The Case for Change
(written 2/3/19)
Thank you for your time and attention regarding the expansion plans of Sampson Partners. As you probably already know, we are a 501(c)(3) Christian organization founded in 1986 for the sole purpose of addressing basic human needs in Sampson County.
In the early years, our focus was emergency assistance and food distribution. We were a mainstay in local philanthropy for almost three decades. Over the last several years, our outreach has shifted to providing cash support of nonprofits within the county, totaling $35,000 as of this writing. Revenue now comes almost entirely from the operations of our store, The Shop on Main, which receives donations of furniture, clothing, and other household items for resale. This business model is consistently profitable because of the small army of loyal volunteers who help keep our operating expenses very low. The shop not only helps to generate cash support for our humanitarian missions, it also provides a service for our shoppers who purchase lightly used items at very low prices. Further still, our donors are themselves served by having a mechanism in place to avoid the pointless discarding of items they no longer need. Finally, The Shop on Main provides jobs for our paid staff who accept less than they deserve.
In July 2018, when adjacent property became available from Lew Starling, the Board of Directors was in a position to purchase the land using our cash reserves. Now, the next step is to build a 4200 square foot expansion for the purpose of doubling our furniture sales. This new building, which should begin by June 2019, is scheduled for completion by the end of 2019. With our current 6400 square feet, the addition will give us a total of nearly 11,000 square feet. We are confident that this expansion will greatly augment our current successful business model, likely doubling or even tripling our revenue. We foresee that Sampson Partners will be a major force for good in Sampson County for decades to come.
We come to you from a position of financial strength. We have no debt. We own our real estate free and clear. We have $120,000 in cash reserves. And we have a proven business with many years of experience. Because of our strength, this project will proceed on schedule regardless of our fundraising success from this point forward. So why, you might reasonably ask, do we come to you now? Here are two reasons:
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People have come up to us – unsolicited – asking for an opportunity to be a part of this wave of positive change, to be a part of a legacy dating back to 1986 and looking deeply into the decades ahead. People and churches have asked how they can put their name on or in our building, leaving their own personal legacy.
2. The citizens whom we serve will be best served if our resources are not eroded, even temporarily, by interest payments. It would be much better to pay off the building in real time during construction. That is our intent and our expectation.
*Here are the key numbers as they stand on February 3, 2019:
Cost of building $349,000
Cash reserves 110,000
Donations to the capital campaign 46,000
Needed 193,000
Thank you for considering becoming a part of the important work that we are doing at Sampson Partners. Donations can be made by check and mailed to us at: Sampson Partners, 309 East Main Street, Clinton, NC, 28328. Should you need more detailed information about us, or if you want to donate electronically, then please go to the web at www.sampsonpartners.org. Transfer of appreciated stock or other securities can be arranged easily. For the latest information and photos, check us out on Facebook. If you choose not to donate cash at this time, then perhaps you will consider giving us a chance to sell any furniture that you or your business may not need.
Paul Edward Viser, President
DONATE
Capital Campaign
(revised 3/25/19)
We at Sampson Partners are grateful and excited that you are considering joining us in our important work. Our new 4200 square foot building represents a major leap forward for our organization. With our existing building, we will soon have a total floor space of 10,600 square feet. The Board of Directors has every expectation that Sampson Partners will be a significant presence among local nonprofits for decades to come. The efficient reception, display, and sale of furniture will greatly augment our success at fulfilling our core mission: to address human needs in Sampson County.
Every donor to our campaign will be permanently recognized by name on an interior display panel in our new building. The names will be listed alphabetically, and NOT grouped into giving levels. All of our donors are important to us. We are really serious about this. Sampson Partners is at its strongest when we have one or two thousand supporters giving what they can. We want and need all of the Sampson Partners family to feel that they are an equal part of our mission.
In addition, our Board of Directors offers opportunities for the recognition of leadership giving by businesses or individuals. It is possible that a business would be interested in naming rights, or eager to lease a 1200 square foot dedicated space designed for rental (see floor plan). Please contact us for details.
Some people have come up to us wanting to have the opportunity for some sort of
recognition around the exterior entrance to our building. This is available for individuals,
businesses, churches, and other groups. Gifts made in memory or in honor of someone
are welcome and will be displayed as such. With this in mind, we offer the following:
$25,000 -- name on bronze casting historical marker affixed to exterior
brick facade at eye level
$10,000 -- name on 6" X 12" black granite block
$5,000 -- name on 6" X 12" oversized brick
$1,000 -- name on standard-sized brick
Note: Sampson Partners, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Christian organization. Your donations are likely tax-deductible. Consult your CPA or tax professional for advice specific to your circumstances. All gifts will be promptly acknowledged with a letter mailed or e-mailed to the address that you provide. Please keep this letter for your tax files.