Autism Resources Kawartha Accountability Report
Maintaining transparency and building trust with our donors, contributors, and community.
“Autism Resources Kawartha (ARK) is a local autism advocacy and awareness group committed to creating helpful, relatable content for you: the parents, caregivers and loved ones of people with autism.”
A Note From Our Founders
Launching Autism Resources Kawartha (ARK) feels big for Meg and me.
Ever since our son was diagnosed as autistic, we knew that families like ours needed a group like ARK.
ARK is a group where the parents, caregivers and loved ones of kids (or anyone) with autism can access judgment-free, locally-based resources created by local people who get it. They have similar lived experiences and understand the reality of navigating systems and stigma to build a safe, inclusive community for their autistic child or loved one.
At first ARK was just an idea. We were not sure exactly what it would look like. Frankly, even deciding on a name for the group was a process. But slowly, things came together and now that our ideas have become a reality, it feels amazing—and hopeful.
We couldn’t have taken these first steps without ARK’s first contributors—professionals and community members who are as passionate as we are about making the Kawarthas an inclusive place for the autistic people they love and care for. They answered the call and provided donations of money, time and skill to get this group up and running. We are very grateful.
Both Meg and I feel that ARK is going to make a real difference to people like us right here in the Kawarthas: parents, caregivers and loved one of people with autism who are looking for resources to help them feel connected and empowered while they work toward creating a safe, inclusive and supported environment for the people the care for.
- Matt and Meg Geraghty
Launching ARK feels like a tangible way to give back. We are excited to see how far we can take this and what kind of difference it will make.
- Matt and Meg Geraghty
Year One Goals
Our goals for ARK’s first year centre around four key elements:
RAISING AWARENSS
If people don’t know we exist, we can’t help them. That means one of our primary goals for ARK’s first year is making sure ARK shows up when local parents, caregivers and loved ones search for autism related resources online. Founder Matt Geraghty, a local digital marketing expert, will lead the charge on SEO strategy, content creation and ad marketing to make sure Autism Resources Kawartha is a known entity in the region. The more people who know about ARK, the more people we can help and the more opportunity we will have to raise money and make a difference.
RESOURCE CREATION
ARK's purpose is to make good quality, relatable autism resources accessible to the people who need them: the parents, caregivers and loved ones of people with autism. We are fortunate to have several local contributors ranging from parents to professionals who have donated their time and experience to create guides, articles, e-books and blog posts.
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
By the end of our first year, we hope to host community building and fundraising event for the autism community in Kawartha Lakes and area. Making this goal a reality will require us to invite local businesses, venues and other autism-centred organizations and charities into our network for collaboration.
TRANSPARENCY
Moving forward, we intend to publish an annual report outlining where donations came from, where the money went, ARK's achievements (and failures) and our goals for the future. These Accountability Reports will be shared here on the ARK site and with our mailing list.
Where The Money Will Come From
Donations to ARK will primarily come from local people and fundraising events. For example, Matty G Digital’s 3rd Annual Golf Tournament will raise funds to kickstart ARK in the summer of 2025. ARK is also very grateful for the donations-in-kind made by the contributors who helped to build the site and create the free resources we have made available to the community.
Where The Money Will Go
We are not here to make money. All funds donated to ARK or raised through or on behalf of ARK will be used as follows:
Create resources and develop programs
Marketing and audience development, including online ad spend
Website fees including domain and hosting
Given as donations to autism related charities, service providers and organizations
Details about the allocation of donation funds will be included in our annual Accountability Reports.
We’re an open book. If you have questions or would like to know more about ARK as a group, just ask.
Are you a parent, caregiver or loved one of a person with autism who wants to know more about ARK and what we do?
Join our mailing list and stay informed about new resources available for download, fundraising initiatives, and autism support opportunities in Kawartha Lakes and the surrounding region.