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    Communities, Education, Evaluation, Nonprofit, Strategic Planning

    Collaborative Grants Lead to Greater Impact

    Written By Amanda Lopez

    Mar 24, 2023

    Communities, Education, Evaluation, Nonprofit, Strategic Planning

    Collaborative Grants Lead to Greater Impact

    Written By Amanda Lopez

    Mar 24, 2023
    Group of 5 teen kids smiling down at the camera
    Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, more children and youth have experienced anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and distress due to social isolation and economic conditions. Remote learning has led to learning loss nationwide, as evidenced by the decline in test scores and increased chronic absenteeism. Grants can have a greater impact by addressing these issues and supporting recovery efforts.
     
    In response, the Lilly Endowment committed to funding organizations making transformational changes in the lives of young people. Our clients and fellow #Transformers at the YMCA of the USA (YUSA) and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) played a key role in spearheading recovery initiatives in Indiana.
     
    Initially, the Lilly Endowment reached out to the respective organizations to provide planning grants, helping them understand the needs of the children and youth they serve in their communities, as well as the capacity of the local YMCAs and Boys and Girls Clubs to meet those needs.
     
    Both the YUSA and BGCA reached out to Transform Consulting Group to assist them in completing a comprehensive needs assessment as part of their planning process. We used the planning grant to do the following:
    • Gathered national, state, and local data on the academic, social-emotional, and overall well-being needs of school-age youth  
    • Completed individual site visits, interviews, and facility assessments with all 80+ Indiana affiliates
    • Facilitated an advisory committee to guide the process, review the preliminary findings, and help develop a three-year strategic plan and grant proposal
    We collected all the information during the planning grant phase to develop a strategic plan that will help Indiana youth better access services and strengthen the capacity of local affiliates across the state to respond effectively to the impacts of COVID-19.

    The result of collaborative grants?

    $45 million was secured between two incredible organizations to support high-quality programming for kids and teens! This will impact the students served, strengthen the organizations, and transform the entire community where these organizations reside.

    By reaching out to national and state associations, the Lilly Endowment significantly multiplied its impact. Similarly, the YMCAs and Boys and Girls Clubs identified common gaps and opportunities they could address together. It is a win-win solution!

    The Lilly Endowment recently launched a similar initiative, the “College and Community Initiative,” which follows a similar process. They offer planning grants to Indiana colleges to help them envision and implement collaborative projects that enhance the quality of life and place in their surrounding communities. In most communities, higher education institutions are often considered “anchor institutions” that bring tremendous value and benefits. We highlighted this concept more in one of our case studies here.

    The idea of colleges focused on quality of life and placemaking might seem strange. Still, higher education institutions have a vested interest in supporting their surrounding communities as they recruit staff and faculty to live and work there. Additionally, college students are also considering the surrounding communities as they decide where to enroll. 

    TCG has collaborated with community foundations in Indiana to enhance the quality of life and promote placemaking. We’ve also helped higher education institutions deepen their connections in communities to become anchor institutions.

    The Lilly Endowment accelerates transformational and sustainable impact by providing grant opportunities that encourage collaborative partnerships! They are actual #Transformers!

    If your college, nonprofit organization, or community seeks to foster strategic, collaborative partnerships that bring about transformational change, TCG can help you facilitate the process! We will utilize our expertise in stakeholder engagement, group facilitation, and data collection to address your key questions, foster consensus, and develop actionable plans.

    Contact us to schedule a discovery call and learn more. 

    Tags: Boys & Girls Clubs | college | Grants | lilly endowment | needs assessment | quality of life | strategic plan | YUSA

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    Amanda Lopez

    Amanda Lopez is the President and Founder of Transform Consulting Group, leading a team that empowers organizations to utilize data effectively through innovative tools and systems. She holds a Master's in Social Work from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor's in Law and Society from Purdue University. Amanda has extensive experience in policy and program evaluation, having served as Policy Director for a human services association in Los Angeles and worked with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She is passionate about fostering leadership growth and implementing data-driven strategies to enhance organizational effectiveness and sustainability.

    Amanda Lopez

    Amanda Lopez is the President and Founder of Transform Consulting Group, leading a team that empowers organizations to utilize data effectively through innovative tools and systems. She holds a Master's in Social Work from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor's in Law and Society from Purdue University. Amanda has extensive experience in policy and program evaluation, having served as Policy Director for a human services association in Los Angeles and worked with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She is passionate about fostering leadership growth and implementing data-driven strategies to enhance organizational effectiveness and sustainability.