2024 CFAAC Annual Report - Flipbook - Page 15
SERVING HOPE
Tennis Alliance Endowment Fund Cultivates a Full Bloom Future
For more than 10 years, the Tennis Alliance
of Anne Arundel County has provided tennis
and educational opportunities for youth and
families. With its mission being “to expand tennis
opportunities for all in Anne Arundel County and
to promote the sport of tennis for health, wellness,
and life,” the organization offers free tennis
lessons and distributes free rackets to youth and
families in under-resourced communities. In 2024,
more than 350 youth and 147 adults participated
in their programs. They offer six-week programs,
free family tennis afternoons, and summer
camps, incorporating education on nutrition and
character building through sports. Recently, they
expanded their reach by introducing adaptive
programming, beyond Special Olympics, to
include wheelchair and visually impaired tennis.
“We were very appreciative of CFAAC’s outreach
because we weren't anywhere near thinking
of an endowment. We just didn't have those
kind of funds,” she continued. “But then John
[Rodenhausen] worked with us and talked us
through it. We contacted a couple of people, and
they were excited about making this happen.”
As the organization grew, so did its dream for
long-term sustainability. Last year, the Tennis
Alliance took advantage of CFAAC’s special offer
to establish a Designated Fund with the goal
of building an Endowment Fund. CFAAC gave
nonprofits three years to reach endowment status,
and Tennis Alliance supporters rallied, achieving
the goal of an endowment within a year.
With a solid financial foundation in place, the
Tennis Alliance remains focused on its long-term
goals. In addition to growing its endowment and
programming, the organization continues to raise
funds — to support advocacy for an indoor tennis
facility, which would allow them to expand their
programs year round and allow Anne Arundel
residents more court availability.
Tennis Alliance Founder and Board President
Louise Thomas said the offer came at a pivotal
moment, just as the organization was preparing to
hire a paid executive director.
“We will always be looking and working for an
indoor facility,” said Marie. “However, my job is to
make sure that people understand that the Tennis
Alliance is more than just that tennis facility. We are
providing tennis opportunities for all.”
“When we learned of this great opportunity with
a very minimal amount to get the fund started, we
began doing the research,” she said. “We were in
the process of making a decision on how to move
forward, have greater sustainability, and greater
exposure. We asked ourselves, ‘Are we moving
forward or not?’—knowing this would be an
important piece; it was a statement
to the community that we're
here to stay.
The timing aligned perfectly with the hiring of
Marie Sokoloff, the organization’s new executive
director. As the CFAAC fund was growing, Marie
found CFAAC’s support invaluable in her new role.
“I think that being able to pick up the phone and
call a team of philanthropic experts at any time
makes a huge difference,” she said. “Not only
do they help, but they are also very sincerely
interested in us succeeding.”
Marie encourages other nonprofits not to be
intimidated by the idea of setting up an Endowment
Fund at CFAAC. “Just take a breath; don't be
intimidated,” she said. “You can pick up the phone
and call any staff member. They will make you feel at
ease and help you to understand the way it all works.”
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