Hope and Healing

2014 Annual Report
Hope and Healing
Start with You
CaringBridge is a donor-supported organization with the mission to amplify the
love, hope and compassion in the world. Our websites provide a safe space for
people on a health journey to connect with and rally their community.
Because in times of need, the greatest source of healing is the love and support
of family and friends.
Dear Friends,
In 2014, your compassion and support made a tremendous difference in the lives of
thousands of families when they needed it most. One inspiring example is the story
of Frank and Lisabeth, whose lives were turned upside down one cold, January night.
Lisabeth woke to the news that her husband Frank, a police officer, had been in a
car accident while on duty and was in a coma. As Frank began his long recovery and
rehabilitation, Lisabeth had to learn to accept the support of others.
“I learned to say ‘yes’ when someone offered help, that my CaringBridge guestbook
could be the best source of hope, prayers and love when I needed to take a break and
just breathe. I didn’t need to carry this huge burden of sadness and fear alone.”
Thanks to you, 72,000 families like Frank and Lisabeth’s felt the loving support of a
CaringBridge community to help lighten their loads. Our mission – to amplify the love,
hope and compassion in the world, making each health journey easier – would not
be possible without the generous support of donors like you.
With your help, we achieved many milestones in 2014. We developed a three-year
strategic plan that will enable us to strengthen support for our families for years to
come. We began a partnership with Hallmark, which gives our communities more ways
to express love and encouragement at a time when words may fail them. And, thanks to
you, a new partnership with GoFundMe gives our communities a way to offer financial
assistance when it is most needed.
Like our families, we are blessed with a community of passionate supporters who want
to strengthen CaringBridge by volunteering their time and professional expertise. We
took their suggestion and integrated the opportunity to volunteer for CaringBridge into
our website, empowering even more people to donate their time and give back.
“Life can change in an instant,” Lisabeth reminds us, “but you don’t have to walk the
path alone. Lean in and let others walk with you.” On behalf of our Board, Advisory
Council and employees, we thank you for walking with us. Because of you, we can
ensure that at any time, under any circumstances, those in need will feel strengthened
by a loving community to help carry the load.
With gratitude,
Sona Mehring
Founder and CEO
Janice Aune
2013-2014 Board Chair
Impact
Every year CaringBridge websites provide a safe space for people to
feel loved and supported by their community when they need it most.
By creating a free CaringBridge website, people in a time of need can share updates,
photos and videos, connecting with friends and family who care and want to help.
300,000 people visit CaringBridge every day.
“It was absolutely amazing to me that
“I have a site for myself – going on a few
I could keep up with how he was doing
every day, to send him messages of care
and hope, and make a donation on his
behalf. Since the family is very dispersed
it gave us all a sense of being together
with him throughout.”
years now (I’m in remission now) and it
was the best thing I could have had while I
was sick. It kept me going.”
—Sandy, donor and author
—Ruth, visitor
More than 72,000 families created CaringBridge websites in 2014.
“This site was such a big help to us when
“The CaringBridge site has been a
we needed it most. I really appreciate
the ability it gave me to reach out to our
very extended circle of family and friends
around the country. Thank you.”
wonderful outlet for me to express my
experience and to garner insight into
my illness with the love and support of
so many friends and family. I make my
donation with the hope that others will
get as much benefit from this wonderful
site as I have.”
—Mary, author
—Lauren, donor and author
2.2 million new people joined CaringBridge communities in 2014.
“We are so thankful for CaringBridge,
“Thank you most sincerely for your
to provide us with a communication tool
to update the people who care about
Noah as well as a place for them to leave
messages of support and encouragement
for him. When he is feeling well enough,
the first thing he does in the morning is
check the site for messages. Knowing so
many people are out there pulling for him
really helps to keep him going. I really
can’t tell you how much it helped us to
have a site that is so easy to use and that
provides such wonderful tools already
in place when we needed it. We’d be lost
without CaringBridge.”
website, which has allowed me and others
to follow the progress of a dear friend and
his very ill wife. And to respond to their
stories, to allow them to communicate
with so many – would not have been
possible without you. You do immense
good, bring comfort, make everyone feel
like they are close and family and able
to be in real communication with vitally
important events, life and death events.
Thank you again.”
—Richard, visitor
—Jamie, author
More than 78,000 donors made a contribution to CaringBridge in 2014.
You Make This Possible
They’re the stories that inspire us every day: our volunteers, donors
and, of course, people who use CaringBridge.
Dr. Matt Dudley
Website Author, Volunteer and Donor
Why I donate: “Through CaringBridge, I’ve
learned that the ability to communicate with
others is crucial when battling a grave illness
or disease. People’s support has been vital to
getting through what I’ve gone through.”
As a physician undergoing cancer treatments far from home, Dr. Matt Dudley found
that the love of family and friends was critical to maintaining a positive attitude. Matt’s
experience has changed how he now treats patients. “It’s no longer just about treating
the patient but also about providing them with hope and comfort during a difficult
time.” Matt now recommends CaringBridge to his medical students.
