a proposal requesting funds from (insert company name)proposals/career... · web viewcareerlaunch...

A Proposal Requesting Funds from (insert company name) To support the (Boys & Girls Club of)’s

CareerLaunch® ProgramA program that helps youth develop skills essential to success in the workforce

(Insert Date)

Contents

(insert page numberswhen proposal is complete)

Executive Summary Pg. Organizational Background Pg. Statement of Need Pg. Responding to the Need Pg. Budget and Plan for Sustainability Pg. Marketing/Publicity Plan Pg. Closing Pg. Appendix Pg.

CareerLaunch Sample Proposal of 12Boys & Girls Clubs of America (September 2011)

Executive Summary

For (insert number) years, the Boys & Girls Club of _______________ has been in the forefront of youth development, working with young people from disadvantaged economic, social and family circumstances. The Boys & Girls Club of _____________ has actively sought to enrich the lives of girls and boys whom other youth agencies have had difficulty in reaching. We are dedicated to ensuring that our community’s disadvantaged young people have greater access to quality programs and services that will enhance their lives and shape their futures.

In order to have an even deeper impact on our community’s youth, Boys & Girls Club of _______________ is requesting funding from (insert company’s name here) to implement a program called CareerLaunch, which helps Club members develop skills essential to their success once entering the workforce.

As a community-based organization, the Boys & Girls Club of _______________ is uniquely positioned to positively affect the lives of the youth we serve. To implement CareerLaunch, we would like to request the amount of $___. A detailed breakdown of how these dollars will be allocated can be found in this proposal’s Budget and Plan for Sustainability.

Just as (insert company’s name here) seeks to help our community’s youth become responsible, caring, productive citizens, the Boys & Girls Club of _______________ has the staff and tools necessary to see this vision come to life. We thank you for considering this request. Together, we can assure that our community’s youth go on to have great futures.

Organizational Background

The Boys & Girls Club of ______________ is part of a nationwide affiliation of local, autonomous organizations and Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), working to help youth of all backgrounds develop the qualities needed to become responsible citizens and leaders. It offers daily access to a broad range of programs in five core program areas (Character and Leadership Development; Education and Career Development; Health and Life Skills; The Arts; and Sports, Fitness and Recreation) and several specialized initiatives. All programs are designed to drive positive outcomes for youth and reinforce necessary life skills.

Today, more than (insert number) young people at risk and in need are taking advantage of the programs, activities and services provided by the Boys & Girls Club of ____________. Our vision is to provide a world-class Club Experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who comes through our doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle.


(Insert additional information and accolades here about your local Club)

To make sure that all of our members have great futures, the Boys & Girls Club Movement has adopted the Formula for Impact, a research-based theory of change that describes how individual Clubs and the Movement as a whole can increase our impact – exponentially – on the young people of America.

Our Formula begins with the young people in Clubs – especially those who need us most. It calls for us to consistently provide the most powerful Club Experience possible – by implementing the Five Key Elements for Positive Youth Development, offering high-yield activities and providing targeted programs – all of which help youth achieve priority outcomes.i Then, because we also know that attending the Club more frequently and over a greater length of time makes young people more likely to achieve positive outcomes, Clubs must pursue strategies to increase attendance, program participation and member retention.ii

i Five Key Elements for Positive Youth Development: BGCA worked with the nationally recognized Search Institute to review relevant research and study highly effective Clubs. Through Club visits and interviews with managers, program staff, teens and community leaders, the five key elements that determine the level of impact a Club makes on the development of young people were identified. High-yield activities: The research of Dr. Reginald Clark has demonstrated that high-achieving students spend more time engaged in activities that reinforce the skills and knowledge they learn in school. “Enhancing the Educational Achievement of At-Risk Youth,” an evaluation of BGCA’s national education strategy, Project Learn, confirms the effectiveness of using such high-yield activities in Boys & Girls Clubs. Targeted programs: BGCA offers many national programs that are designed to help young people achieve our priority outcomes of academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. Many of BGCA’s targeted programs have been evaluated for their effectiveness. Some of BGCA’s targeted programs have also been deemed “evidence based” by the federal government.

ii “Making Every Day Count: Boys & Girls Clubs’ Role in Promoting Positive Outcomes for Teens.” Public/Private Ventures, 2009. This national, longitudinal study links participation in the Club to young people’s positive and healthy development in BGCA’s three priority outcome areas.


Statement of Need

Now more than ever, community partners play a critical role in shaping the lives of America’s young people. This is where Boys & Girls Clubs are uniquely positioned to make a significant difference. We have access to the youth who need us most, and a program that will help youth develop positive outcomes and achieve great futures.

