The executive director of Project Open Hand, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that provides meals to people living with AIDS and other diseases, has announced that he's leaving in April.
Kevin Winge said last week he's leaving "for personal reasons," including to help "care for critically ill family members." He's moving to his home state of Minnesota. Winge's last day will be April 3. POH's board is developing a transition plan.
"The whole thing has been a great experience," said Winge, who's led Project Open Hand since January 2012. "It's coming to an end sooner than I would have ever thought."
Winge said he and his agency have "stabilized the organization."
Around the time Winge, 56, joined POH, the nonprofit, which is marking its 30th year and has a budget of $10 million, was facing a deficit as longtime former Executive Director Tom Nolan prepared to leave.
Not long after Winge, a gay man, took over the top job, he announced four staff positions were being cut, and adjustments would be made to services for some clients. The nonprofit eventually had to pull $750,000 from its reserve in order to fill a budget gap in the 2011-12 fiscal year.
The last two fiscal years have ended with surpluses, including about $223,000 for 2014. Winge said the organization's "absolutely committed" to ending the 2015 fiscal year in the black, as well.
"I'm convinced that because of the decisions we've made, POH will be around for another 30 years, and that makes me really happy."
In an email, POH board Chair Scott Willoughby said, "Kevin has made tremendous contributions to Project Open Hand and our community " . Under his leadership, Project Open Hand has become a stronger organization, updating our mission and vision and taking great strides to ensure that POH is not only sustainable, but also able to grow and thrive in the future."
The organization has just over 8,000 unique clients. About 55 percent of those people, or 4,400, are in the senior lunch program, which is for people who are over 60.
Changes have included expanding the nonprofit's wellness programs to serve over 10 additional disease diagnoses. The agency announced in July that it had started allowing people with acute symptoms of diseases that include diabetes and heart disease to pick up groceries and meals in addition to receiving meals at home.
Previously, picking up food was only available for people who had HIV or breast cancer.
As it updated eligibility criteria, POH contacted clients to determine the best way to handle their needs. A news release announcing the changes said, "In some cases this may mean that a small number of existing clients who are in good health," including some who're living with HIV, "will no longer want or need nutrition services."
At the time, Winge stated his agency would "work closely with affected clients" to get them to other resources, including the senior lunch program. In addition to meals, the agency also provides services like nutritional counseling.
Re-certifications are conducted every six months. Since implementing the new process, 4 percent of the 1,080 the clients who have HIV and have re-applied �" 43 people �" no longer qualify for services from the nonprofit. The agency is seeing approximately 80 to 100 new applications a month.
The changes raised some concern, but Winge indicated such updates are crucial to the agency's survival.
"I own this," Winge said. "I talk a lot about 'We,' but let me be really clear. I own the changes we've implemented." He said he hasn't taken any of the shifts "lightly," and some clients have been affected "really dramatically."
However, he said, "Project Open Hand needs to be around for the community ... We can't serve anyone with HIV if we're not open."
Winge's $200,000 salary hasn't changed since he joined the agency.
Despite the financial stability, "We have not been able to give raises to any of our staff," Winge said, and "as long as our staff can't get raises, I don't take raises either."
Affordable Care Act
The agency's biggest challenge in the future is going to be "figuring out where we fall within the Affordable Care Act and how we can get paid for our services," Winge said, referring to the national reform law that's designed to ensure more people have access to health care. The act has caused concern because of its impact on some programs.
Winge said "part of what I've been trying to do" is plan for the end of funding from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act.
"If and when Ryan White funding goes away, that would leave $1.2 million hit to Project Open Hand" annually, he said. The change wouldn't be immediate "but a big challenge" is "how do we continue to position ourselves in the funding community so we are sustainable?"
The nonprofit will continue to focus on philanthropy from individuals, the source of most of its funding.
However, he said, POH is "also really looking at opportunities within the Affordable Care Act and reimbursement" from sources such as insurance companies and Medi-Cal, the California version of the federal Medicaid program for poor people.
Willoughby said the board is developing a transition plan, which will be announced before Winge's departure.
"The board, Kevin, and his staff are working collaboratively to ensure maximum continuity and stability during this time of transition," he said.
Clients, donors, staff, and volunteers have been invited to upcoming "Coffee with Kevin" sessions, which are open to the community.
The first will be at 4:30 p.m. Monday, February 9 in the grocery center, 730 Polk Street, second floor, in San Francisco.
The second session is set for 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 10 at 1921 San Pablo Avenue in Oakland.
For more information, visit www.openhand.org.