Adventure Works
Planned Steps in Capacity Building
Through June 2014
Finance Goal: Streamline financial structures and create foundation for growth.
Objectives: / Date of Completion:Establish formal Finance Committee of the board. / 9/2013 – meeting biweekly
Set up Quick Books online to produce required reports for Board and funders, following generally accepted nonprofit procedures. / 9/2013
Identify consultant/staff person with expertise in nonprofit organizations / 9/2013
Transfer accounting data to new system and produce revenue/expense and balance sheet reports for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013 in final format for producing the FY13 IRS form 990. / 10/2013
Produce standard monthly financial reports for Board, including revenue and expense compared to budget and full balance sheet, and as required by funders such as the County 708 mental health board / 10/2013 for 1st Q FY14
Set up financial/accounting procedures to segregate duties and free up Executive Director time for other priorities / 10/2013
Write formal financial policies to be recommended by Finance Committee for adoption by the Board of Directors / 11/2013
Finance/Audit Committee to solicit proposals and hire accounting firm to produce audited financial statements for the year ending June 30, 2014 / 6/2014
Board Development Goal: Increase number of board members from seven to twelve and diversify membership.
Identify needs/gaps in the current board and types of new board members to be recruited / 9/2013 and ongoingRecruit additional board members, particularly with needed skills and stature in the community / 12/2013 and ongoing
Increase board size to twelve members / 4/2013 and ongoing
Continue to hold board annual meeting / 6/2014 (this will be third annual meeting)
Community Awareness Goal: Establish community awareness of the agency and educate stakeholders in the agency’s mission and vision in order to develop the donor base and prepare for capital campaign.
Establish Marketing Committee, including board and community members / 9/2013 – meeting weekly.Produce new printed materials, including simplified brochure/card / 10/2013
Create and establish social media plan, with updated website / 10/2013 -
Increase community awareness activities, such as participation in Sycamore pumpkin festival, and press releases / 10/2013
Approve formal marketing plan / 11/2013
Donor Development Goal: Create and implement detailed plan to diversify the donor base, including management of a focused annual campaign and regularly implemented fundraising programs, locally and through the use of social media/crowd sourcing.
Update donor data base to include all available information on past donors / 11/2013Establish and implement formal annual fund appeal / 11/2013
Triple number of active donors / 12/2013
Recruit, train, and manage volunteers to serve AW’s mission and satisfy the goals outlined in the strategic plan
Strengthen links between marketing and community awareness and donor development, including online giving / 12/2013
Support Executive Director in increasing contacts with potential donors, through board support of fund development and board member networks, and through freeing up time from financial/administrative duties / 10/2013 and ongoing
Hold fundraising event specifically designed to raise awareness and increase the number of potential supporters to be solicited in future annual appeals / 2/2014
Research, develop, track and nurture new and existing donor relationships / 1/2014
Effectively harness existing relationships to meet the needs, both financial and otherwise, of AW and / 9/2013 and ongoing
establish and maintain community relevance through the regular use of social media, community presentations and other marketing strategies / 10/2013 and ongoing
Strategic Planning Goal: Flesh out current five-year plan to strengthen capacity-building goals and identify key milestones.
Update strategic goals to include expansion / 12/2013Identify key tasks for upcoming year and approve budget for year-ending June 30, 2015 based on these priorities / 6/2014
Develop initial pro forma budgets for potential expansion and property acquisition / 6/2014
Complete a feasibility study to determine geographic location for expansion / 6/2014
Adventure Works
Capacity Building Budget
November 1, 2013 – October 31, 2014
Position / Hours Per Week / Contractual Rate / Annual Cost / One Time Cost / Request / Other SourceFinance Consultant / 10 Hours/Week / $40.00 / $20,800 / $20,800 / N/A
Development Coordinator / 15 Hours/Week / $30.00 / $23,400 / $15,600 / $7,800 (AW)
Empathic Client Software License for Finance Consultant / N/A / $75/month / $900 / N/A / $900 (AW)
Donor Database Software (for preliminary phase) / N/A / N/A / $450 / N/A / Already Acquired (AW)
Administrative Computer/Laser Printer / N/A / N/A / N/A / $950 / N/A / $950 (MHB)
Marketing Materials / N/A / N/A / $600 / N/A / $600 (AW)
Social Media Campaign/Website Redesign / N/A / $1,500 / N/A / $1,500 / N/A / In-Kind Donation
Advertising / N/A / N/A / Variable / N/A / N/A / $3,000 in AW Budget FY 14
Name of Organization: DeKalb Public Library
Contact Person/Title: Dee Coover, Executive Director
Address: 309 Oak Street
City/State/Zip: DeKalb, IL 60115
Phone Number: (815) 756-9568 x 240
Fax Number: (815) 756-7837
Email:
Website: www.dkpl.org
Project Description
Anticipated project dates: Teacher in the Library (TIL) runs October-May; for purposes of this grant, our project dates are January 2014-May 2016.
