MOORHEAD, MN — After a near closure of a prominent community food assistance and homeless shelter in the FM Metro, the organization is reorganizing in an effort to secure long-term funds going into 2025.
Churches United Pastor and Interim CEO Devlyn Brooks says as it currently stands, the organization has enough funds to make it through the end of 2024. However, crafting a long-term funding structure is continuing to be a challenge according to Pastor Brooks.
“Currently [with] our budget, we are trying to raise 70% of it every month. That’s a hard ask for our team, the community, it takes a lot of energy to try and secure 70% of your funding every month,” said Brooks.
Going forward, Brooks says Churches United will return to a mostly-volunteer ran organization, as they are sunsetting job openings created during the pandemic. Additionally, he believes the group can largely become self sufficient if they can secure an endowment large enough to generate enough interest to fund the operation largely by itself. To do that, Brooks says a six-to-seven figure donation by generous individuals and organizations is needed.
“We need a consortium of folks who might be able to give a six-figure gift, a seven-figure gift, to help us create an endowment of some kind. If we could get a $6 million dollar endowment, essentially the interest would float our organization. If we had that endowment and we knew that our doors are open every day, the ability to serve our guests and to look long-term into homelessness and housing in our area, Churches United would be able to play a more strategic role in that.”
The organization came to the community on August 12th, 2024, stating they needed to raise $61,000 within 48 hours to make payroll, and an additional $140,000 to keep their doors open. Brooks says the first goal was achieved within 12 hours, and the second within 48. Since August 12th, Brooks says they have raised over $500,000.
“The generosity of the community over the last seven weeks has been really helpful. It’s brought a lot of joy to not only the guests but to the team here too,” said Brooks. “I think it has reaffirmed to our team the importance of the role that we play here in our community.”
You can learn more about Churches United by clicking here.
