Helping Up Mission

The Opportunity

Helping Up Mission (HUM) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1885 to meet the needs of Baltimore City and the surrounding counties’ poor and underserved residents. Beyond meeting basic requirements of shelter, food, and clothing, HUM’s programs empower their clients to effectively address the underlying causes of homelessness, poverty and addiction.

HUM approached Carter after purchasing two additional properties in the Historic Jonestown neighborhood, within sight of their campus, with plans to develop them to expand their reach and meet the growing needs of the community. The organization’s primary focus was to conduct a major campaign to build a 78,000-square-foot building to expand HUM’s recovery community and serve women in need, with basic services for their children.

How Carter Helped

In 2017, HUM engaged Carter to conduct a planning study to explore the possibility of embarking on a ~$35 million campaign.

Carter was then re-engaged to provide strategic campaign counsel to support the success of HUM’s efforts, including supporting the development of campaign leadership, conducting solicitation training, advising solicitation and stewardship strategies, and providing ongoing coaching for campaign leaders. A transformative $20 million lead gift and an $18 million contribution from an anonymous volunteer set the campaign on a strong path and allowed HUM to raise its sights for the Inspiring Hope campaign.

Carter also played a key role in ensuring the right professional leaders were in place to guide HUM in the campaign and into the organization’s next chapter, including the hiring of HUM’s new Chief Philanthropy Officer—who has been a critical driving force in HUM’s success.

The Results

The campaign raised over $62 million, a record-breaking goal, to fund the opening of a new Center for Women & Children, a 145,000-square-foot facility. Thanks to donor generosity, HUM was able to stay true to its original vision while expanding the facility by two additional floors, an extraordinary enhancement with lasting impact.

The new center offers lifesaving programs and services that lead to personal transformation, the restoration of family relationships, the rebuilding of vocational opportunities, and ultimately, reintegration into the community as contributing members.

In addition to raising critical funds, the campaign significantly increased visibility and awareness of HUM’s mission across the region and beyond, as it serves as a national model for empowering underserved communities.

“We chose Carter for their deep understanding of the philanthropic landscape of our community. Our Carter team offered more than strategy for our campaign, they rolled up their sleeves to support the volunteer leaders and the organization’s staff, kept us on track, and helped us avoid fatigue to surpass our fundraising goal. Carter also gave us the tools to improve our annual fund coming out of our campaign. We have our amazing new Center, and we are better equipped for future fundraising success.”  
– Jennifer Bedon, Chief Philanthropy Officer