President's Message

Karen McNeil- Miller, President

For individuals and families across North Carolina suffering in poor health and poverty, all of us at the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust know that we must not only do more, we must do things differently and better than ever before. This fundamental belief guided us throughout 2010. We also understand that the philosophical simplicity of our conviction is in constant battle with a variety of increasingly complex social and political realities. Investing in impact is not easy; it takes time, vision, and a willingness to face challenges every step of the way.

But we carry on, now for more than six decades, adapting to what we see and learn. Determined to have solid, measurable impact on underserved people and communities across North Carolina, we have gradually been diversifying our portfolio of grants in order to achieve more influential involvement in the systems and institutions that affect people and communities. By challenging what is customarily expected—in how we fund, how we connect, how and where we involve ourselves—we are discovering new opportunities, new solutions, and new collaborations.

As we transform our perspective and process, we are transitioning from a place of philanthropy to a position of influence. More than simply investors in goodwill, we now intend to be thoughtful partners in good action. Years of experience have shown us that familiar vehicles of social cause funding, while good-hearted, can often become stalled. For real and enduring impact, we must aim for broad, interconnected, and measurable systemic change.

We pledge to maintain what has always been the strength of the Trust—compassion and dedication to poor and underserved North Carolinians—while evolving new viewpoints and capabilities in order to effect positive change. This is about moving forward, transforming familiar landscapes, deepening our connections, investing in impact.

We do this because the time is right to be more than simply openhanded. We must be influential as well. Generosity without clear navigation often just spins in well-meaning circles.

I am honored to work alongside so many talented and caring people. What we are able to accomplish as a charitable trust is solely dependent on the vision, passion and hard work of our grantees—people like Claretta Witherspoon at Reclaiming Futures in Guilford County; Ben Money at the North Carolina Community Health Center Association; and Brian Harris at the Rural Health Group in Roanoke Rapids.

As you learn a little about the important work of these grantees featured in this report, notice the emphasis on outcomes, not just programs or initiatives. Notice the perspective of Ryan Eller at CHANGE, who sees the sustaining grant his small organization received for operational support as an important step toward becoming more self-sufficient—exactly what we would hope for a grassroots organization fighting poverty and injustice on a limited budget. When we focus on having a lasting and comprehensive impact in the communities we serve, we must think long-term.

My personal belief is that the stakes have become higher than we ever imagined. Issues of health among poor and underserved North Carolinians have reached a crisis point. We must rise to the occasion by adapting to the need, and we must reposition ourselves from being reactive grant-makers to deliberate change-makers. As always, the Trust looks forward to moving forward with you now and in the years ahead.
 
Sincerely,

Karen McNeil-Miller
President