side project inc. 2014 annual report

ANNUAL REPORT 2014

RESOURCES

Staff Action & Advisory Committee Board of Directors Donors Core Values

ACTIVITIES

Legal Support

Fundraising Support

Research & Development

Project Management

Training & Education

OUTCOMES & IM

PACT

4,000+ hours of legal and development services 22 socially minded organizations supported 25 volunteers on the Action & Advisory Committee 2,000+ volunteer hours Helped two nonproEits secure tax-‐exempt status $137,000 secured in funding for client projects $7,600 donated to Pennsylvania charities 6 projects managed through the Eiscal management program

© 2014-‐2015 Side Project Inc. All Rights Reserved 2

2014 YEAR IN REVIEW

Side Project Inc. had an impactful year: With our guidance, support, and resources, we helped our clients provide college scholarships to high-school seniors, support people with disabilities to be involved in their community, shelter and feed stray dogs and cats, care for single moms recently divorced, turn dilapidated houses into homes, provide recreational opportunities for children with autism, train health and human service professionals, and publish a book. Our third year in existence, 2014 was a year of growth. We continued to work on long-term projects in Boca Raton, Florida, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We had our first fundraising event in Erie, PA; secured our first Erie client; held our first beer and food truck festival; and posted our first blog. From 2013 to 2014, we doubled our hours of service and quadrupled our volunteer hours. We managed more than $120,000.00 in revenue and six socially minded projects. Our volunteer base continues to grow; more than 25 young professionals serve on the Action & Advisory Committee. In addition to growing the volunteer corps in Erie, PA, and Pittsburgh, PA, we now have a strong core of volunteers in Palm Beach County, Florida. We continue to build social capital as an organization. In 2015, we were active in a variety of community groups including The Florida Bar Public Interest Law Section, the Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project (PUMP), The Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations, and the Greater Erie Chamber of Commerce. In additional to our work with the greater community, we also spent time introspectively reflecting on our identity and purpose as an organization. Through this exploration we identified a set of corporate values and principles to guide us on the types of clients and projects we should support.

Lastly, we adopted a new corporate logo. This logo better describes who we are, what we do, and where we do it. The Scales of Justice represent our legal services and commitment to social justice. The Keystone, a well-known symbol of Pennsylvania, represents our work in Pittsburgh and Erie. The Palm Trees, the state tree of Florida, represent our efforts in South Florida.


SIDE PROJECT INC.

Side Project Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting charitable and philanthropic efforts large and small. We combine the philosophy of social work with the tools of the law to incubate and develop grassroots projects focused on social change.

Side Project is led by co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Fromknecht, who received his M.S.W. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. A social worker turned attorney, Jeff received his J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law in 2012. He is licensed to practice law in Florida, Pennsylvania, and the United States Tax Court. Jeff has worked at nonprofits his whole career and has more than 12 years of experience working at health and human service nonprofits.

How We Helped in 2014

In-Counsel for Nonprofit Organizations and Grassroots Projects

Applied Research & Evaluation

Project Development & Management

Fundraising

Development of Educational Materials & Presentations on:

• The Inclusion of People with Disabilities in the Community • Understanding State and Federal Legal and Tax Issues Impacting 501(c)(3)

Nonprofit Organizations • How to Start a Nonprofit Organization and Apply for Tax-Exempt Status • Using Logic Models and Documenting Social Impact • Ethical Implications of Pro Bono Legal Work

$7,500 Donated to Socially-minded Nonprofit Organizations. These Organizations included:

• The Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania • The Emmaus Soup Kitchen • The Neighborhood Art House • Community Living and Support Services • The George Snow Scholarship Fund • Meca, Inc. • A True Jewel, Inc. • Raf Burgos Memorial Scholarship Fund • Steps to Independence • St. James Roman Catholic Church • Mustaches for Kids, Inc.


CORPORATE VALUES

Our work is rooted in a set of core values. These core values, listed above and embraced by social workers and change agents throughout the world, are the foundation of Side Project’s unique purpose and perspective.

