Where’s the Money?

Sustainability is not the favorite topic for any grant-funded programs, especially those that serve marginalized populations.  Yet it is a reality that we must all face and prepare for. Research indicates that around 40% of all new social programs quickly fizzle after initial funding periods expire.  It is also true that most projects fail because of the lack of an appropriate sustainability plan.

So if you are in the proposal phase of requesting funding, think about using my 5-year planning document to begin sustainability planning before you are even funded.  It will show your funder and you stakeholders that you are serious about the work you are about to embark upon.

Where do you start?  First and foremost is your needs assessment.  It is not enough to just know your students need help in “math.”  You must know what specific skills they need to master in order to demonstrate greater proficiency.  This includes school level data which gives the big picture, student level which provides that specific knowledge and skills needing improvement and finally student voice which demonstrates your desire to give students some agency in their learning.  Knowing and being able to utilize all three levels of data will help you better outline what your program will provide each year and what funds and human resources you will need to be able to implement.

Next, write program goals. Based on the needs, what do you want to accomplish over the first 5 years.  Your goals will provide annual milestones to work toward and help ensure you are ready to sustain when grant funds end.

My suggestion to you is that you focus on specific things each year.

Year 1: As you launch, your focus should be on planning.  Most of your time will be spent laying the foundation for your program.  Much of your time will be spent looking for additional funding sources through partnerships.

Year 2: This year’s focus should be on building relationships with your community and program partners to ensure buy-in to the vision and mission of your program.  If you are working with a LEA, you should be focused on strengthening that partnership.

Year 3: This year you should move toward connecting with new fundings sources.  Form a sustainability sub-committee within your Program Team who can focus solely on new funding.  This is also a time when current partners should be preparing to help support you with their own funding and human resources.

Year 4: You should be determining where cuts can be made without disrupting those key activities that were identified in needs assessment as being critical to student success.  You can also be building new partnerships that are mutually beneficial.  Look for partners with similar goals….they will often having funding to meet their own goals where you have the audience they need to actually attain those goals.

Year 5: Preparations should be underway for the end of the grant.  If there is a new competition, this sustainability plan will help you demonstrate that you have managed a high quality, needs focused program.  Apply for that new grant and include what you’ve learned.  That will give you an edge.

If you aren’t able to get a new grant, planning should allow you to at least sustain some of the most important activities.  I’ve seen this happen and your stakeholders, especially parents will fight for a program that has impact on their lives.

So be bold, tell your story, let your stakeholders tell their story and always keep sustainability at the forefront of your planning.

Let’s work wise!