In an effort to ensure that members achieve great futures, the Boys & Girls Club of ___________________ has chosen to implement CareerLaunch, which has been identified as one of BGCA’s targeted programs. Participation in this program will help drive academic success for youth and uniquely position them to make a difference in the future workforce and become contributing members to society.

The economic climate has adversely impacted employment for workers of all ages, but teens have felt its most serious effects. Adults unable to find more career-oriented employment are filling jobs that traditionally went to teenagers. The need to address this negative impact is critical. According to the 2002 Child Trendsiii study on Employment Programs and Youth Development, there is clear evidence that programs that expose young people to career development and job training raise expectations and greatly promote self-sufficiency as adults.

In general, teens face unique barriers to employment. These can range from transportation issues and limited availability, to a lack of maturity and basic workforce skills. Most young people are influenced by their families and schools to develop the skills necessary to function in the workplace. With guidance and resources, they develop the competencies that not only enable them to seek and gain employment as teens, but also set the course for continual professional development for the rest of their lives. The young people who are most in need of technological, educational and career development resources are in our Boys & Girls Clubs every day.

(Insert relevant local statistics that explain the need for a program like this in your community)

Responding to the Need

The CareerLaunch program was developed to introduce young people to the “working world.” The program provides a range of services to help Club members develop skills essential for workforce success. Additionally, it allows them the opportunity to explore various careers based on their interests and talents, and determine the corresponding educational path they would need to pursue.

The CareerLaunch program has two components: career exploration and job readiness. The components are designed as follows:

Career Exploration Develop greater interest and appreciation for the world of work among

participants.


Provide participants with greater knowledge of possible careers and the role of education in success.

Develop needed skills and increase participants’ knowledge of how to find and hold jobs.

Increase participants’ decision-making skills, develop individual career goals and assist participants in pursuing education and training in support of career interests.

Job Readiness Increase participants’ knowledge of how to find and apply for jobs. Assist participants in developing appropriate work habits. Have participants start and maintain employment, gaining experience and

building work and interpersonal skills.

The program’s content and tools emphasize the development of skills, knowledge and attitudes that prepare youth for the workforce. Made possible through the Gap Foundation, the program offers the following features:

The Career Exploration Quick Reference Guide is full of career planning and job skills activities that Club staff or volunteers can conduct with teens individually or in small groups.

CareerLaunch Teen Tips is a colorful booklet for teens with helpful job hunting and on-the-job tips, such as how to identify common abbreviations in job ads, what to wear to an interview and how to write a good cover letter and resume.

The CareerLaunch website is an online encyclopedia that allows teens to explore career opportunities that match their interests and talents. The site offers an interest survey where teens can learn about different careers, identify training or college requirements, seek out financial aid and much more.

Cutting-edge training workshops and the CareerLaunch online community are two components that teach Club staff how to recruit and train volunteers to make the most effective use of all of the CareerLaunch components.

This program helps drive positive outcomes for youth in the academic success area by exposing them to various activities designed to hone their decision-making and critical thinking skills.

Demonstrated SuccessA study done in 2008 by The Academy of Education Development iv showed that when CareerLaunch is implemented during the school year, it helped raise math and reading skills of program participants, increasing their chances of graduating from high school.

Additionally, a Public/Private Ventures studyv completed in 2009 showed that teens who participate in BGCA more often – facilitated by employing them in the Club for the summer – had higher levels of community service, decreased levels of aggression, higher school attendance rates, increased academic confidence and school effort, decreased juvenile justice involvement and a lower likelihood of adverse behaviors such


as smoking cigarettes, drinking, smoking marijuana, sexual intercourse and carrying a weapon.

A 2009 survey of Clubs who participated in BGCA’s career preparation program found that nearly 97 percent of participants successfully transitioned to the next grade on time. Teens who work in Clubs are exposed to a variety of career experiences in addition to youth work. These experiences can also equip them for careers in growth industries such as technology, accounting and human resources.

Hiring teens allows Clubs to reach more members and to better serve those in disadvantaged areas where there is already financial strain, enabling more parents to go to work or look for jobs. Hiring teen staff also affords Clubs the opportunity to serve more members between the ages of six and 12. Equally important, teen employees help to lower staff-child ratios, offer more opportunity for assistance with summer learning programs and facilitate the development of closer peer-to-peer relationships.

