Several dozen people attended a Community Impact Program orientation and training session at Church of God of Prophecy in Morven on April 12.
CIP CEO Christopher Mitchell was the speaker at the event, explaining how CIP works and why attendees should get their communities involved. “You all are part of a great idea: CIP,” he said. “It’s going across the nation like I never expected. I believe that, with guidance, it has the potential of returning $100,000 within a few months. This is funding in the new economy.”
Mitchell said that CIP specializes in “developing unique and highly effective funding and resource programs.”
CIP has programs such as lawn maintenance program and roofing restoration programs. “CIP’s mission is to create jobs that have a positive impact on local economies’ growth margin each year,” he said. Any non-profit was eligible for participation in CIP. “The selection process focuses on organizations committed to raising new proceeds and providing new benefits.”
Such non-profits include regular charities with 501(c)(3) status, including churches, chambers of commerce, credit unions, etc.
CIP is free and there is no risk involved, according to Mitchell. The sponsorship program provides a way for community nonprofits to gain points through service referrals in place of money. CIP also helps negotiate with insurance companies and allows those without insurance to “piggyback” on those who do for projects.
The system sounded promising to many attendees, but some were still confused. Pastor Iris Tillman offered her church, the Church of God of Prophecy, as an example of a CIP nonprofit success. “We ask for contractors to offer their services,” she said. “Basically, I want to have the problems fixed and say my friend Mary has no job and is my friend. The contractor finds a job for Mary to do — cleaning up trash, etc. — and she gets money. If she worked good, they might hire her on again.”
Tillman found out about CIP and posted the link on the church’s Facebook page, along with information about the CIP roofing program in hopes of gaining enough referrals and points to put a new roof on the church’s children’s building. Soon, she had calls from people affected by Hurricane Sandy and many other places, including Puerto Rico, prompting Tillman to add another phone line. “We’re registering contractors in every state,” she said. “All of these go on our CID (community identification) with CIP.” The church’s CID allows them to gain points, which are accumulated and turned into CIP for funding. Because of this, the building won’t only get a new roof but will also be enlarged. “We didn’t have that goal,” Tillman said. “The people gave us that goal.”
Basically, “you’re going down the yellow brick road to find out that you had it in you all of the time,” Mitchell said of the entire self-and community-help process.
To learn more about CIP visit www.communityimpactprogram.com.
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