"Charitable Giving - National Philanthropy Day Winners"
"Charitable Giving - Role of the Nonprofit Board"
Reason to believe
Charitable Giving - Technology & nonprofits
Charitable Giving - Advice to foundations
Charitable Giving - New resource for nonprofit groups
Charitable Giving - Inspired philanthropy
Charitable Giving - Developing Leaders
Charitable Giving - Wanted: Professional volunteers
Donor Advised Funds
"Charitable Giving - Salute to T. Rowe Price
"Charitable Giving - Teacher Appreciation Fund"
Charitable Giving - Youth and Volunteers
Charitable Giving - To Honor Mothers
"Charitable Giving - Future of philanthropy"
"Charitable Giving - Contributions to charities"
"Charitable Giving - Giving in tough times"
"Charitable Giving - Celebrating special occasions with philanthropy"
"Charitable Giving - B'MORE Fund"
"Charitable Giving - 20 years of building a community of grantmakers"
"Charitable Giving - Building a more effective board"
"Charitable Giving - When nonprofits discover the executive chair empty"
"Charitable Giving - Sustaining Yourself"
"Charitable Giving - Community development in Baltimore"
"Charitable Giving - Resource at Risk"
"Charitable Giving - Fundraising"
Maryland's Community Foundations: For Good and For Ever
Advisors
Knott Nonprofit Leadership Initiative
Digital Bridge Initiative
Dollars for doers'
Businesses Earn State Tax Credits Through Nonprofit Giving
Leadership Program of Their Own
CHARITABLE GIVING
Maryland foundations and corporations respond to tragedy
Reason to believe
Where's the Good News?
Turning the Corner
How to get youth involved in civic life
Recognizing Volunteers
Standards for Excellence
Considerations for Endowment Gifts
Determining what works
New directions for philanthropy
Giving through a business partnership
Your business can make a difference
A helping hand for helping hands
Donate Your Rebate – Maryland!
Leave a Legacy
Forming a Circle of Giving
Cultivating civically engaged young people through work, service
Celebrating the Spirit of Giving
Thanks/Giving Day
Stocks in the Future
Baltimore Neighborhood Collaborative
The Great Wealth Transfer
Investing in Our Community
In the Wake of Sept. 11
Adventures in Philanthropy
|
|
|