Too many young adults are lagging behind and unprepared for pursuing careers There is an urgent need to instill young people an understanding that participating in the workforce and maintaining their education is critical to the success of their community and the nation. Program Implementation and MeasurementBGCA seeks to provide hope and opportunity to all youth, especially those who need us most, by ensuring that our programs make a difference. To support the organization in this initiative, CareerLaunch developed an outcome assessment tool that allows Clubs to measure the fidelity and quality of CareerLaunch programming. CareerLaunch outcomes are measured by a participant’s ability to seek and maintain employment and fulfill their educational pursuits. The assessment tool will help Clubs evaluate and generate reports on program impact, enabling them to reach their desired outcome.

(Explain how the program will be implemented and what will be reported to the funder. Will there be pre-/post-tests? Mid-term reports? Final reports?)

(Give anecdotal evidence for why implementing this program with the resources of the company’s support is a good fit)


Budget and Plan for Sustainability

The Boys & Girls Club of ___________________requests $______ from (insert company’s name here) to support the CareerLaunch program. Funding will provide for the (staffing, equipment, etc.) necessary to operate the program. The program will operate at (number of Club sites) throughout (town/ city/area). The following budget outlines the specific cost breakdowns. (Remove this line if not needed: In the Appendix of this proposal, please find a sample job description for the position(s) to be filled in order to execute this program.)

Salaries $Program coordinatorProgram facilitator (full-time or part-time)

Benefits $@ _____________ percent

Professional Fees $Consultants, special instructors, evaluator, etc.

Supplies $Office items, videos, newsprint/markers, T-shirts, brochures, food, computer software, etc.

Equipment $Easel, TV, DVD player, camcorder, portable stereo, etc.

Travel and Training $In-service staff training sessions, outside training with other agencies

Telephone $

Printing/Photocopies $

Postage/Shipping $

Special Events $

Awards/Recognition $

Miscellaneous/Other $

Indirect Costs (percent) $

GRAND TOTAL $


(As needed, elaborate on the paragraph below. Explain whom your Club is working with to secure additional funding and resources to sustain the program, if applicable. Are you also requesting the funder provide volunteers for the program through employee engagement? Are there other local funders you wish to approach for funding and/or resources?)

In addition to the aforementioned monetary request, Boys & Girls Club of ___________________ is working with other local organizations to provide for the long-term sustainability of CareerLaunch.

Marketing and Publicity Plan

Boys & Girls Club of ___________________ will be happy to acknowledge the contributions of (insert company’s name here) for their support of CareerLaunch in appropriate communications. This includes, but is not limited to, (insert the places the funder will receive acknowledgement of program support – newsletters, e-newsletters, Club website, program flyers, etc.).

(Note: the CareerLaunch program is also funded at the national level by the Gap Foundation. Because of the support that our partner provides for CareerLaunch, it is necessary for Boys & Girls Club of ___________________ to also acknowledge this partnership in appropriate communications and venues. The language below is what is recommended by BGCA for inclusion.)

Thanks to the generous support and funding from Gap Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of America offered the CareerLaunch program to 1,466 Clubs in 2010 and has made a tremendous impact on the lives of more than 56,000 youth. Gap Foundation has been instrumental in the evolution of CareerLaunch, ensuring that the program remains relevant and effective, preparing teens to enter the workforce.

Closing

As the world becomes even more interconnected, it is more critical than ever for our young people to develop the skills needed to compete in a global economy. By implementing CareerLaunch we have the ability to reach (insert number of youth and their ages) and prepare them to succeed in their chosen careers.

Thank you for considering this request and for your support of our community’s young people. With the support of (insert company’s name here), we can ensure that our community’s youth go on to become productive, caring, responsible citizens. Here at Boys & Girls Club of ___________________, we firmly believe that GREAT FUTURES START HERE.


Appendix

(Annual Report)

(Board of Directors)

(Sample Job Description)

(Other Important Club Information)

iii Cochran, S., Jekielek, S., Hair, E. (May 2002). Employment programs and youth development: a synthesis. Retrieved August 4, 2011 from: http://www.childtrends.org/what_works/clarkwww/employ/employrpt.pdf.

iv Gallup-Black, Adria, et. al. “Expanding Career Options for Young People: Evaluation of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s CareerLaunch Program.” (New York, NY: Academy for Educational Development, 2008).

v Clymer, C., Edwards, K., Ponce, J., Wyckoff, L. (November 2002). Supporting YouthEmployment: A Guide for Community Groups. Retrieved August 30, 2011 from: http://www.ppv.org/ppv/publications/assets/19_publication.pdf


http://www.ppv.org/ppv/publications/assets/19_publication.pdf

http://www.childtrends.org/what_works/clarkwww/employ/employrpt.pdf

Endnotes


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