Total project cost: $55,000
Tech support, utilities, copying, custodial, administration. (Approximately $20,000)
9 months/yr.= for 3 years = 27 months or 108 weeks
2 days per week x 108 weeks x 3 sessions= 648 teaching sessions.
Custodial support $10 /hr. x 648 sessions= $6,480.
Tech support $20/hr. x 5 hours per year x three = $300.
Utilities: Gas, Electricity, Water = $50 x 108 weeks= $5,400.
Administration: $40/hr. 2 hours a week x 108 weeks= $8,640.
$20,820 Total.
Amount requested from DLRFF: $35,888.31
Specific purpose of funds requested:
We will hire three teachers and three aides to provide free homework assistance to grade 3-5 (and eventually grade 2-6) District 428 students who are at risk of failing and falling below grade level.
Evidence of need for your project:
Teacher in the Library began in 2011 due to student need for homework assistance. The model is the Chicago Public Library Foundation’s Teacher in the Library program. With the rising number of families living below the poverty level, keeping this help free is essential. In bilingual families, parents are often unable to lend help with homework, and this program provides that missing support. We have turned away students due to teacher capacity.
Plan for future funding of the project:
After the Roberts Family Foundation grant ends, the Library proposes to fully fund the Teacher in the Library program. We are aware of projected new home construction (Shodeen) that would yield more property tax support for the Library.
Targeted demographic group served by the project:
We have found that TIL is used primarily by Hispanic students where English may not be their first language. This is why we will employ some bilingual teachers and aides. Although Hispanic students are the majority of students served, we welcome any students who are at risk of failing and falling below grade level as candidates for the program.
If collaborative, details of collaboration:
District 428 teachers are notified that their students are participating in the program; Teacher in the Library acts as an adjunct support to the schools.
Activities planned to meet objectives:
Grades 3-5 students (eventually grades 2-6) receive tutoring in Tuesday and Wednesday sessions; six students per session work with a teacher and aide from October through May. In the first year we will employ three teachers and three aides. In the second year, we will extend tutoring to grade 2, and in the third year to grade 6.
General description of the project:
The Teacher in the Library program provides free homework assistance especially to those from lower income families and with language barriers. For these students at this important juncture in concept development, the homework assistance may make the difference between success and failure.
Expected benefits and outcomes of the project:
Students will improve their test scores in math, spelling, science, and social studies. Reading concepts will be clarified and writing instruction provided for essay assignments. Students will eventually transition out of the program having gained effective study skills, confidence to work independently and the ability to work at grade level or above.
Qualifications of key personnel involved:
Marti Brown, a recently retired District #428 teacher with 33 years classroom experience is our teacher; she has National Board Certification in the field of Literacy, served on the District 428 Curriculum Council, and assisted in writing their social studies curriculum. We hope to attract other qualified retired teachers or those not yet retired who are looking for part-time work. We will hire aides that have experience working with children; teachers and/or aides that are bilingual are sought.
How will you measure the results:
Teachers in the Teacher in the Library program will use direct observation of students to assess student comprehension of materials. Surveys are sent to these students’ District 428 teachers who give feedback about academic changes (better comprehension, test scores) seen as a result of TIL tutoring. Parents are also surveyed as to the effectiveness of the program. Ultimately if students are able to remain at grade level and not have to repeat a grade, the program will be deemed a success.
Approximate number of DeKalb County residents served by this project: 60
DeKalb Public Library’s trial period.