Side Project strives to combine the philosophy of social work with the tools of the law. All of our staff and volunteers are guided by the ethical principles of their respective professions. In addition to those considerations, the Side Project team has adopted, in part, the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics to serve as our overriding corporate values and principles. The primary mission of Side Project Inc. is to enhance community well-being, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. Fundamental to our work is attention to the environmental forces that create, contribute to, and address problems in living. We support organizations that are attempting to impact systemic and macro level change.

Side Project staff and volunteers promote social justice and social change with and on behalf of clients. “Clients” is used inclusively to refer to individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. We are sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity and strive to work with individuals and organizations who are working to end discrimination, oppression, poverty, and other forms of social injustice. Our work focuses on enhancing the capacity of organizations and grassroots projects, supporting them so they can be responsive to the needs of the communities and social problems.

Most important, the value that underscores everything is our focus on having fun. We know when we need to be serious but understand that fun and light-heartedness are often the key ingredients of success.

SERVICE SOCIAL JUSTICE INTEGRITY COMPETENCE

IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS FUN


The following broad ethical principles are based on Side Project’s core values of service, social justice, importance of human relationships, integrity, competence, and FUN.

Value: Service Ethical Principle: Our primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems. Side Project staff and volunteers elevate service to others above self-interest. We draw on our collective knowledge, values, and skills to help people in need and to address social problems. Value: Social Justice Ethical Principle: We challenge social injustice. Side Project staff and volunteers pursue social change on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups of people. We support social change efforts that are focused primarily on issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other forms of social injustice. We strive to ensure access to needed information and resources, equality of opportunity, and meaningful participation in decision making for all people. Value: Importance of Human Relationships Ethical Principle: We recognize the central importance of human relationships. Side Project staff and volunteers understand that relationships between and among people are an important vehicle for change. We seek to strengthen relationships among people in a purposeful effort to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, social groups, organizations, and communities. It’s important to create friendships within Side Project. Understanding, and maybe even liking, each other is going to make us a better, more productive, and happier organization. Value: Integrity Ethical Principle: We behave in a trustworthy manner. We act honestly and responsibly and promote ethical practices on the part of the organizations with which we are affiliated. Value: Competence Ethical Principle: We practice within our areas of competence and actively work to develop and enhance our professional expertise. Side Project staff and volunteers continually strive to increase their professional knowledge and skills and to apply them in practice. Value: Fun Ethical Principle: We think it is important to not take yourself too seriously, to have fun, and to enjoy life. Side Project staff and volunteers continually strive to increase the fun and excitement they bring to the world. We understand how to work hard—and play harder. The number one way that we encourage fun is to ensure that each staff member and volunteer is actually in a role he or she loves. Fun also has a very direct business purpose. It decreases burnout, increases collaboration, and improves staff and volunteer retention.


PITTSBURGH

Christine Serra Cornell, Esquire

Brandon Keller, Esquire

Troy Crumrine, Esquire

David Brown, MBA

Angel Pappalardo, MPA

Lauren Arnita, BSW

SallyJoe Guzik

Adam Causgrove

Sara Kelly

Andrew Miskowiec

Jerome Fitzgerald

Joe Dopirak

ERIE

Steve Fetzner (Legal, Erie)

Sean Causgrove

Nate Bish

Brett Wiler

Mark Kujawinski

Chris Thomas

Steve Zoni

Will Law

VIRGINIA/DC

Nicole DiMario

Gabriela Steier, Esquire

SCRANTON

Athena Aardweg

Ted Casey

CLEVELAND

Pete Waldinger

PALM BEACH COUNTY

Pam Tatti

Erick Solms

Michelle N. DeLong, Esquire

THE ACTION & ADVISORY COMMITTEE

A major factor to Side Project’s success this year has been the Action & Advisory Committee. The Action & Advisory Committee is Side Project’s volunteer corps and harnesses the power and energy of over 25 young professionals who want to give back to the community by taking on a charitable side project. The volunteer corps has an eclectic background, including social work, law, nonprofit administration, grant administration, business administration, computer science, accounting, marketing, fundraising, and education. The Side Project Action & Advisory Committee logged more than 2,000 volunteer hours in 2014, helping out on projects in Pennsylvania and Florida.


