Immersive philanthropy
by Lisa Behrends
YSS director, Iowa Homeless Youth Centers
Lisa Behrends. Photo by Duane Tinkey
At Iowa Homeless Youth Centers – YSS’s Des Moines-based organization – we serve youths who identify as homeless from ages 16-24 in Polk County. I am reminded each day that everyone has their own, unique story. Let me tell Ryan’s.
I met Ryan (name changed to protect identity) this spring at our shelter in Des Moines. He told me his mom grew up in Grinnell, which piqued my interest because I lived there and worked at Grinnell College prior to moving to Des Moines in 2019. When I spoke with Ryan, I learned he had hitchhiked to Grinnell and back to Des Moines. He was there to set up a tent campsite where he would sleep outside for a few nights. His goal was to find a job in Grinnell. As we continued to talk, I found out his mom is in a mental health institution.
Time had passed over the summer, and I did not see Ryan for a couple of months. Then, one day in August, I saw him at our shelter. I learned he did not land the job in Grinnell and spent the summer in New York and Florida. He had employment connections, but neither location worked out, so he came back to Des Moines. Sometimes it’s good news when I don’t see an individual for a while. Sometimes it’s bad. Ryan still needed help. In a perfect world, he would be back as staff. Or a volunteer. But it doesn’t always work that way.
Getting comfortable being uncomfortable is inevitable, and philanthropy reminds us that not everyone has the life we do. When we join a board, attend a charity fundraiser or donate to a cause, it reminds us that there are all kinds of people in our community – and many do not have access to the things and spaces you and I do. They have grown up in untenable living circumstances with more trauma than most could imagine. While you and I are making decisions about which gym to join, they’re figuring out where to get their next meal.
It would be more comfortable to have a secure job, a vehicle to transport you to and from your workplace, a consistent paycheck that pays the bills and provides food on the table, and a roof over our heads. For many of us, we have the resources to stand on our feet and make a living that is sustainable. But philanthropy calls us in to take a look at what we don’t want to believe is possible. And it also calls us to give back in ways that will make changes to the world that we didn’t believe were possible.
We see an ongoing trend in nationwide philanthropy to focus on the largest donors and major gifts. Our challenge is that we can’t do that exclusively because we want to drive awareness of and engagement with the vulnerable populations we serve. So, we continue to engage volunteers, inviting them in to tour Iowa Homeless Youth Centers, or to sort clothing donations in the basement, or to cook and serve a meal. We also host thousands at our annual Reggie’s Sleepout, giving them a chance to sleep one night in a cardboard structure at Drake Stadium and experience a small taste of homelessness. YSS is about empowering youths, and it’s our goal to make sure future generations stay engaged with philanthropy and continue to invest in the critical work that YSS and our many community partners are doing for vulnerable groups in Des Moines.
Every gift is valuable no matter the dollar amount. We also want people in Des Moines to have the opportunity to connect with youths who identify as homeless and contribute to creating hope and opportunity, however they can.
Achieving lasting change and impact requires philanthropic efforts to move beyond short-term fixes and focus on sustainable solutions. This involves addressing root causes rather than just addressing symptoms, and it can be challenging to maintain long-term engagement and funding for projects.
We can more effectively address systemic issues that impact our communities through collaboration rather than working in silos. When we as leaders share our resources and knowledge with one another, we are much stronger and can make positive, sustainable changes. Thank you for the support YSS receives from donors, businesses and corporations, volunteers, our board, and staff members who choose to stand in the gap for vulnerable populations. It truly takes a village. I hope to see cross-sector collaborations between philanthropic organizations become more common. Collaborative efforts will leverage diverse expertise and resources to tackle complex issues.
How do you see philanthropy efforts changing in the next five years?
I see the philanthropic landscape changing in the next five years with how donors perceive and approach giving. The world has become a more complex place and is changing donors’ perceptions of giving. Donors want to know what causes are the most important to address in their communities for the future, prioritizing issues related to health and food insecurity. Who are the changemakers they can trust to provide solutions to society’s problems going forward? Who do donors believe should pay for those solutions? Donors see nonprofits as the entities most likely to develop solutions, along with public-private partnerships.