Fund Development

WHY DO WE NEED FUND DEVELOPMENT?

Since 1960, when we began as Presbyterian Counseling Service, our mission has  been to provide high quality, faith-integrative, affordable counseling for individuals, couples and families regardless of the clients' ability to pay.  As the largest faith-based counseling agency in the area "still standing" in these difficult economic times, we're aware that we've become the go-to referral source for those who need fee assistance and want to have their faith included in the counseling process.  In order to remain true to our mission and keep the doors of Samaritan open, we depend on the generosity of our faith community -- individual donors, churches and grant resources. 

WHAT DOES FUND DEVELOPMENT LOOK LIKE?

Because more than half of the 700 people who come through the doors of our counseling offices each week cannot pay the full cost of the counseling they need, we provide thousands of hours of reduced-fee counseling --"uncompensated care" -- each year.  We do this in a number of ways.

One way we are able to reduce the fee of someone with extremely limited financial resources is by drawing on The Samaritan Fund. This fund is dependent on our fundraising events.  In 2010, the Spring Luncheon raised $50,000--a gratifying amount but one that saw us only halfway through that year. In 2011, those who celebrated our 50th Anniversary gave more than $35,000 to underwrite the uncompensated care we provide for low income clients.  As you can imagine, this also was quickly dispersed.  A Spring Luncheon Event is planned for April 2012, where friends of Samaritan will again gather for the purpose of supporting this mission.

We also maintain a fund specifically for At-Risk Youth. For four years, Samaritan received funding from the Stewardship Foundation for the Homeless Youth Mental Health Project, which allowed us to have a full time therapist, Liza Ziliak, who provided counseling for homeless and at-risk youth in the University District and Downtown Seattle.  While this funding is no longer available, our Board continues to work with the questions of how to find ways of supporting this area of our ministry.  In the meantime, we provide counseling for at-risk and homeless youth to the extent we are able, and we welcome gifts that are designated for this very vulnerable segment of our population.

A third way we provide uncompensated care is through our fee assistance schedule.  At the beginning of the counseling process when there is financial need, the therapist may negotiate a reduced fee with the client.  This means that the therapist and the agency are agreeing to accept what may be less than the actual cost of providing the counseling hour -- a gap that we call on our Fund Development efforts to bridge.

The Low Income Clinic, which is staffed by externs under the supervision of experienced clinical staff members, provides more than 2,000 hours of counseling each year for those with extremely low incomes--individuals, couples and families who truly have nowhere else to turn.

Our mission statement says: "We dedicate ourselves each day to make this a more peaceful, just and compassionate world -- one intentional, healing encounter at a time."  With the help of those who actively share this commitment, the Board of Directors and the Samaritan staff continue to do this.

To see our most recent Annual Report>