Increasing administrative demands force closure of Janet Richards Foundation

This file photo shoes Janet Richards (centre) with JMMB volunteers Sheridah Campbell (left) investment advisor, and Tracey Ann Myrie, operations manager, along with 'Santa Claus' just before they started distributing care packages at a Christmas treat at Cornwall Regional Hospital in st James. MONTEGO BAY, St James — After seven years of helping vulnerable Jamaicans, philanthropist Janet Richards has closed the Janet Richards Foundation, citing increasing administrative demands, stricter compliance requirements, and the rising cost of running a small, volunteer-led charity. Richards, who established the foundation in 2019 after taking early retirement from Scotiabank, said she has been spending more time doing paperwork than on tasks that directly impact those she was trying to help. “They always say that if it is one report they can actually depend on — it’s mine. But it comes under a whole lot of work,” she told the Jamaica Observer Tuesday. “I have to subject myself to preparing a whole lot of things and ensuring that everything is done, and that takes me away from serving,” she added. While stressing that she understands the need for accountability, Richards is of the view that additional obligations will pose a challenge for organisations operating with limited resources. She is particularly concerned about further regulatory changes expected in October, including requirements that could increase compliance costs for small charities. Her concerns come amid a wider debate over the proposed Non-Profit Organisations Act. During a recent Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange, representatives of charities and non-profit organisations warned that additional compliance requirements, if introduced without adequate consultation, could force some volunteer-run groups out of existence and reduce support for communities that depend on them. Like Richards, they also expressed support for transparency and accountability, but they had concerns that upcoming changes could place further pressure on organisations already navigating a demanding compliance environment. On Tuesday, Richards said the challenge is particularly acute for small charities because they generally operate without salaried staff. She said all work associated with her foundation has been voluntary, meaning additional administrative requirements must be absorbed by people already giving their time. She also pointed to a changing fund-raising landscape, with businesses, hotels, and larger organisations increasingly establishing their own foundations and directly undertaking community projects. Richards said the emergence of numerous charities, particularly since Hurricane Melissa, has also increased competition for donor support. As a small organisation dependent on contributions, she said it has become increasingly difficult to raise the resources needed to undertake major projects. Rather than continue operating under a formal foundation, Richards will focus on direct acts of service, particularly for children in State care. “I have the time, and I will still continue because I have always been doing charity without all of that,” she said. She plans to continue visiting children in State homes, spending time with them and facilitating assistance from individuals or companies that wish to contribute. She also intends to continue visiting schools to read to children and arrange sessions involving people willing to speak with high school students. “I designed a plan where I can do things without Janet Richards Foundation — simple and effective,” she said. Over the years, Richards and the foundation have assisted children in State care, physically challenged and autistic children, hospitals, infirmaries, schools, and communities in St James and Hanover.