CLIENTS & PROJECTS During the past year, Side Project has provided more than 4,000 hours of legal and development services to 22 socially minded projects and organizations in Western Pennsylvania and South Florida.

The Arts for Autism Foundation of Pittsburgh Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America Community Living and Support Services (CLASS) The Entertainment Consortium Evolve Coaching, Inc. Furnace Bash Hiram Grand Lodge AF&AM Inc. The Interdependence Network Mothers Against Teen Violence (MATV) Pet Connection Inc. Project for Human Development Tail-GREAT Wilkinsburg Christian Housing, Inc.

PENNSYLVANIA

CLIENTS

FLORIDA

CLIENTS

American Disabilities Foundation A True Jewel, Inc. Friends & Stars, Inc. The George Snow Scholarship Fund Hope 4 Mobility HOPE Outreach Center Inc. Perks & Moore Tigerlili Resources Unicorn Children’s Foundation


COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS Our staff and volunteers have a strong passion for civic engagement. We are active and contributing members of the following community groups and associations:

FLORIDA

FLORIDA BAR – PUBLIC INTEREST LAW

SECTION

PALM BEACH COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

PENNSYLVANIA

FORBES FUND CONSULTANT DIRECTORY

GREATER ERIE COUNTY CHAMBER OF

COMMERCE

PENNSYLVANIA BAR ASSOCIATION

PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

PITTSBURGH URBAN MAGNET PROJECT

ST. JAMES CHURCH FESTIVAL

NATIONAL

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION – BUSINESS LAW

SECTION – NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

SUBCOMMITTEE

NATIONAL LEGAL AID AND DEFENDERS

ASSOCIATION

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NONPROFITS

NCS SERVICES INC.

Side Project sponsored a cornhole tournament at the St. James Church Annual Festival in Erie, PA.

Jeff Fromknecht, Chief Executive Officer, presenting at a conference for social workers in San Jose, CA, on an evaluation program he developed for a client, the Interdependence Network


SOCIAL IMPACT LEVERAGING THE POWER OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Side Project has been actively recruiting and assembling a volunteer corps of young professionals eager and passionate about giving back to the community. We coordinate our volunteers’ interests and skill sets with nonprofits and grassroots projects in need of support. In 2014, our volunteers provided more than 2,000 hours of pro bono service, saving the nonprofit community more than $300,000.00 in legal and consultant fees.

PROMOTING COMMUNITY INCLUSION

Side Project CEO Jeff Fromknecht recently published his first book, Social Capital: The Key to Macro Change. He co-authored this book on the “how to”of community inclusion with Dr. Al Condeluci, the CEO of Community Living and Support Services in Pittsburgh and a national leader and consultant on human services and community issues. Building on the constructs found in sociology and anthropology this book offers a focused and cogent formula to support community inclusion for people with disabilities. All the proceeds from the sale of this book are donated to Community Living

and Support Services.

Side Project coordinated 3 professional development workshops based on the content of this book for social workers, parents and self-advocates on community inclusion. Workshops were held in San Jose, California; New York, New York; Kansas City, Kansas.

PHILANTHROPY Side Project donated $7,600.00 in charitable contributions to 10 high-impact nonprofit organizations in Pennsylvania and Florida.

SUPPORTING MACRO CHANGE

In the past year, Side Project has supported the launch of 5 socially-minded organizations operating on both a local and global level to impact community development, civil rights, and social justice for disadvantage groups of people. These include the aforementioned Evolve, Inc., Tigerlili Resources, American Disabilities Foundation, Project for Human Development, and the Wilkinsburg Christian Housing Corp.

Board Member Dan Fromknecht presents a donation check to Sister Mary Miller from Emmaus Ministries.

Board Member Nathan Bish presents a donation to Becky Maxson from LinkedbyPink

Board Member Dan Fromknecht presents a donation to Sister Peg from the Neighborhood Art House.

