There is a change coming … we’re just not sure what it will look like.
The CFCC Charitable Foundation was founded in 2019 to mobilize resources of the Calvin Fletcher’s Coffee Company community to support small nonprofit organizations in the greater Indianapolis area. Since its inception, the foundation has raised more than $100,000 for more than 45 local nonprofits. During our interactions with these nonprofit groups, we have been so impressed by the many Indianapolis individuals who are giving of themselves to make life better for those around them. What the foundation has achieved in coming alongside these organizations has been made possible only through tips and donations from generous customers and friends of the coffee shop.
At the time the foundation was started, the hope was that the foundation would become self-supporting – not having to draw from the coffee shop’s revenue (including tips) to function. That is one goal we have not accomplished. We have consistently raised most of our funds through tips given at the shop, with a smaller percentage of the total coming from personal donations and matching funds given by donors’ employers. We have attempted to lower our dependency on tips (from 100% of tips, to 50% and then in 2024 to 25%). But we have discovered that continuing to give grants as we have been doing is not financially sustainable. As a result, the grants we have awarded in 2024 have been less than we hoped. (Our grant goal was $2,500 for each nonprofit; the actual grants given so far have been $2,000). And each month we have had to draw from surplus funds in the foundation’s bank account to supplement to a $2,000 grant level.
Not only is the current plan fiscally unsustainable, but we also recognize we do not have the bandwidth to conduct more robust fundraising. Our board members are all volunteers with other responsibilities.
So, it is time to refocus – to take time to step back a bit to decide what the future will look like. We do know a few things:
The foundation will not cease to exist. It will look different, but it will still be the charitable arm of Calvin Fletcher’s Coffee Company.
Generosity will continue to be a part of the foundation’s and the coffee shop’s DNA.
No monthly grants will be awarded in 2025, but the foundation will sponsor a BLEND fundraiser for a local nonprofit in October 2025.
We invite – and encourage – you to continue to support the foundation. Any donations given through October 2025 will benefit the BLEND fundraiser recipient.
Thank you for your faithful support of Calvin Fletcher’s Coffee Company and CFCC Charitable Foundation. We love having you be a part of the Calvin Fletcher’s coffee community.
Sincerely,
CFCC Charitable Foundation Board
Judy Litsey, President
Julia Huckaba, Secretary
Terri Garcia
Lisa Marchal
Larry Peffer
Stephen Williams