Solar chargers and mandarin oranges. Not your typical outreach supplies, but this winter, they met real needs for Cambridge’s unhoused residents.
When CCF staff and donor-advised fund (DAF) holders visited CASPAR, we saw firsthand how community-led philanthropy brings neighbors together to address local needs with thoughtful, responsive solutions.
The visit centered around CASPAR’s outreach van; a vital resource funded through the City of Cambridge’s opioid settlement funds. The customized vehicle allows First Step’s team to provide medical care and support services to unhoused residents, creating a private space for consultations and a base for distributing essential supplies.
Listening to Community Needs
What makes the van’s services especially effective isn’t just the medical equipment or accessibility, it’s the thoughtfulness behind the additions, shaped by those working directly with unhoused neighbors.
“It’s about listening to what people truly need,” says Bliss Austin Spooner, senior major gifts officer at CASPAR/Bay Cove. “The most precious commodity is trust. A yogurt, a phone charger, a moment of quiet—those are gifts most people don’t even realize they’re missing.”
That spirit of listening led two CCF DAF holders to recommend grants that have meaningfully enhanced services to community members.
Solar Chargers and Vitamin C
CCF Board Chair Phil Johnson established his DAF, the Bob Shea Fund, in honor of a friend he met in Harvard Square who was experiencing homelessness. When Phil wanted to support CASPAR’s work, CCF facilitated a conversation with the First Step team to learn what would help most.
The result: a grant for solar chargers—portable power banks that help clients stay connected to medical providers, outreach workers, and loved ones.
“Something as simple as a phone charger can be transformative,” says Phil. “These chargers keep outreach workers and clients connected when it matters most.”
Fund holder Ellen van Bever’s response shows how these authentic relationships work in different ways. When she saw Bliss’s Facebook post about CASPAR’s need for citrus, she quickly recommended a grant from her DAF to purchase mandarin oranges for distribution through the outreach van.
What might seem like a small gesture addresses a real health need. Individuals managing opioid use often require more vitamin C—a detail identified by CASPAR’s First Step team.
The Power of Responsive Philanthropy
The collaboration between CCF, its fund holders, and CASPAR reflects how effective philanthropy can be deeply responsive when grounded in listening, confidence, and timely support.
“Our DAF services benefit from the deep, established relationships that CCF holds with our nonprofit partners,” says Michal Rubin, CCF’s vice president of philanthropic partnerships. “These trusted, proximate connections enable us to connect donor dollars with very specific community needs. Whether that involves us researching solar chargers with Phil or Ellen responding directly to a need she saw on social media, our role is facilitating giving that addresses what the community needs.”
This is what community-led philanthropy looks like: donors trust CCF to surface opportunities for impact, nonprofits trust funders to listen, and community members build trust with outreach teams who show up with consistency and care.
Want to learn more about how CCF helps connect donors with local needs? Contact Michal Rubin at [email protected]
