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Tandem executive director warns postpartum house needs ongoing operational support

Jack Hopkins Social Services Grant Funding Committee · May 1, 2026
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Summary

Julie Doohan told the Jack Hopkins committee that Tandem’s postpartum house, diaper program and wraparound services provide critical support to families but remain financially fragile; she described near-bankruptcy in 2025 and ongoing fundraising plans, urging operational support rather than program cuts.

Julie Doohan, executive director of Tandem, told the Jack Hopkins committee that the organization’s postpartum house and associated wraparound services are in heavy demand but face financial fragility.

"This place is a lifesaver," Doohan quoted a recent postpartum house client, summarizing the program’s impact. She said Tandem’s diaper program served over 900 unique children from more than 600 families last year and that the postpartum house opened in August 2025 but needs time to build a sustainable client population and revenue to cover rent and administrative costs.

Doohan described a year in which the organization nearly ran out of money and relied on aggressive fundraising and cutting overhead to continue operations. She said the group is diversifying fundraising—moving toward an annual gala and maintaining smaller recurring fundraisers—and pursuing research partnerships and potential foundation opportunities to build sustainability.

Committee members acknowledged the difficulty of underwriting operational (unrestricted) costs and thanked Doohan for detail on her finances and plans. The committee did not vote during the session and asked no immediate follow-up beyond the usual grant-review process.