PROJECT OVERVIEW

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Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas (VOACC) supports over 9,700 low-income and homeless individuals annually across Maryland, DC, Virginia, and the Carolinas. In 2019, VOACC launched Hope Has A Home, one of the District of Columbia’s few medical respite programs—an evidence-based care model offering individuals experiencing homelessness a safe place to recover from chronic illness, mental health crises, or severe medical conditions. The program improves health outcomes, stabilizes housing, and reduces healthcare system strain by decreasing reliance on emergency services.

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Due to the overwhelming success of the original 16-bed men’s program—developed in partnership with AmeriHealth Caritas DC, Unity Health Care, and Pathways to Housing DC—VOACC set out to expand Hope Has A Home with a dedicated program for women.

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CHALLENGE

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VOACC needed to raise $200,000 to fully renovate and furnish two 8-bed homes that would serve as the new Hope Has A Home for Women locations in Washington, DC. 

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SOLUTION

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​As Executive Director of Development & Marketing at VOACC, I led the end-to-end strategy, creative development, and execution of a multi-channel campaign to secure funding, generate visibility, and engage key stakeholders for the launch of Hope Has A Home for Women.

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Key contributions:

 

• Campaign Creative & Case for Support

  • ​Conceptualized, wrote, and designed a visually compelling 8-page Case for Support document, tailored to appeal to philanthropic foundations, corporate partners, and individual donors.

  • Utilized the piece in presentations and proposals, resulting in:

    • $145,000 grant from the Developing Families Maternal Health Fund

    • $20,000 grant from The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation

    • $2,000 corporate gift from Bob’s Discount Furniture
       

• Multimedia Direction

  • ​Oversaw video production, managing vendor relationships to deliver a compelling beneficiary story featuring an individual who had benefitted from the original men's program. This video was leveraged as part of the case for support to launch Hope Has A Home for Women.
     

• Intimate Donor Events

  • Produced two high-touch, invite-only fundraising events, each welcoming 30 carefully curated guests including prospective funders and community influencers.

  • Designed a branded guest experience featuring:

    • Heavy hors d'oeuvres and open bar

    • Interactive “partner activation” tables highlighting various program components

    • A closing presentation and direct fundraising appeal

  • Raised $36,972 in direct contributions from the events.
     

• Ribbon Cutting & Brand Launch Event

  • Led creative direction and logistics for the grand opening of Hope Has A Home for Women, attended by 50+ guests including local government officials, healthcare leaders, and funders.

  • Coordinated the speaker program featuring 9 high-profile presenters, and directed on-site branding, signage, and event experience design.

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• Media Relations & Publicity
  Collaborated with VOACC’s media consultant to generate earned media coverage that raised public awareness and stakeholder credibility, including features in:

  • NBC4 Washington – ​Hope Has A Home helps DC women without housing get the care they need

  • The Washington Informer – Hope Has A Home, first medical respite program opens in D.C.

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RESULTS

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• $203,972 raised—surpassing the campaign goal and securing full funding

• Hope Has A Home for Women officially opened in March 2024, expanding critical access to medical respite for unhoused women in the District

• Earned media coverage elevated VOACC’s regional visibility and reinforced the organization’s leadership in innovative care models