2019 ANNUAL REPORT

Dear Growing Hope Friends,

As I write this, 2019 seems eons ago. But, in these uncertain times it has been a good, grounding exercise to reflect on and account for what Growing Hope accomplished in 2019. Little did we know, we were laying the groundwork that would help us respond to an unprecedented 2020.

2019 was a time to strengthen Growing Hope’s governance, operations, and finance. We added six new board members who bring a diverse set of skills and experience to our work. The board created a new Anti-Racism Board/Staff Committee to review and guide our anti-racism work in 2020

and beyond. We continued to find efficiencies in our operational and administrative costs and increase our connection to and fundraising from the local community. While maintaining staffing across the organization we grew our summer teen program, made many necessary renovations to our farm, and more fully utilized our indoor space at the Ypsilanti Farmers MarketPlace.

Our theme for this Annual Report centers around our Value Statements -- declarations that we lean on to be accountable to our community and ourselves. Developed in late 2018, we took 2019 (and continue in 2020) to embed them in our daily work. They challenge us each day to think about our purpose, our impact, and how we can do better.

None of this work would be possible without you, members of our community who generously supported us through your volunteer time, support of our mission, and financial gifts. From all of us at Growing Hope, thank you.

Sincerely,Cynthia VanRenterghemExecutive Director

GROWING HOPE’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sarah Wixson, Board PresidentCaroline Sanders, Vice President

Rebecca Stephens, TreasurerSarah Work, SecretaryLucy Binns, DirectorTom Daniels, Director

Stephanie Doll, DirectorDemond Johnson, Director

Rosie Jowitt, DirectorKerry Kafafian, Director & Past President

Virginia Murphy, DirectorLajuanna Robinson, Director

Stefanie Stauffer PhD, DirectorCharles Waterhouse, Director

Erinn Williamson, DirectorTaryn Willis, Director

Dear Growing Hope Community,

Thank you for your continued support of Growing Hope. 2019 was a great year of success for us—one that we are thankful for and are making every effort to build upon.

Although 2020 has been challenging, it has placed a spotlight on the “why” for Growing Hope’s mission. Justice & Equity, Integrity, Transformation, Learning, Placemaking—all core values of Growing Hope and all desperately needed as we strive to continue making a difference in our community and in peoples’ lives.

Thank you for coming alongside us to serve our community together. We rely on, and greatly appreciate, your generosity and partnership.

Sincerely,Sarah WixsonBoard President

For a full list of our value statements, visit growinghope.net

TRAN

SFORMATION

LEARNING

Ypsilanti teens gained the confi dence and knowledge

to lead gardening lessons and cook with fresh produce

community members attended gardening and food business workshops and volunteered at our urban farm and farmers markets

farmers market customers, vendors, and community members participated in surveys, providing valuable community feedback

about our farmers markets

We laid the groundwork to become an anti-racist

organization by dedicating time and resources for regular staff readings and discussions,

attending trainings, and forming an anti-racism committee on our

board of directors

10

916

INTEGRITY

PLAC

EMAKING

OUR VALUESin Actionhours spent in the Growing

Hope Incubator Kitchen by local food businesses

scaling up their food production

OUR VALUES

We empower people with the support, resources and knowledge to grow and prepare their own food, and have a role in the emerging local food system.

LEARNING

We commit to creating an honest, constructive, and compassionate culture within our work spaces and in our interactions with our community.

INTEGRITY

We strive to dismantle systems of racism and oppressive power in the food system by ensuring fresh, affordable food is distributed and accessed fairly. We work toward greater equity to ensure people are not only food secure, but can participate in a more just food system.

JUSTICE & EQUITYWe are inspired every day to do the hard work of transforming food systems and transforming the health of our community.

TRANSFORMATION

We aim to create welcoming and inclusive spaces that are explicitly anti-racist and support diverse people and ideas.

PLACEMAKING

310

1,170JUSTICE

& EQUITY

On Our FarmOur urban farm is a community based garden education site in Ypsilanti. We offer educational programs for gardeners of all levels, volunteers, and youth of all ages. Our produce is grown to sell at our farmers markets and to donate to our program participants and local food pantries.

Farm & Gardens

Youth & SchoolsFarm to SchoolOur urban farm supplied seedlings for all Ypsi-area school gardens. Our Youth & Schools staff supported the school district’s Farm to School Committee and the Ypsilanti School Garden Coordinator.

Seed to Plate

153 youth at Perry Early Learning Center, Ypsilanti Middle School, and Sauk Trail Pointe participated in gardening and cooking lessons.

