Money, Resources & Independence

Putting Our Mission Before Our Funding

The Kendall-Whittier Residents Association (KWRA) is self-financed.

We are intentionally building an organization that does not depend on grants, government funding, corporate sponsorships, or foundation support to carry out its mission.

We believe neighborhood organizations should exist to serve residents, not to maintain funding streams.

The Elephant in the Room: Money

Money matters. Neighborhoods need resources, and many worthwhile projects require financial support.

But funding can also create problems.

Organizations may begin pursuing projects because funding is available rather than because residents identified a need.

Grant requirements, reporting obligations, fundraising, and relationships with sponsors can consume time that might otherwise be spent working with neighbors.

Organizations can also become reluctant to challenge the institutions they depend upon for financial support.

We want to avoid those pressures.

Resources Are More Than Money

A neighborhood has resources that do not appear in a bank account.

Residents bring knowledge, skills, experience, relationships, equipment, meeting spaces, time, and ideas.

Local organizations and businesses may have resources they are willing to share.

Our approach is to identify needs, connect people with resources, and work together to accomplish things without automatically assuming that every project requires a grant, a budget, or a formal organization to manage it.

Supporting Projects Without Creating Dependency

Some neighborhood projects will require money.

We can help residents identify possible funding, connect with organizations, share resources, and coordinate support.

But there is a difference between helping secure resources for a community project and making the Residents Association financially dependent on the institutions providing those resources.

We want to preserve that distinction.

Independence and Accountability

Our priorities should come from residents.

Our willingness to question public officials, institutions, developers, neighborhood organizations, and funding agencies should not depend on whether they might finance our activities.

Financial support should never purchase influence over the Residents Association's positions or decisions.

Our mission determines what resources we need. Available funding does not determine our mission.