Five Questions With: Johnnie C. Chace

Johnnie C. Chace joined the nonprofit Family Service of Rhode Island as its full-time director of philanthropy in September.
Johnnie C. Chace joined the nonprofit Family Service of Rhode Island as its full-time director of philanthropy in September.

Johnnie C. Chace joined the nonprofit Family Service of Rhode Island as its full-time director of philanthropy in September. Her background includes serving as a founding board member of RISE, and serving on the boards of directors of the Gordon School, Trinity Rep, Save the Bay, the Downtown Parks Conservancy, the Southside Community Land Trust, the Wolf School, and the Marion Institute. Here she describes her new role and goals for the statewide human services and educational nonprofit.

PBN: As Family Service of Rhode Island’s new philanthropy director, what is your priority in the first six months?
CHACE:
Family Service of Rhode Island has a long history of raising money in the community. To be an effective fundraiser, I feel it is essential to develop strong relationships with our donors. I need to be able to speak with empathy and sincere compassion for our clients, their lives and the struggles they try to overcome every day. My intention is to have a personal firsthand understanding of each of our programs and the people they serve.

PBN: Which of the nonprofit’s services is most in need for support and funding?
CHACE: While all the programs at Family Service of Rhode Island have a great need for financial support, the Providence Children’s Initiative and specifically the Walking School Bus program have an increased need for expansion in lower South Providence. This program has a simple premise – to help young children who are not eligible to ride the bus get to school and avoid being absent. We would love to replicate this program and are applying for grants and having discussions with specific donors to support the cost of increasing staff and volunteers.

PBN: What mix of in-kind and financial donations does the nonprofit rely on?
CHACE:
Family Service of Rhode Island has a strong network of in-kind donors who rally around our families during the holidays. I would love to expand that initiative to meet the needs of our clients [year-round]. My primary responsibility, however, is to introduce more potential donors to our 123-year-old commitment to breaking the cycle of poverty, disease and discrimination and, hopefully, charm and convince them to support this important work.

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PBN: With existing or new partnerships, how do you leverage financial support to keep these arrangements going?
CHACE:
Family Service of Rhode Island began in 1892 creating partnerships within the state with the expressed intention of providing seamless services to our clients. Each program works in partnership with another to make sure our clients get the services they need. We have an experienced team of grant writers who are always researching collaborative partnerships both locally and nationally.

PBN: What are your long-term goals for the organization?
CHACE:
I think there are many people in Rhode Island who still do not fully understand the work of Family Service of Rhode Island and our intentions to help the neediest children and families in our community. My hope is to help raise awareness and develop long-lasting relationships with those who have the financial capacity and deep commitment to support our cause.
I hope they will join us in helping abused, traumatized children; sex trafficking victims and victims of other crime and violence; military families before, during and after deployment; children with attendance issues through our Walking School Bus program; and others in need.

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