Our Farm & Gardens and Youth & Schools programs take place on the Growing Hope Urban Farm

Home Vegetable Garden Program

24 Ypsilanti households with limited access to fresh produce received raised bed gardens, seedlings, compost, and home gardening support

12 experienced home gardeners supported these households through our new Home Vegetable Garden Mentorship Program

Teen Leadership Program

We expanded the summer program from six to 10 teens and added an after-school program in the fall.

2019 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

We overhauled and renovated our urban farm, installing a new community u-pick garden and building 25 raised beds focused on accessible gardening that demonstrate a variety of home gardening methods.

• Grew and distributed 2,630 seedlings

• 164 youth visited the farm for educational fi eld trips

Newly constructed raised garden beds on our urban farm

350Volunteers

worked with us in 2019

At Our MarketPlaceOur Ypsilanti Farmers MarketPlace is a hub for local food activity. The MarketPlace hosts the Downtown Ypsilanti Farmers Market, Growing Hope Incubator Kitchen, and the Robert C. Barnes Sr. MarketPlace Hall.

Farmers Markets58 vendors sold at our markets

$202,800 in total sales across all of our markets (Downtown, Depot Town, and indoor markets)

21% of sales were through food assistance

• Offered Spanish translations of all promotional materials, signage, and customer surveys

Food EntrepreneurshipIncubator Kitchen

17 local food businesses used our kitchen to grow and scale up their businesses

Building Blocks Workshops for the Local Food Entrepreneur

67 farmers and local food entrepreneurs attended workshops in the fall and spring

Mobile Farm Stand

Visited lower income senior apartments weekly from July-September to provide fresh produce

215 customers visited the farm stand

$1,276 in produce sales

Borage & Baskets sells seedlings and hand woven baskets at our Depot Town market

Sean Brezzell of 24th Cheesecakerie works in our incubator kitchen

Our Farmers Markets and Food Entrepreneurship programs are based out of the Ypsilanti Farmers Marketplace

2019 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Cultivate Coffee & Tap House became an anchor tenant at the Ypsilanti Farmers

MarketPlace and are now roasting all their coffee beans in our facility.

Our Farmers Markets and Food Entrepreneurship programs are based out of the Ypsilanti Farmers MarketPlace

2019 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

FINANCIAL DATA2019 TOTAL REVENUE

$673,4632019 TOTAL EXPENSES

$691,499

Grants52%

Other.2%

In Kind1.4%

Special Events9%

Contributions28%

Fundraising &Communications22%

Program64%

Admin14%

Grants...................................................$349,251Contributions.......................................$185,306Program Revenue................................$67,681Special Events......................................$61,051In Kind...................................................$9,159Other......................................................$1,015

Program.................................................$440,931Fundraising & Communications.........$153,484Administrative.......................................$97,084

Volunteer of the Year: Katie DavisKatie was one of our most active volunteers in 2019 and we wanted to honor her for her contribution of her time, talents, and enthusiam.

She had this to say about her experience:

“I chose to volunteer at the Growing Hope Urban Farm because sustainable gardening and farming mixed with community outreach and education greatly appeals to me. It’s truly rewarding watching plants grow from seed to harvest and witness the impact the urban farm has throughout the community. Additionally, volunteering at

the events and at the Ypsilanti farmer’s market helped to show how Growing Hope’s mission truly comes full circle. It is empowering to

give back in such a way, and I enjoyed every moment of it.”

Program Revenue10%

PARTNERSHIP & SUPPORT

• Molina Healthcare• Ryan Transportation• St. Joseph Mercy Health System• Sweet Heather Anne• Sweetwaters of Ypsilanti• The Thrift Shop Association• Varnum LLP• Washtenaw County Health

Department• Washtenaw County Visitors Bureau• Washtenaw Federal Credit Union• Wayne Garden Club• Ypsianti Community Schools• Zingerman’s Bakehouse• Zingerman’s Roadhouse

Foundation Support• Americana Foundation• Buhr Foundation• DTE Energy Foundation

Corporate & Organization Support• Ann Arbor Professional Pharmacy• Ann Arbor State Bank• Ann Arbor Transportation Authority• Arbor Trust Wealth Advisors• Bank of Ann Arbor• Bredell & Bredell, P.C.• Capstone Tax & Financial• Comcast• Compass Group• Cultivate Coffee and TapHouse• Domino’s• First United Methodist Church• Found Gallery• Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC• Grange Kitchen & Bar• Hylant Group• iVisa• Lake Trust Credit Union• Michigan Computer Supplies• Miss Kim

It takes a community to impact a community. As an independent 501(c)(3) organization, our work would be impossible without the generous financial support of numerous individuals, foundations, and corporations. We owe tremendous thanks to the following foundations and corporate donors who have made financial commitments to Growing Hope.

