Worcester Business Journal

www.wbjournal.com Worcester Business Journal Giving Guide 2020 5 From the Sponsors A s a newcomer to Worcester's philanthropic community, I am inspired by the level of commitment and care on the part of multiple agencies serving Worcester's diverse population in need, and by those who volunteer their time and invest financial support. As this Giving Guide demonstrates, there are many ways to invest time and resources into proven, trusted agencies in the Greater Worcester Community. The Esler Family Foundation is proud to introduce something unique for the community to support: EforAll (Entrepreneurship for All). EforAll helps underprivileged entrepreneurs get started or take their business to the next level. When my wife and I learned about EforAll in early March, we were deeply moved by their story and success. We committed ⅓ of the funding to bring a chapter to the Greater Worcester Community. The remainder of the funding will come from individuals, foundations, and businesses. Visit EforAll.org and learn about the groundwork we are laying for a local chapter on Page 14 of the Giving Guide. If the idea interests you to support as an investor or mentor, please reach out to me or a member of our founding committee to learn more. n John Esler Esler Family Foundation MEETING THE MOMENT W orcester's response to the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us countless examples of collaboration, ingenuity, and compassion - things that have always been at the heart of our community. This is a region where civic life matters, and where people have always come together across public, private, and nonprofit sectors to advance justice and opportunity and to improve the quality of life. Today, our community faces a number of challenges, which are complex and difficult. But they can also be solved with leadership, resources and hard work. For generations, philanthropy has often been at the heart of major advances by society. If our Foundation has learned anything in our 45 years of work in this community, it is that philanthropy will play a critical role here, too. From grant programs to investments in nonprofit organizations, collaborative initiatives, and leadership development, the Greater Worcester Community Foundation offers donors a variety of programs and tools to address the critical challenges facing our community. We are the community's partner in giving, and we work closely with you to create funds that r e f l e c t y o u r philanthropic goals through an easy, effective process designed to honor your intent far into the future. As our community rebuilds, we are all looking for ways to meet this moment with compassion and generosity. The Worcester Business Journal's Giving Guide is a valuable tool that provides a snapshot of area nonprofits and the good work they do. Each of them has a part to play in building a stronger, more resilient, more just Worcester. There is no better time to consider how to put your resources to work for a better Worcester. n Barbara Fields Greater Worcester Community Foundation GUIDE 2020 Giving N ew England has a long history of embracing civic leadership with fervor and focus. From John Adams to our world-class roster of contemporary civic leaders, we are all clearly passionate about doing good and the well-being of all. It is in this spirit that Harpswell was founded. We are "all in" when it comes to partnering with and supporting Massachusetts' esteemed not-for-profit institutions. Harpswell is a boutique investment advisory firm dedicated to serving non-profit institutions in Massachusetts and beyond. We bring the answers to boards and investment committees before the questions are asked. The non-profit world is rapidly changing, and specialization and depth matter more than ever when it comes to who you rely on for investment advice and planning. Harpswell's team is fully immersed in the non- profit sector, and our focus enables us to be a valued partner to each institution we serve. Endowments play varied roles in every institution's operations and missions. For some nonprofits, their endowment is a rainy-day fund; for others, it provides monthly income. There are several key factors that play into the custom management of each endowment. Harpswell focuses on managing each institution's assets to best align their endowment with their goals, preferences and (increasingly) their values. Our custom approach means your endowment will be structured to reflect your institution's unique needs. Harpswell feels that proper structure is the cornerstone for long-term success. Structure refers to well-defined investment policies and benchmarks to ensure your endowment is managed according to your wishes and to empower you to hold your endowment manager accountable for performance. Harpswell's in-depth on-boarding process runs each institution through a rigorous policy assessment process to ensure your policies are aligned with your mission. At Harpswell, we thrive on working with non-profit institutions. This civic-focus defines our culture as well as our goals. Success for us is measured by the impact we have on each, and every, institution that we serve. Harpswell partners with a select group of Massachusetts institutions and we love our narrow focus. We are not a wealth management firm; we are dedicated to serving nonprofit institutions. We welcome the opportunity to talk and share how a partner who works with nonprofits day-in and day-out could best serve your institution. Call us! n Kind regards, Jack Moore Harpswell Capital Advisors, LLC A s the United Way of Central Massachusetts looked to celebrate our Centennial Year, we had planned a year of celebrations, marking the milestones of our work and looking forward to serving this community for the next century. This was not the year we expected and I am deeply proud of the way we have responded, as we have in times of great crisis over the last 100 years. In fact, that is what the United Way of Central Massachusetts does – we connect people and resources to serve this community. The needs change, and they can change rapidly. As we confront the dual crisis of the pandemic and racial inequities, we have quickly responded by supporting partner agencies that are able to help those most impacted by COVID-19. The local philanthropic community created the United Way of Central Massachusetts 100 years ago, and they continue to fund the partnerships that seek to address immediate needs, stabilize the community and address inequitable systems. I am very optimistic about our future and the future of this community. Our relationship with area non-profit agencies, programs, government and our donors is strong and I am confident that together we will create a more compassionate and equitable community. With deep thanks to our donors, we look forward to the next century of service. n Timothy J. Garvin United Way of Central Massachusetts "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." -Jackie Robinson

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