| The Jason Foundation's National Network of Affiliate Offices , also known as our 'Five Stones', is truly the heart of our organization. Based on the Biblical story of David facing Goliath, JFI relates to David facing the giant of suicide. Within the story, David chooses five stones to face the giant. JFI did exactly that by choosing five companies to work with to form our National Clinical Network, each of which offers a unique talent to aid in our mission. When talking about The Jason Foundation's Five Stones Network and budget, it is vitally important to explain our in-kind budget model, and how it affects our overall income and expense accounts. While many non-profits report in-kind contributions, which usually consist of a one-time physical product or service provided, The Jason Foundation in-kind contributions are uniquely different. The 'heart' of JFI lies within our 'Five Stones' National Community Affiliates, a partnership with five of the leading behavior health companies in the nation. This collaberation creates the nation's largest network of affiliate offices serving communities in all fifty states to prevent youth suicide. JFI's National Five Stones Network currently consists of 219 locations in 35 states. The Jason Foundation utilizes its relationship with the Five Stones to provide programs and services throughout the country. Each National 'Stone' is charged with providing office space and personnel in their facilities all over the nation. Each facility that partners with The Jason Foundation agrees to choose minimally one person to be the JFI representative for their respective community. Most often, these facilities have up to five or more individuals working as Jason Foundation representatives. Each office is provided with an annual business plan and is committed to reporting to a Divisional Director within the JFI Corporate office. As more community affiliate offices are added, more staffing is needed to manage those offices, and there is an increase in overall program expenses, which include program development and shipping in addition to the management of those offices. This in-kind contribution can further be explained as follows: A good example would be someone giving you a new car for transportation without tires, oil, gas or a driver. A great gift, but one that will create expenses if you are to utilize it. This example helps explain the "gift" of 219 Regional Affiliate Offices that have to be managed, trained, supported by The Jason Foundation corporate office which creates the expenses to utilize this network annually. Each affiliate office has a unique business plan, divisional director support, monthly training and monthly reporting to The Jason Foundation corporate. Our National Five Stones in the above example have provided the car / transportation vehicle for our programs by providing the affiliate offices. The Jason Foundation provides the tires, oil, gas and driver - the organization and management - to utilize the "transportation" model. JFI has recently added an additional community outreach program called our 'Pillar Division', whereby JFI affiliate offices are placed in communities that may be under-served. |