“I love the passion of the farmers, their beautiful produce, ability to get native plants, Maggie’s baked goodies, love it when a musician is there. Good job, organizers--you’ve created a real gem of our community! I LOVE the farmers market!” - Ypsilanti Farmers Markets customer

“I think it’s a great resource for inexperienced gardeners. It is nice to know that when questions pop up, there is an experienced person who will help.” - Home Vegetable Garden Program participant

“I like the accessibility/location, friendliness, and variety.” - Mobile Farm Stand customer

PROGRAM FEEDBACK

• Key Bank Foundation• Old National Bank Foundation• Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley

Foundation• Washtenaw Coordinated FundersFederal Support• USDA Farmers Market Promotion

Program• USDA SNAP-Ed via the Michigan

Fitness Foundation

Colleen Crawley and Ken CleinCharlotte CrosonEric CrosonJim Crowfoot and Ruth CareyMary CunninghamJoshua DanielsSara Dansky and Tom SmalleyDr. Alan Darr and Mollie FletcherAlex DarrPatty DavisCarolin and MacDonald DickJohn Dickson and Rachel ShawStephanie and Larry Doll Dennis and Eileen DoneganJillian Downey and Elph MorganKimberley DowningBob and Amy DoyleCathy DyerTracey EasthopeRobert EdmondsEric EngelMargaret Engle and Gavin ClabaughCelia Fellin and Ron OzminkowskiCarol and Mitch FleischerJennifer and Daniel FordGregory Fox and Sharon LeanNicole and David Frei Carol FurtadoWilliam and Ann FurtwanglerChuck and Sharell GehrkeEric and Leslie GeiserDan and Laura GillisLaura GillisTeresa GillottiAnn and Tom GladwinIrwin Goldstein and Martha MayoJanet Goldwasser and Stuart DowtyJune and Dennis GordonRandy GravelRuth GravesDavid Gunstrom and Katherine ForsytheIdelle Hammond-Sass and Dale SassAudrey and Michael HanzlianCraig HarveyCindy HawkeJudith E HeadyAndrew HerscherMariah HobsonDavid Hulet and Brady EmmettCraig Hupy and Marie LemmerHelaine and Dale HunscherLinda IrvinMiriam JaffaDemond JohnsonAimee Jones and Jeff GutmanDave and Dorothy Jones Roslyn and Marc JonesKen and Janet JoslynKerry Kafafi anJason Kahn

Peter and Sarah AllenTerri Sherman AllenVeronica and David AllenSusan and Rich AllisonLilian AndersonMichael Appel and Ruth KrautRobert and Jill ArcureJohn and Betty ArnoldJan Arps-Prundeanu and Octavian PrundeanuJenna and Rich BacolorCatherine Badgley and Jerry SmithStacy BairdDavid BakerRena and Jeff BaschLisa and Beth BashertDeborah BayerStewart and Kathlynn Beal Megan BeardsleyJason and Sue Anne BellJan and Michael-David BenDorSheila Bentrum and Paul FortinoElizabeth BerghoffEmma Beyers-CarlsonRonni and Morty BernsteinJoan BinkowLucy Binns and Jack FrieseJames BizerTodd BlankenshipThomas BlaskeBill and Janis BloomCharles BorgsdorfBrian and Martin Bouma-QuinnLisa BradshawKaren and Andrew BrennerTara M Breslin M.D.Elizabeth BrickmanJeff Briegel and Marion HoyerWilliam Brinkerhoff and Kathleen SampleCarol BrodbeckLawrence BroseMaria Brummel and Mary TaylorBunyan Bryant and Jean CarlbergDavid and Mary BrykEllen Bunting and Ken SchwartzJennifer BurrisElizabeth and Brian BurtJames and Marci Cameron Craig CampbellSusan and Michael CampbellJames CarrollGail and Kenneth CastleElizabeth and Royal Caswell Bart Catalfi oAmy Cell and Bill SchikoraKathleen and Steven CicchiniAnne and Greg ClitesHilary CohenChloe and CJ CookDon and Susan Cramer

We are tremendously grateful for and would like to acknowledge

OUR 2019 INDIVIDUAL DONORS Indicates individuals who donated $1,000 or more

If we made a mistake or you would like to be listed differently, please email Liz at elizabeth@growinghope.net.

