We Need a Community of Heroes to Fuel the Future of Social Care

Fred Rogers once said:

“We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.”

This quote perfectly captures the heart of CICOA Reimagined and the essential role of private, philanthropic funding in our future. Over the course of this series, we have shared our vision—from deploying Community Health Workers to investing in home safety modifications, specialized caregiver support, and building flexible private pay care management options. These innovations are our response to the rising needs in Central Indiana, but they require a shared commitment to thrive.

The truth is, while public funding provides a foundational safety net, it cannot keep pace with the growing demand for services or provide the flexibility needed for true innovation. This reality creates a critical gap between the great need we see in our communities and our ability to deliver effective solutions. For CICOA, fundraising is the strategic link that allows us to bridge this gap and ensure every program we launch can be sustained and scaled.

Private Funding: The Catalyst for Innovative Mission Delivery

As a nonprofit, private funding is foundational to CICOA’s sustainability—it’s the strategy that empowers our mission. Philanthropic partnerships are the investment that grants us the flexibility to respond quickly and comprehensively to human needs.

Our success in delivering our mission is directly dependent on private funding. Why? Because while government grants are vital, they are often rigid and restrictive. They fund what is already known to work. Private dollars, on the other hand, are the catalytic seed money that allows us to test, prove and scale life-changing ideas.

1. Pilot New Solutions: Private funding gave us the essential capital to launch and prove the effectiveness of our Community Health Worker program. Without that initial investment, we couldn’t have gathered the data showing reduced hospitalizations and improved outcomes that we now use to secure larger, long-term contracts.
2. Fill Critical Gaps: When our staff identifies a client need—like a utility payment to prevent a crisis or emergency food assistance after a hospitalization—these are often vital needs that limited government programs simply cannot cover. Philanthropic dollars fill these gaps, providing the immediate support that stabilizes a life and prevents a small issue from becoming a costly, long-term crisis.
3. Scale What Works: To take successful programs like specialized dementia caregiver support and Safe at Home modifications to every corner of our service area, we need capacity and infrastructure. Private investment provides the resources for expansion, staff training and operational stability—the essential ingredients that turn a successful pilot into a scalable, lasting solution.

This strategic approach to revenue diversification is what makes the CICOA Foundation team a core strategic unit, responsible for fueling the organization’s growth and guaranteeing the long-term sustainability of our mission.

Your Role as a Hero: Transforming Lives and Communities

Every dollar raised is a partnership in transforming lives. It is an act of shared responsibility that directly translates into impact.

When you invest in CICOA, you are choosing to be a hero in the lives of your neighbors. You are taking a stand to ensure that an older adult isn’t forced out of their home because they can’t afford a ramp, or that a family caregiver receives expert coaching and support to prevent burnout.

We invite you, our supporters and partners, to co-invest in a vision—a resilient care system where:

• Individuals gain the independence to live with dignity.
• Caregivers find the strength to continue their essential work.
• Businesses benefit from a more stable and productive workforce.
• The entire community thrives because its most vulnerable citizens are protected.

Our CICOA Reimagined plan is built on this foundation of innovation and shared responsibility. We have the data and the commitment; we just need your partnership to secure the future of mission delivery.

I invite business leaders, policymakers and community champions who are ready to answer this call to action to partner with us. Let’s explore how we can work together to deliver impactful outcomes and build a brighter future for those we serve.

CICOA Reimagined Blog Series:
» A New Chapter Begins: CICOA Reimagined
» Expanding Our Reach and Sustaining Impact with Private Pay Solutions
» Community Health Workers: A Scalable, Proactive Approach to Care
» Empowering Caregivers, the Unsung Heroes
» A Solid Foundation: Home Modifications as a Fall Prevention Strategy

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Lisa Schneekloth

As President & CEO of CICOA, Lisa Schneekloth’s vision is shaped by more than 15 years of experience within the organization, from direct client support to establishing robust compliance standards. Driven by a commitment to excellence and innovation, she collaborates with the community to expand CICOA’s impact and ensure individuals have the opportunity to live their lives to the fullest.