Side Project Officers Adam Causgrove, Andrew Miskowiec, and Jeff Fromknecht present a donation to Dan Rossi at the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania.


FUN & GAMES Here at Side Project, we take fun and games very seriously. To complement our legal and development work in 2015, we hosted 3 community events. These events are not only fundraisers, raising dollars for great nonprofits, but they also bring together millennials and baby-boomers who share a common interest and passion for doing great things for their community. This year our events included: The Furnace Bash Vol 1, The Erie Tail-GREAT, and the St. James Festival Bean-Bag-Toss Tournament.

FURNACE BASH VOL. 1 This was the first year of the Furnace Bash Vol. 1, hosted at the Carrie Blast Furnace in the historical Braddock neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The Furnace, towering 90 feet above the Monongahela River, is an awe-

inspiring relic of Pittsburgh’s steel industry past. The Furnace has been preserved for historical purposes and is maintained as a museum by Rivers of Steel. Side Project partnered with Jake Voelker, PA Brew Tours, Rivers of Steel, and the CHIVE Pittsburgh to host a premier food truck and craft beer rally. Over 400 guests attended, raising several thousand dollars for Pittsburgh charities including the Mario Lemieux Foundation and the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania. Jake Voelker, Andrew Miskowiec, Dave Brown, Sara Kelly, Adam Causgrove, and Jeff Fromknecht served on the planning committee. A huge thanks to all the volunteers who helped out at the event, including Adam Causgrove, Chelsea Causgrove, Jean Causgrove, Vikki McDonald, Jake Voelker, Anna Voelker, Peter DeMichele, Amanda DeMichele, Joe Farrell, Ted Casey, Nick Koch, Missy Koch, Jeff Fromknecht, Seth Desabato, Rob Johnson, Luke Sumpter, Lindsay Fair-Sumpter, Jeremy Campbell, Jenn Honaker, Jenn Zahron, David Doyle, Kristin Wagner, Ed Gowatski, Kathleen Ganster, Paul Sauers, Phil Schumacher, Stephen Hutzelman, Jenni Kobilski, Andrew Miskowiec, Jay Cronin, Angela Ashe, Allie Heckenkamp, Bill Lang, Alex Hills, Annie Clough, Donna Desabato, Bridgette Tipton, Justin Remano, Laura Kelly, Ben Ostroff, Tom Deitt, Scott Ross, Angela Stabryla, Cindy Pankiewicz, Carinne Park, Nate Houston, Mike Georger, Rick Rowlands, Mike Proto, Dave Couch, Carrie Love, and Fred Love.


ERIE TAIL-GREAT

COMMUNITY. CHARITY. BEER. BASEBALL. Tail-GREAT is annual event organized by the founders of Side Project. Since 2008, thousands of people have attended and more than $12,500 has been raised and donated to charity.

At our inaugural event in Erie last year, over 175 engaged and active guests attended, helping us to raise more than $2,500 for Erie charities including the Neighborhood Art House, Emmaus Ministries’, Kid’s Café, and Linked by Pink. A big thanks to our sponsors:

Volunteers for the event include Dan Fromknecht, Adam Causgrove, Sean Causgrove, Mary Fromknecht, Jean Causgrove, Paul Causgrove, Patty Nguyen, Steve Fetzner, Dave Brown, Sara Kelly, Nick Koch, Kelly Boland, Steve Zoni, Brett Wiler, Mark Kujawinski, Andrew Miskowiec, Tim Grow, Chris Thomas, and Corinne Mullen.

Dennis Schmidt and Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home Calamari’s Squid Row Voodoo Brewery Erie Seawolves


THE ST. JAMES FESTIVAL BEAN BAG TOSS TOURNAMENT This annual event, which Side Project sponsors, takes place in August at the St. James Church Festival. It raises money for the church’s programs and St. James Elementary School. Board Member Dan Fromknecht has secured several sponsors for the event, including:

Hertel and Brown Physical Therapy Doleski Orthondics Brandel Painting Hess Landscaping Kris Hess

Volunteers included Dave Brown, Sara Kelly, Jeff Fromknecht, Dan Fromknecht, Dick Bargielski, Sean Causgrove, Kiley Mier, and Amanda Wiertel. Congratulations to Ryan Smith and Andy Maleski, pictured to the right, who won the tournament for a church record 3rd time!


