The Inter-Faith Council aims to increase its services with a challenge to raise $92,625 — with the potential promise of a matched donation by the trustees of The Stewards Fund.
“The Stewards (Fund) has been very supportive of nonprofits,” said Michael Reinke, executive director of the IFC.
If the IFC raises $92,625 by Dec. 31, The Stewards Fund has pledged to match that amount. The Stewards Fund will match the donations of people who have never donated before and the increased difference for people who have donated previously in the last year. However, if the IFC does not raise the specified amount, they will not receive any funds from The Stewards Fund.
The challenge grant hopes to get the community to give whether they have donated before, have never donated or haven’t donated in the past 18 months.
“The average amount that people give is one to two percent of their income, which means there is great potential for people to give more,” Reinke said.
Reinke said if people donated 10 percent of their income, it could double the number of people the IFC helps with support circles and could reduce the number of days that the IFC food pantry has no frozen food in their freezer by one-third.
The money from the challenge grant would go to supporting the current programs the IFC has in place such as the food pantry and the community kitchen.
“What we’re trying to do is support the different ways that we help people who are vulnerable,” said Reinke. This includes having a person at their shelters daily and supporting the coordinator of the food kitchen.
Chapel Hill resident Arty Bolick said that he has donated to the IFC before. He said he would be willing to donate to the IFC again and that the challenge grant would help them to reach out and serve more people in the community.
