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Guided by our values of dignity, respect, service, and justice, BFC has provided holistic, wrap-around service to empower Washington, DC, residents living with low income to determine their future and the future of their own communities since the 1970s. We are thrilled to share a pivotal milestone in our journey: unveiling our strategic plan for 2022-2027. Over these six years, this blueprint seeks to adapt current operations, add bold new programs to enhance BFC’s portfolio of services, and strengthen its advocacy work. It focuses on our organization’s efforts to respond to the community’s ever-changing economic and social needs, including legal advice and representation, medical care, social services, clothing and food programming, advocacy, and community organizing. “Bread for the City (BFC) is the top of line in regards to helping any and everybody. If you need help, they’ll provide it to you! It’s hard to come across an organization like Bread for the City. They have fed and clothed me – one less financial burden.” says Karen W., BFC client.

Join us as we delve into the key components and aspirations guiding our path forward. You can also find more information on our plan here. 

Our Bold Vision: A Racially, Socially, and Economically Equitable and Just D.C.

Setting goals that bridge the gap between where we are and where we aspire to be is the cornerstone of strategic planning. Our strategic planning process challenged us to revisit our core framework. We’ve harnessed the collective wisdom of our community, team, advisors, stakeholders, and thought partners through focus groups, surveys, interviews, and racial equity panels to craft an updated vision that encapsulates our aspirations for the future. Based on our findings, our bold vision for 2022-2027 will rest on the following five strategic focus areas:

Our Five Focus Areas for the Next Six Years:

Anti-Racism & Racial Equity

Become a leader in promoting racial equity in and outside the workplace through direct client services, internal initiatives, and community inclusion in organizational leadership.

Systems Reform

Deepen our commitment to educating through advocacy via government relations, policy advocacy, shared community values, and effective coalitions with partner organizations.

New Client Services

Identify and optimize client services to provide direct support and assistance to historically underserved people and divested communities.

Improved Client Services

Build pathways to enhance and tailor client services and operations to meet the needs of the community and maximize impact.

Sustainability

Raise resources and develop the capacity needed to reach strategic goals and maintain and expand programs.

As a frontline agency continuing to serve the D.C. community during the COVID-19 pandemic, BFC proved once again that it can implement adaptive transformation to ensure clients are supported through the upheavals of life to imagine a future without racism and inequalities. By building on the trust, knowledge, and experience of serving this community for fifty years, BFC is making inclusive, educated decisions about the best investment path forward to ensure it can meet its community where it is and explore boundless possibilities for a brighter future.

Embarking on the Journey Together

To achieve our goals, BFC plans to meet increased personnel and programmatic costs over these six years. To do this, BFC will focus on revenue growth aligned with its values via a scaled corporate partnerships program and growth in the individual donor sector while identifying net-new revenue streams. A heightened focus on expense reduction and staff retention will also be pursued. With a starting operating budget of under $18 million in 2022, our organization aims to raise over $29 million annually by mid-2027 to realize the full impact of this plan.