Transformation Table has been selected by United Charitable

Beginning our charitable journey

As with countless businesses and organizations across the country, the lockdown due to COVID-19 halted Transformation Table’s activities. We tried to pivot online but felt it watered down the Transformation Table experience, so we decided to give ourselves the space to reflect on the direction of Transformation Table moving forward. We were also grateful for the space to process our trauma, anger, and grief at the horrific murder of George Floyd.

During this time, we experienced an identity crisis of sorts and began to wonder how our dinners impacted the community members who attended. Within the context of the murder of George Floyd and subsequent global Black Lives Matters protests, we questioned our mission and relevance.

To help us answer this question, we surveyed Transformation Table participants about their experiences at the Table. One of the questions we asked was, “Does the mission of Transformation Table need to shift, particularly after the murder of George Floyd?” Eighty percent responded no - that the mission of Transformation Table was more relevant than ever. The survey also identified the areas we need to improve to deepen the Transformation Table experience.

We thought about how to restructure Transformation Table and decided to apply to the Fiscal Sponsor Program (FSP) through United Charitable. A 501 (c)3 organization, our partnership with United Charitable allows us to accept donations to maximize our impact – to focus on scaling programming in Charleston, hiring staff, and replicating our model in other communities. United Charitable will handle operational tasks such as staff payroll, benefits administration, IRS filings, and securely processing donations.

Transformation Table passed the board's approval “with flying colors,” and we look forward to working with United Charitable during this next phase of Transformation Table’s evolution.

See you at the Table!