A special thank you message to Brian & Kim Rist, Co-Founders of the Rist Family Foundation, and their Executive Director, Jaime Suanez…
This is a story of how two major donors helped a small Community Foundation in Cape Coral, Florida, become the voice and choice of 4,700 nonprofit organizations with 32,500 employees and combined annual revenue of $3.6 billion.
Brian and Kim Rist took a chance on The Community Foundation believing the small, nimble and scrappy impact-driven foundation could transform Southwest Florida philanthropy.
Brian and Kim Rist put a smile on nonprofit employees, board members and volunteers in Southwest Florida. They are two of Southwest Florida’s most generous givers. They are appreciated for taking a risk on a small community foundation who some people had written off as too weak to survive. Five years ago, Brian and Kim Rist were introduced to Michael Chatman, President & CEO of The Community Foundation, founded in Cape Coral, largest city in Southwest Florida. If there is one story that describes the Community Foundation five years ago, it is the biblical story of David and Goliath. Similar to David, Community Foundation was considered the “underdog” in the story but ended up slaying the giant (referring to other larger organizations with bigger budgets). When you think of the community foundations in Southwest Florida, it has the smallest operating budget, endowment assets and staff size. It is also considered to have the least visibility and credibility – UNTIL NOW! Why did Brian and Kim Rist root for the underdogCommunity Foundation when it was clear they had to overcome incredible odds just to survive? Brian and Kim are a generous couple. Generosity is their lifestyle. As entrepreneurs themselves, they know what it is like to be underdogs but find a way to use their advantage properly. Because of this, it turned out to be a good move to bet on the underdog that looked like it had a disadvantage because it was still possible for the Community Foundation to win. Where some people saw a small, struggling foundation, Brian and Kim saw potential and a small staff with generous hearts. It is refreshing when an underdog wins, it often comes as a surprise. They aren’t expected to win, but they prove that they don’t need a bigger organization’s advantage to emerge victorious. Their wins are known as an “upset” because it upsets the balance and expectations of most people. Because of the generous financial support of Brian and Kim Rist, and their Executive Director Jaime Suanez, the Community Foundation is rising to the occasion despite the odds against them. The Community Foundation has become the voice and the choice of the Southwest Florida’s region network of 4,700 nonprofit organizations who employ 32,500 workers and generate $3.6 billion in annual revenue. The Community Foundation is an inspiration to small-staffed nonprofit organizations with lean resources. They continue to drive social impact, even when larger foundations seem more powerful and have greater resources. The Community Foundation continues to overcome every obstacle. Brian and Kim Rist have made a real difference in the lives of the people who serve as employees, executives, program volunteers and board leaders at nonprofit organizations. Their support of the Community Foundation means the world to the nonprofits who serve every day to make a difference. The Rist Family Foundation is a supporter of The Community Foundation, a global center for generosity and compassion. The Community team has grown from two to eleven members in five years. Also noteworthy, without any help from an outside marketing and public relations firm, The Community Foundation has a database of 20,000 supporters, and for four years in a row, voted as one of America’s best small community foundation for its innovative programs. The Community Foundation will host its Annual Meeting & Grant Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, December 15th,from 1:00pm to 2:30pm-eastern at Grace Methodist Church in Cape Coral, Florida. Brian Rist, Chairman, Rist Family Foundation, special speaker and community philanthropist. The general public is invited to attend at no charge. Register today to reserve your space to meet donors and leaders.
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