Healthy Beginnings loses grants, in a pinch

A nonprofit organization that has operated in Central Oregon for 23 years is looking for a new source of funding after not receiving three grants it has depended on for years.

Healthy Beginnings is a nonprofit in Bend that provides health and education services to children under 5 years of age.

The organization usually relies on grants and fundraising efforts. But the group learned recently it won’t be receiving three grants that it has been receiving every year.

It’s a blow to the organization, which as depended on the grants as part of its budget for the past four years.

Healthy Beginnings Executive Director Diane Murray-Fleck said sometimes grant providers change their priorities, as well as their recipients, if they’ve been the same for several years.

“Some of our reoccuring grant support has been altered and changed, and that leaves us asking for community support, which we’ve had for 23 years, and maybe looking at some new funding sources that really value those first five years,” Murray-Fleck said.

The three grants totaled between $100,000 and $120,000.

But the organization, a 21 Cares for Kids partner, says it doesn’t plan on cutting any programs because of the lack of funding.

Murray-Fleck said the nonprofit is currently in the process of applying for new grants.

For more information: http://myhb.org/

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