As always, we are looking to continue to develop connections within the communities we work in. In the upcoming year, Side Project staff and volunteers will be focused on getting more involved in our local communities. The heart of what we do will always be to benefit our local communities, but our larger focus is to impact change on a macro level. Our first three years have been eye-opening, humbling, rewarding, and, ultimately, very successful,

but it is just the framework upon which we hope to build a bigger and better network to serve the community. Please join us as we continue to do great things.

2015 STRATEGIC VISION & GOALS Side Project has two major initiatives it is launching in 2015.

The Legal Services Endowment Fund

This is a Board of Directors restricted fund that is dedicated to providing funds for legal, development, and related administrative supports to small nonprofits (organizations with revenue less than $150,000.00). The goal of the nonprofit legal services fund is to raise funds to allow Side Project to hire legal and administrative support. The fundraising strategy includes both on-line website fundraising, crowd funding, and word of mouth. Internally, an amount equal to 5% of all revenue in 2015 will be invested in the Fund. Externally, funds will be raised through an Immediate Public Opportunity approach. This approach is similar to an Immediate Public Offering common to for-profit businesses that need to raise working capital. The Side Project Immediate Public Opportunity (IPO) is designed to help Side Project raise the working capital needed to expand our legal services program. While investors are not purchasing equity shares in Side Project, they are purchasing fundraising shares (a form of donation). These shares have a “par value” of $100.00 and entitle the shareholder to certain rights.

The Legal Education Institute on Nonprofit Organizations (LEINO)

LEINO is a new division of Side Project with the goal of providing continuing legal and social work education on the “the legal aspects of doing good.” Courses will be designed for lawyers and social workers and focus on Nonprofit Corporate and Tax Law Issues, Nonprofit Fundraising Legal Issues, Ethical Issues in Pro Bono Work, Social Enterprise Law, and Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. In 2015, we will be working to become an accredited provider of both Continuing Legal Education credits for lawyers and Continuing Education Units for social workers in both Pennsylvania and Florida. Our goals for 2015 also include the development and hosting of 2 educational workshops, the production of nonprofit legal fact sheets, and the publication of 1 piece of scholarly work related to nonprofit legal issues.


2014 FINANCIAL REPORT


2014-2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS & OFFICERS Jeffrey Fromknecht, MSW, Esquire Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board of Directors Attorney at Law, Side Project Inc. Adam Causgrove, Director of Community Outreach - Pittsburgh Corporate Relations Association, Medical and Health Sciences Foundation David Brown, MBA Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer of the Board of Directors Controller, Community Living and Support Services Nathan Bish, MBA Board of Directors Compensation Analyst, Erie Insurance Exchange Nicole DiMario, Director of Communications Language Arts Teacher, Loudoun County School Public Schools Ted Casey, Esquire Director of Legal Services – Pennsylvania Family Law Attorney at a Nonprofit Organization Stephen Fetzner, Esquire Board of Directors Associate, Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett, P.C. Daniel Fromknecht Board of Directors PT Tech, Hertel and Brown Physical Therapy Nicholas Koch, Esquire Board of Directors Senior Associate, Burleson, LLP. Andrew Miskowiec, Director of Marketing & Development Bartender, Full Pint Brewery


For More Information on Side Project Inc, please contact:

Jeffrey Fromknecht, MSW, ESQUIRE

FLORIDA OFFICE 228 SW 8th Ave

Boynton Beach, Florida 33435 561-755-7433

PITTSBURGH OFFICE 1400 S. Braddock Ave

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15218 800-330-5807

SideProjectinc.org

Facebook.com/Sideprojectinc @sideprojectinc

side project inc. 2014 annual report

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