Organization
R3 Development exists to improve the lives of East St. Louis residents, particularly youth, through economic, housing, and leadership development opportunities. Staff and volunteers mentor, disciple, train, and employ youth to work alongside volunteers (primarily from area churches) to rehab houses which are then leased/sold at very reasonable prices to local residents. The agency seeks to help youth develop a work history, references, and job skills that improve their relationships with God, self, others, and work, ultimately creating long-term and eternal change. Additional houses are flipped using paid contractors and sold at higher price points throughout the Metro-East to help sustain the ministry.
Partnership
This young agency recognized that, while it was blessed with a strong volunteer base, it needed to strengthen its donor base in order to improve its long-term sustainability. The agency approached Brown Sisters Foundation and was awarded a challenge grant to launch a new Pathmaker Campaign to attract new individual donors who contribute monthly as well as new partner churches. Funding was also provided to help the agency work with an outside development coach to help ensure the success of these new fundraising efforts.