The Amster Center has been steadily providing critically needed unrestricted revenue and contributing to the sustainability and self-sufficiency of JFS of Washtenaw County. 

Financial Impact

 In 2010 when the Center was established, bringing in 2019’s earnings of $300,000 would have represented 1/3 of the JFS budget.

Today, with growing demands for JFS services and growth in our budget, earned income represents about 6.7%, an increase that exceeds the growth in the JFS Operating budget.

THRIVE Counseling

THRIVE Clinical Counseling is the best example of making a full transition from 100% grant funded to
100% self-sustained through earned revenue.

JFS had, since its creation, been providing clinical and behavioral counseling to our clients. To be able to provide this much needed service, the organization was fully dependent on grants and donations.

In 2019, THRIVE provided counseling to more than 350 clients without relying on any grants or individual philanthropy. The Amster Center afforded the agency the ability to build a line of service that can sustain itself through insurance reimbursement and out of-pocket payments.

JFS MADE

The JFSMade platform has been extremely effective in assisting Refugee entrepreneurs at JFS with learning how to navigate operating their business while still receiving support and assistance from JFS staff.

The platform encourages entrepreneurs to grow and learn through the experience by selling at local farmers markets, coordinating deliveries & shipments, and learning to track orders, finances, etc.

In addition to the learning opportunities that the JFSMade platform has provided, it has also proven effective as a revenue generator and marketing platform for JFS small businesses.

Since the platform launch in October, 2019, JFSMade has generated revenue and has helped twelve small businesses market and sell their products and services.

We anticipate revenue to grow over time as the project matures. 

Program Impact

 While the Center and the agency’s adoption of social enterprise has generated revenue, JFS experiences so many other real benefits from its creation: improvements in the financial evaluation of offerings and in discipline to measure both social and bottom-line impacts.

The goal for revenue producing programs at JFS, is to be at least net-neutral and self-sustaining.

WISE (Washtenaw Integrated Senior Experience)

The creation of a new award-winning program for older adults, Washtenaw Integrated Senior Experience
(WISE), came out of a rigorous innovation process spurred by The Amster Center.

The landscape for submitting applications for awards or grants has changed dramatically since 2010. Each and every proposal or application this agency submits calls for a solid plan for sustainability of that program or service.

The Amster Center drives JFS’ ability to be competitive for funding. For WISE specifically, the business model for a service that JFS has always provided is expected to be self-sustaining in five years.

WISE will enable JFS to integrate with partner organizations and health systems and to provide fee-based care management to all older adults in our community, regardless of income or zip code. 

What our clients are saying...

“We are known for great service. And we are working with the Amster Center to develop training that will more clearly lay out for our staff members, culturally competent, great service for the community.”

Robbie Griswold, Community Partnerships Coordinator and Diversity
Zingerman’s Community of Businesses

What our clients are saying...

“In 2014, we started with a training on taking time to fully appreciate and take in the moment. That was the most valuable part of the program for me.”

BoAA employee at Mindfulness training
Bank of Ann Arbor

What our clients are saying...

“I’ve been teaching the new curriculum for two months now and people are hungry for it; asking ‘when’s the next one!? and it’s thanks to the Amster Center for imparting their tremendous amount of knowledge and cultural competence into the class so we can teach a much more impactful tool to our people”

Robby Griswold, Community Partnerships Coordinator and Diversity
Zingerman’s Community of Businesses

What our clients are saying...

“Having access to someone who knows the availability of services was extremely valuable to me.”

BoAA trainee at Caregiving training
Bank of Ann Arbor

Get in touch.

PARTNER IN PROFIT & PURPOSE

If you are a business or community leader looking for support, an investor or a volunteer, we would love to be in touch.

The Herb Amster Center is a division of Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County
2245 S. State St., Ste 200 | Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Phone: (734) 769-0209
Email: info@jfsannarbor.org

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