Indicates individuals who donated

Nancy PatersonPeter Paul and Wendy GouineAndrew Peck and Alyssa WealtyAlice Penrose and Kevin MillerAdam PlomaritasLana and Henry PollackJohnita PorterKami PothukuchiMary Potts and Jen EastridgeDorothy Quint and J.W. GoochJames RatzlaffSusan M. ReinhartTimothy Richards and Constance McGuireAnn and Patrick RodgersEmily RodgersCecelia RohrbacherJanette RookKate and Phil RoosSheila RoseJane RosebroughAmy RosenbergNicholas RoumelCarol Rugg and Rich MontmorencyTim RyanDianna SamuelsonCaroline SandersAnita and Peter SandrettoVeronica SanitateLindsey ScaleraJames SchaafsmaRoland Schaedig and Barbara HayworthGeorge and Joyce Schlecht Ann and Tom Schriber Sandra SchulzeClaudia and Tony SciolyKate Jones Share and David ShareJohn Seamans and Jasmine StannardMichelle Segar and Jeff HorowitzKaren SendelbachWilliam SerrellCarol ShannonSharon Sheldon and Jim DickensonTom and Jean ShopeLynn Sipher and Scott MannRobert SlaterTim SonderCraig Spangler and Teresa Honnold Eileen SpringEmily Springfi eldBethany and David Steinberg Ines and Eric StorhokDave and Paula StrenskiRuth and Paul StromJim and Rebecca SundbergMarilyn SuterBernard SwieckiMorris and Ann TaberRuth TaubmanAlice Sano TeachoutKristen and Adam Teasdale

Steve and Madeline ThiryRobert ThomasAubrey ThomasonScott and Elizabeth TrudeauMegan TurfCarole and Greg TurnerDavid Uhlmann and Virginia MurphyJan UlrichMarie and Gary UrickMatthew VanBesien and Rosie JowittBill and Abby VanderbiltJohn Vandermeer and Ivette PerfectoAnn Marie Van DuyneGloria and Erick VanDuyne Cynthia and Rob VanRenterghem Karen Verpeet and Lisa BachEdward VetortTim and Jenny VroomNora VusichBruce Wallace and Susie CannellJack and Sharon WarrenDave and Sheila WaterhouseVirginia Weingate and John McCauley Ronald and Eileen Weiser John and Sarah WeissVickie Wellman and Ian MacGregorJoan B WellsDavid and Deanna WhiteAbby WilfongBeverly WiltshireCindy Winiarski and Cathy CarterBeth WinklerRoberta and Ian Wojcik-AndrewsJohn J WoodcockSarah WorkTyler WormanJan WrightMax WrightShane WrightRebecca YaciukWalid Yassir and Lisa Prosser Suzie Zick and Peter Schermerhorn

Dan KaminskyRachel and Stephen KaplanRosalie Brum KarunasRich KatoFred and Nora KarschJohn and Nancy KelleyBarbara Kessler and Richard SoblePeter and Susan KlaasWally KleinCindy and Lewis KleinsmithBrian KoepeleMary KrzeczkowskiKevin KubarychGretchen Kuehnlein-Kopmanis and Jeff KopmanisBenjamin Kuipers and Laura LeinSusan Lackey and Steve DautGail LauzzanaMargaret Leary and Russ SerbayHeather Anne LeavittRobert and Debra LevineKenneth and Jeanne Levy-Church Peter LinkChia-Jen Liu and Chiu-Mei ChenNancie and Donald LoppnowNate and Elissa Lowery Steve Luedders and Christina OvergaardSally Lunn and Bob KrzewinskiDavid and Louise Lutton Joe Malcoun and Caitlin KleinHerbert and Lynn MalinoffKris and Scott MalyCourtney MandarinoMelissa MarinAndrew MastLisa Mazzia M.D.Jo Ann McCollumMarcia C McCraryPaul and Courtney McCreadieTerrence and Mary Ann McDonaldLeeAnn McKeonKerry McKinneyDerek Mehraban and Amy Pienta MehrabanRob and Ann MeredithLisa MillerJohn Monnier and Andrea ZemgulysEmily Moore-Marshall and Tim MarshallCathy and Mike MuhaJim Murabito and Marilyn EysterDennis and Denise MurrayMargaret NationGlenn Nelson and Margaret DewarJohn NewmanGregory NewtonRuthann Nichols Dan and Sarah NicoliAdam NoelFaye OgasawaraAmorita OliverJeannine Palms and Dale Petty

GROWING HOPE URBAN FARM

(734) 786-8401922 West Michigan Avenue

Ypsilanti, MI 48197

YPSILANTI FARMERSMARKETPLACE

(734) 707-179516 South Washington Street

Ypsilanti, MI 48197

www.growinghope.netFacebook @growinghope

Instagram @growingthehope