June 28, 2011 Educated Eats Organization, Washington, DC - SCF Participant - Restructuring Organization through Capacity Building Education and Technical Assistance
Educated Eats, has greatly benefited from participating in the Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF) program. Through their participation in the program in 2010, they have been able to work on broadening their program scope, diversify program fundraising, and expand public relations effort. In addition, the program has benefitted from the classes taught in capacity building, board development, program evaluation, effective collaboration, financial management, which has helped to strengthen their capacity building efforts.
June 28, 2011 C- Phillip Johnson Ministries Organization, Washington, DC, SCF Participant – Collaborating and Sharing Resources with Literacy Programs in the Northeast Corridor
C. Phillip Johnson Ministries is currently seeking to add a computer lab in September 2011 to their already growing literacy program. They have been able to increase their request for services and expect a large enrollment in their upcoming literacy classes. This is due to the technical assistance they received from the SCF program in 2010, where they followed through with the recommendations of their Capacity Action Plan (CAP) to work on marketing, strategic planning and organizational development. They have also found ways to identify funding resources with the help of the SCF program. Since the execution of their CAP in 2010, the organization have identified 5 other literacy programs in the Northeast corridor of Washington, DC and have been able to collaborate with those programs in sharing their mission and operations to other DC residents.
June 30, 2011 Jehovah Jireh Community Development Center, Washington, DC, SCF Participant - Better Job Training and Educational Services to Ward 8 Community
Workshops provided by the SCF Program such as Grants and Proposal Writing, Collaboration, Teambuilding, Volunteer Recruitment, Fundraising and supportive services such as Quickbooks and Financial Management, has helped the Jehovah Jireh Community Development Center optimize their services provided to the Ward 8 community in Washington, DC. The organization is providing increased services to children and families in the areas of job training, tutoring, mentoring, basic food needs, and creating safe and healthy environment. The education and support of the SCF program have helped Jehovah Jireh to conduct evaluations of their programs to ensure the services are working effectively for those to whom they provide services. Additionally, the program has increased its collaborative efforts by partnering with other programs in the community that provide services to those with HIV/AIDS and now has an active board of directors to provide oversight.
June 30, 2011 Education plus 2 (EP2), Washington, DC SCF Participant – Establishing New 501c3 and Small Business Status
The access provided by the SCF program to web-based funding entities from the federal government and other foundations have helped EP2 build capacity of their program operations and be able to carry out their program mission serving children/youth and families in underserved and at-risk communities in Washington, DC. The SCF program’s technical assistance and support has enabled EP2 to complete the filing of their non-profit status resulting in additional resources to businesses with a non-profit status.
June 30, 2011 Emmaus Services for the Aging – SCF Participant – On Board with the Benefits of the Digital Age
The Emmaus Services for the Aging have been able to improve their corporate sponsorship template for major funding events, implement the use of new financial software, and are in the process of launching an online newsletter. These accomplishments have been done through the organization’s participation in the SCF program’s workshops and onsite technical assistance. The program has helped Emmaus shape their short-term goals, impact strategic planning, and improve the knowledge and skills of their staff to further benefit and improve the fingerprinting services provided to the community.
July 31, 2011 C- Phillip Johnson Ministries Organization, Washington, DC, SCF Participant – GED Programs and Job Placement Assistance helping the Community in challenging times.
Mr . James Shaw is an elderly gentleman who was referred to C. Phillip Johnson’s Ministries from the D.C. Dept. of Human Services, Office of Work Opportunity. He was seeking computer- based instruction that would help him prepare for the GED exam. The service would allow him to continue his studies while he sought employment. Mr. Shaw said he had access to the internet through the local library in his neighborhood. After an initial assessment from C. Phillip Johnson’s Ministries’ GED Program, customized online lessons were prepared for the client enabling him to continue the program online. He continued attending GED Preparation classes, albeit sporadically while program instructors continued to monitor his progress.
One day before a class session, Mr. Shaw shared some challenges he was facing that impeded his continuous attendance in class. He shared how he was now homeless and the caretaker of his school-age grandson. Court appearances for custody and the need for housing forced Mr. Shaw into a very desperate situation. He needed to find a job! He presented his current resume and asked the program instructors for assistance in helping him make revisions. After reviewing his resume, several suggestions were offered in terms of how he could make improvements. In addition, the program instructors shared with him several job leads. Weeks later, Mr. Shaw contacted the C. Phillip Johnson’s ministries very ecstatic. He had found a job! C. Phillip Johnson’s Ministries credits their ability to use strategies to assist this client through the learning experiences in the SCF workshops such as Career Pathways Development, Job Placement, and Marketing. These workshops were instrumental in providing the right tools and learning experiences to assist Mr. Shaw land his next job.