We have piloted this program for two years. I am attaching the feedback from the teachers and the students. I am attending a program on metrics at Donor’s Forum in Chicago on October 10 and look forward to measures that are more definite.
One requirement for our program was transportation by the family. All participants were supported by their families who consistently provided transportation. At this point, I do not know how to express that support in numerical terms but I hope to do so after October 10.
Name of Organization: / Feed'em Soup Community ProjectContact Person/Title: / Derek Gibbs, Executive Director
Address: / 122 South First Street
City/State/Zip: / DeKalb, IL, 60115
Phone Number: / 815-310-0903
Fax Number:
Email: /
Website: / http://www.feedemsoup.org/
Anticipated Project Dates:
This project will be a one-time purchase to make upgrades in the Feed'em Soup kitchen facility.
Total project cost:
$5,488.30
Amount Requested form DLRFF:
Our organization is requesting the full $2,500 to cover the cost and installation of the requested items.
Specific Purpose of Funds Requested:
Obtaining this grant will allow the organization to increase its efficiency and effectiveness. Currently, volunteers spend large amounts of time cleaning dishes causing strains on the organization. The funds received from this grant will allow the organization to shift volunteers to more important aspects of meal-serving operations.
Evidence of need for your project:
Currently, the organization must sacrifice four volunteers nightly to complete dish washing. Volunteer resources are sacrificed because of the nearly steady flow of dishes into the kitchen during weekly meals.
Plan for future funding of project:
This project will be a one-time purchase and will greatly benefit the organization. This will greatly increase the efficiency of doing dishes in the organization and free volunteer resources for other tasks. Maintenance and upkeep of the equipment will be provided by volunteers.
Other grant or funding sources:
Feed'em Soup has also applied for a grant from the Assurance Caring Together Program to help fund this one-time purchase. In addition, Feed'em Soup is involved in ongoing fundraising efforts in the form of charity meals, raffle tickets, sponsorship opportunities and other money-raising efforts. Feed'em Soup intends for the funds for the kitchen update to come from a variety of sources.
Targeted demographic group served by the project:
Feed’em Soup serves the entire population in DeKalb County by providing a community meal where all types of people come together and share companionship. As of 2010, DeKalb County contained 13,920 people who were unsure where their next meal would come from (including 4,500 children). The organization addresses both social insecurity and food insecurity-all completely free of charge.
If collaborative, details of collaboration:
Feed'em Soup is involved in a variety of collaborative projects. These efforts include dinner events with the DeKalb County Community Gardens, supply drives with the DeKalb Police Department, and food drives with the local food bank.
Activities planned to meet objectives:
The organization is involved in extensive fundraising efforts that include 50/50 drawings, football and hockey sweepstakes opportunities and selling food items at community events (i.e. NIU football games, DeKalb Cornfest, etc.).
General description of the project:
The plan for the project is to purchase a commercial dish washer, sink, pre-rinse spray unit, and in-sink garbage disposal. These items will allow the organization to complete dishes in a more efficient and effective manner while freeing up much needed volunteer resources.
Expected benefits and outcomes of the project:
The completion of this project will allow the organization to shift much needed volunteer resources to other areas of the kitchen. This will give Feed'em Soup volunteers the opportunity to be involved with more tasks than just dishes, create new opportunities for fundraising, and will allow the process of serving meals to run more smoothly.
Qualifications of key personnel involved:
Feed'em Soup worked closely with volunteer Dave Folowell to determine need in the organization's kitchen. Folowell is a local electrician with years of trade experience. In addition, Folowell will provide installation and maintenance of the new equipment, ensuring low future costs.
How will you measure the results:
The purchase of this equipment will save large amounts of time (50-60 hours a week) that can be used for other tasks. Additionally, the organization will save water and supplies by cutting down on the amounts of resources needed to complete dishes.
Approximate number of DeKalb county residents served by this project:
Feed Em' Soup has served an average of 300 meals per week throughout 2013, up from 250 meals per week in 2012.
Joseph F. Glidden Homestead & Historical Center
Marcia Wilson, Executive Director
921 W. Lincoln Hwy.
DeKalb, IL 60115
81-756-7904