The Patterson Foundation Matches $187,500 in Nonprofit Earned-Income Startup Investments

February 10, 2023 – Sarasota

The Patterson Foundation has matched $187,500 total in investments into four earned-income plans created by regional nonprofits participating in its Margin & Mission Ignition endeavor. The matches strengthened fundraising efforts toward the startup costs of the earned-income plans developed by each organization through Margin & Mission Ignition, a 30-month process to help nonprofits build organizational capacity, boost revenue and strengthen mission impact. 

The Patterson Foundation created Margin & Mission Ignition in 2015 to help nonprofits in our region adopt and implement earned-income strategies, giving them the opportunity to build entrepreneurial capacity and generate revenue that increases their opportunities to serve the community. No Margin, No Mission, a social enterprise and national consulting firm engaged by The Patterson Foundation, provides extensive guidance to each participating organization throughout the 30-month process as they create and launch a new or expanded revenue stream aligned with their mission and work.

“The ingenuity interwoven throughout all four of these earned-income plans is a reflection of each organization’s commitment to strengthening their capacity to serve our region for the long-term,” said Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation. “Their entrepreneurial spirit inspired investors to fund the creation of revenue streams that can help sustain their operations and ability to do more good for more of us.” 

The matches covered up to 50 percent of the startup costs outlined in each organization’s earned-income plan, which catalyzed investments from other donors. Through these investments, the four participating organizations were able to launch or expand the following services:

• Charlotte County Homeless Coalition: Opened a newly expanded location for their Fabulous Finds Re-Sale Shop & Unique Boutique with a significantly larger selling floor, more space to receive donated goods, and an enhanced selection of resale merchandise and offerings. Most importantly, 100 percent of the net proceeds go back to supporting the mission of its programs and services.  

• Resilient Retreat: Launched The Retreat Sarasota, a new venue rental business for those who wish to host events, retreats, parties, weddings, special family gatherings and more in state-of-the-art facilities located on lush property that spans 85 acres. All proceeds benefit Resilient Retreat’s mission to help survivors of abuse, first responders, and helping professionals to heal the impacts of trauma on the mind, body and spirit. 

• Selah Freedom: Launched Selah Consulting to provide training, consulting, technical assistance and actionable solutions to organizations that wish to replicate the Selah Freedom model while developing programs designed to end sex trafficking and bring freedom to the exploited. Proceeds support the mission of Selah Freedom to bring solutions to survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation.

• Venice MainStreet: Launched Shop Venice Mainstreet Online, a one-stop virtual marketplace that allows customers (including locals, seasonal residents, vacationers and others) to shop the virtual streets and unique stores located in Downtown Venice, Florida 24/7/365. Proceeds support the mission of Venice MainStreet to preserve and enhance the character, beauty and economic vitality of historic Downtown Venice. 

Margin & Mission Ignition is part of The Patterson Foundation’s Nonprofit Thrivability initiative. This initiative connects nonprofits with expertise and resources to learn concepts such as strategic decision-making while adopting and implementing entrepreneurial principles to generate enough revenue to support and eventually grow their operations.

Visit thepattersonfoundation.org to learn more about Margin & Mission Ignition, or join the conversation using #TPFMarginMission on social media.