We set an ambitious goal to raise $500,000 for our Endowment Fund in celebration of our Centennial. Thanks to our supporters, we are nearly there!
To ensure Upward Transitions will be here for another 100 years to serve those facing the threat of poverty and homelessness the organization has set a goal to raise $500,000 for its endowment fund to sustain its services in perpetuity.
Upward Transitions invites you to join in this mission and to link your legacy with ours for the next century.
Since 1925, Upward Transitions has been serving those in need in Central Oklahoma, making the organization one of the oldest social services agencies in the community. Regardless of age, race, income, lifestyle, religion, or culture, people in need can turn to Upward Transitions to help during good times and bad.
The mission of Upward Transitions is to prevent generational poverty through community collaboration, emergency relief and empowerment, therefore inspiring hope with our neighbors experiencing housing instability.
Endowment funds are invested for long-term growth and eventually give back more than is put into them. Your gift to our endowment will give back its full value to us within 15 years and then continue to give even more. In this way, your gift today is your legacy and will keep giving back again and again forever. * **
Upward Transitions’ endowment fund with the Oklahoma City Community Foundation (occf.org) is like a savings account that only distributes a portion of the interest. It grants 5% of the fund each year, and it never runs out. The remainder continues to grow in value. When you give to this endowment fund, you are giving a gift that will continue to give forever!
During this initial offering, the Kirkpatrick Family Fund (www.kirkpatrickfamilyfund.org) is matching a percentage of the funds received. This increases the value of all donations made before February, 2026.
“What I’m most proud of is me – for getting sober and doing the right thing!”
Rodney has been sober for four months, has obtained housing, and is employed driving a forklift.
He had been unhoused for five years and was in crisis with no family or anyone to ask for help.
One of our community partners referred him to Upward Transitions to obtain his ID so he could have access to housing, employment, and other social services. He also enrolled in an addiction program.
“You guys really don’t know how important you all are to our survival. You come in and your just think you’re only one smile, just one resource, but that changed the whole course of my life. You actually save lives – you’re not just a resource.”
“I know for a fact if I didn’t have that help through Upward Transitions, I wouldn’t have been able to do this. I was stuck.” Ruby and her daughter are thriving at last! She now the head chef at a restaurant.
Eight months ago, Ruby left everything at her home and fled a domestic violence situation. She didn’t know what she was going to do.
She was staying at a hotel with her funds running low when she was referred to Upward Transitions to obtain birth certificates for herself and her young daughter. Upward Transitions provided her with gas cards to support her transportation to the new job, a resource for the required uniform and shoes she needed for work, and other community resources to meet her childcare, self-care, and housing needs.
“Anytime I would need something, I would call the Upward Transitions case manager and ask. Even if she couldn’t help with it, she always referred me to someone who could. It was positive support, like ‘it’s going to be okay.’ Support for my daughter too!” explained Ruby.
Since 1986, our endowment with OCCF has received $69,725 in gifts, but it has given back $126,180 to Upward Transitions.
Our endowment was established in 1986 with a $4,200 gift from Ernst and Whinney Accounting and a $1,000 gift from the Friends of Travelers Aid Society. We are so thankful for their foresight and faith in our future!
Contact Conna Dewart at cdewart@upwardtransitions.org or 405.232.5507 x 113 for more information about how you can become part of Upward Transitions’ 100-year legacy.
To make your donation to our Endowment Fund online, click the button and choose “Endowing A Second Century of Hope” from the drop down menu: