Search Results | New Search

Your Options:

Mission and Programs

Mission

Since 1973, the Emergency Fund has provided an indispensable safety net for Chicago''s neediest residents. Our financial assistance program provides essential relief services to persons in need of shelter, food, utility payments, medication and other items. More than 50 volunteers, employed by social service agencies throughout Chicago, distribute our funds to low-income individuals and families experiencing a crisis situation. We are known as the agency of last resort - where people come when they have nowhere else to turn. The Emergency Fund is the only year-round funder of emergency needs in the Chicago area.

Programs

Our core program is our Financial Assistance Program. This program helps individuals, and through them families, to overcome a crisis or get through a transitory period of employment training and placement. Our clients represent the elderly, the homeless, the disabled, single women with children, the ill, and victims of domestic violence and substance abuse. Assistance has been given for rent/mortgage, utility arrearages, transportation to medical appointments and job interviews, eye exams and glasses, and other types of assistance. Our assistance is given immediately, with a minimum of red tape. Our clients are Chicago area residents of all ages, races and ethnic origins. Funds are distributed by Fund Managers at partner agencies who are primarily employed by these agencies but are unpaid by the Emergency Fund. In this way, our operating expenses are kept to a minimum, maximizing the community's dollars.

Our assistance helps ensure that our recipients remain on-track toward their work-related goals, rather than being sidelined by issues that could keep them from attending job training sessions, accepting a particular job, signing up for a class that would lead to a better job, or even continuing in the program. Funds are used for work-related issues such as transportation, clothing expenses and child care as well as personal issues such as assistance with rent, utilities, etc.

The Emergency Fund's year round programs are augmented in December by the Holiday Fund which provides food baskets to residents of Chicago's north and northwest side.

Program / Activities (NTEE Code)

Emergency Assistance (Food, Clothing, Cash)

Accomplishments for Fiscal Year Ending 12/31/2007

1. We distributed over $2 million in immediate financial assistance to thousands of people in need.
2. We furthered the goals of the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness in Chicago by becoming a leader in prevention by administering the state homelessness prevention fund.

1. Monitor and evaluate the services provided by our partner agencies to insure that Chicago area families in need are connected with the resources to meet those needs.
2. Improve the effectiveness of our assistance in alleviating the crisis presented (at least 90% of our clients will not have called our offices or returned to our partner agencies requesting additional financial assistance for use toward the same need that the Fund?s assistance has already been used for); and continue to provide assistance to clients quickly with a minimum of red tape.

As Executive Director of the Emergency Fund for Needy People, Nonie Brennan is responsible for day-to-day operations of the organization and the supervision and management of staff. Her goals for the organization include providng the best services to the people of Chicago, expanding those services, and meeting the needs of families in crisis in the Chicago area.
Prior to joining the Emergency Fund in 2003, Ms. Brennan was the Executive Director of the Volunteer Center in Battle Creek, Michigan where she was credited with bringing "211" to Michigan. "211" is a three didgit dialing code that connects people with community servcies. Ms. Brennan is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, is certified in Volunteer Management and Fund Development and is pursuing her Masters in Public Service at DePaul University.

Financial Data
From the organization's FORM 990

Revenue and Expenses: Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2007

Revenue			Expenses
Contributions $1,450,891 Government Grants $1,550,234 Program Services $0 Investments $24,818 Special Events $2,306 Sales $0 Other $0			Program Services $2,843,058 Administration $133,538 Other $229,873 Total Expenditures $3,206,469
Total Revenue	$3,028,249		NET GAIN/LOSS	$(178,220)

Balance Sheet: Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2007

Notes
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot long survive, but the types of assets and liabilities also must be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.

Assets	Jan 1, 2007	Dec 31, 2007	Change
Cash & Equivalent	$469,160	$2,629,276	$2,160,116
Accounts Receivable	$2,339	$0	$(2,339)
Pledges & Grants Receivable	$288,213	$192,986	$(95,227)
Receivables/Other	$0	$0	$0
Inventories for Sale or Use	$0	$0	$0
Investments/Securities	$247,816	$175,426	$(72,390)
Investments/Other	$0	$0	$0
Fixed Assets	$15,118	$19,231	$4,113
Other	$7,965	$9,890	$1,925
Total Assets	$1,030,611	$3,026,809	$1,996,198
Liabilities	Jan 1, 2007	Dec 31, 2007	Change
Accounts Payable	$82,082	$115,864	$33,782
Grants Payable	$0	$0	$0
Deferred Revenue	$0	$0	$0
Loans and Notes	$0	$0	$0
Tax-Exempt Bond Liabilities	$0	$0	$0
Other	$37,756	$2,182,474	$2,144,718
Total Liabilities	$119,838	$2,298,338	$2,178,500
FUND BALANCE	$910,773	$728,471	$(182,302)

Nonprofits: Find out how to add to and update your information.

Copyright 2006, Philanthropic Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Policies | Standards for Internet Philanthropy

GuideStar is the registered trademark and operating name of Philanthropic Research, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Any other use, including resale of the information or use for commercial gain, is prohibited, except in accordance with a GuideStar licensing agreement.