Katie Hoody
Website Author and Volunteer
Why I volunteer: “CaringBridge has been such
a valuable resource for our family during my
mom’s illness. I am so grateful to be able to
volunteer!”
Katie felt the power of CaringBridge as a caregiver
during her mother’s treatment for ovarian cancer. She wanted to volunteer, but could
never find the time to attend training. Then, something amazing happened. Katie
appeared on Wheel of Fortune and returned home with $50,000 in prize money. What
did she do with it? She took a year off from work to volunteer for the organizations that
had most impacted her and her family.
Joy Steinback
Website Author and Donor
Why I donate: “Using CaringBridge was
definitely the best decision I possibly could
have made at that point in our cancer journey. It
was a way for me to share our fears, frustrations
and successes.”
Julia is an energetic kindergartener who you’d never guess has been through three
years of chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Julia’s mom, Joy, began her
CaringBridge website the day after her diagnosis. When Julia finished treatment, they
threw a reverse benefit called a No Mo Chemo party to raise money for the charities that
made the greatest impact on them, including CaringBridge.
Eddie and Mary Grampp
Website Author and Volunteer
Why I volunteer: “Now people we don’t even
know are reading our story. The words of
support and encouragement mean so much
to us. It’s benefitting our spirits knowing that
we are helping others facing a challenging
situation.”
Two years ago, Eddie Grampp was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Today,
this father of three continues to inspire others with his positive outlook. His wife, Mary,
started a CaringBridge website to lessen their load, but found an outlet for sharing their
story of hope. Focusing on the blessings and miracles that have happened throughout
their journey, the Grampps encourage others to start CaringBridge websites.
By The Numbers
CaringBridge is not possible without your financial support.
CaringBridge survives and thrives on a broader community of caring: support that
enabled CaringBridge to serve 35 million people in the past year, across all ages, for a
wide-range of conditions and from 236 countries and regions. We are grateful for the
thousands of compassionate donors who make CaringBridge possible.
Statement of Activity for the Year Ended December 31, 2014
Revenue and Other Support
Contributions:
Donated Services:
Investment Income:
Other Income:
Unrelated Business Income:
$6,442,078
90.58%
$604,310
8.50%
$2,348
0.03%
$59,688
0.84%
$3,539
0.05%
Total Revenue
$7,111,963 100.00%
Program Services:
$5,984,023
78.38%
Management and General:
$934,923
12.25%
Fundraising:
$715,296
9.37%
Expense
Total Expenses
$7,634,242 100.00%
Change in Net Assets
($522,279)
Net Assets
Net Assets at the Beginning of 2014
Net Assets at the End of 2014
$4,269,822
$3,747,543
Balance Sheet for the Year Ended December 31, 2014
Current Assets
Cash:
Inventory:
Prepaid Expenses:
Total Current Assets
$2,394,876
93.47%
$2,948
0.12%
$164,415
6.42%
$2,562,239 100.00%
Other Assets
Endowment Investments:
$199,585
13.40%
Investments:
$500,870
33.63%
Other Assets:
$13,333
0.90%
Fixed Assets:
$775,725
52.08%
Total Other Assets
$1,489,513 100.00%
Total Assets: $4,051,752
Current Liabilities
Accounts Payable:
$70,424
23.15%
Accrued Expenses:
$233,785
76.85%
Total Current Assets
$304,209 100.00%
Total Net Assets
Unrestricted:
Permanently Restricted:
Total Other Assets
$3,547,543
94.66%
$200,000
5.34%
$3,747,543 100.00%
Total Liabilities & Net Assets: $4,051,752
Independent auditors: Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP
Review the complete audited CaringBridge Financial Statement at
http://www.caringbridge.org/about-us/financials or send your request via email to
info@caringbridge.org
Leadership
2014 Board of Directors
Janice Aune
Chair
Beth Monsrud
Vice Chair
Cheryl Newell
Treasurer
Leigh Bailey
Secretary
Alan Abramson
Karen Hohertz
Lorry Massa
Bill McKinney
Mikisha Nation
Scott Petinga
Ann Sandgren
Shawn Teal
Kathy Tavitian
Jamie Thingelstad
Jason Van de Loo
Senior Leadership Team
Sona Mehring
Founder and CEO
Liwanag Ojala
Chief Operating Officer
Gary Ablan
Vice President of Technology
Darla Nemec
Vice President of Finance and Administration
Heidi Droegemueller
Vice President of Development
Thank You
Your support ensures that nobody goes through life’s most difficult journeys
alone. In 2014, the generosity of our volunteers and donors humbled and
inspired us every day. In the upcoming year and for years to come, we will
continue to build, grow and imagine new ways to help.
Thank you for your kindness and generosity.
Volunteer or donate at www.CaringBridge.org