As you may have heard, in the Spring of 2024, Friends of Guest House received a transformative one-time $2 million gift from Yield Giving. This generous contribution has been a tremendous investment in our future, allowing us to:
- Increase all full-time employee salaries, something that we haven’t been able to do in over 3 years;
- Increase all part-time employees’ hourly rate to a living wage, a goal we’ve been trying to accomplish since I became Executive Director;
- Expand substance use disorder services for our residents through universal CSAC-A (Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Assistant) training; and
- Grow our capacity to meet the daily needs of all Guest House women, including Aftercare and Outreach.
Just as we teach our residents about financial responsibility and planning, we are practicing what we preach by being responsible stewards of this one-time gift. Guest House’s annual budget is $2.2 million, with $.81 of every $1 we receive from donors like you going directly to our programs and the women we serve.
The Yield Giving funds have been thoughtfully allocated to strengthen our infrastructure, not to cover daily operations. We still rely on the generosity of our donors to continue providing life-changing services—safe housing, job training, mental health support, and aftercare—and your support ensures that we can continue to meet the ongoing needs of our residents day in and day out.
The reality is that the cost of running our programs, maintaining our facilities, and providing high-quality services continues year-round. By making your gifts, you are helping to sustain our mission for the long term. Thank you for continuing to stand with us, ensuring that women who are committed to turning their lives around have the resources, support, and hope they need.
Thank you for your generosity and unwavering belief in the power of second chances. Together, we are creating lasting change.