Raising the Bar Using a Catalytic Philanthropy Approach and the Support of a Funders Collaborative
Need for a rural
coalition? Rural America is
vast! It covers 3,444,930 square miles, more than 97% of the total U.S. land mass and has 21% of the total U.S. population.
Our tri-county area is 3,680 square miles with a population around 99,000.
What is the Rural Literacy Coalition?
A community-wide partnershipA collaboration of service providers and community stakeholders
A united and visible voice of the community
A backbone or umbrella organization
Starting with the data County Families
below poverty level
ChildrenBelow povertylevel
Children receiving Food Stamps
Children Participating in WIC
Children on Medicaid
Free & Reduced Lunch
Colorado16% 27.6% 21.4% 37.2% 32.9% 64.8%
Wharton18.9% 26.6% 24.3% 43.8% 32.8% 66.8%
Matagorda
21.2% 28.4% 31.8% 42.9% 40.6% 71.7%• Children from homes below poverty level start school behind and stay
behind
• Disadvantaged children have lower levels of soft skills
• Skills beget skills. Early success fosters later success.
2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates of Population Below Poverty Level
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT - Less than 9th grade
1.9-1.92.8 – 3.74.0 – 4.55.1 – 5.65.9 – 6.08.4 – 9.223.2 – 29.2
0.0 – 0.16.7 – 7.39.5 --12.714.4 -16.216.2 – 18.223.3 -29.835.8 – 36.8
2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-201156.0
58.0
60.0
62.0
64.0
66.0
68.0
70.0
72.0
59.0 59.0
60.0
63.1
62.4
63.2 63.2
66.5
68.3
70.7
Percent of Free/Reduced Price Lunch Recipients, 2006-2011
Texas
Tri-County Area
Academic School Year
Free
/Red
uced
Pric
e Lu
nch
Recip
ient
s (%
)
2006 2007 2008 2009 201034.0
36.0
38.0
40.0
42.0
44.0
46.0
48.0
50.0
38.938.6
40.0
41.2
43.6
41.4
40.5
41.6
42.1
48.1
Percent of Children Ages 0-4 Years Enrolled in WIC, 2006-2010
TexasTri County Area
Perc
ent o
f Chi
ldre
n 0-
4 Ye
ars E
nrol
led
in W
IC
Agreed on 4 Clear Core Priorities
All kids Kindergarten ready
All 3rd graders reading at grade
level
All kids graduate from high
school
All adults have access to literacy
and workforce development
success
Implementing our plan…
RLC: 4 Funding Purposes
Fund DevelopmentThe Gulf Coast Medical Foundation has provided a generous grant to hire a fund development manager to secure funding necessary to build capacity and increase literacy services.
Development TrainingTo support the growth of fund development in partner organizations our grant writer will be available twice a month by appointment to partners to work one on one to increase their grant writing skills. Phone and email consultation is also available.
Partner Support FundThis fund is designed to enable partners to apply for support for specific key short term projects that are needs-based and demonstrate effective return on investment. Recipients will submit a brief project evaluation that includes data to qualify for additional support.
Backbone SupportThe Gulf Coast Foundation Collaborative members have invested in the coalition by providing a salary for an executive director to manage the work of the coalition. A strong backbone organization is a powerful investment to secure sustained progress over time.
Catalytic Philanthropy
What drives our success?
Community Engagement!
How do we achieve collective impact?
Backbone Organization
Common Agenda
Shared Measurement
Mutually Reinforcing Activities
Continuous Communication
Backbone Organizations
What drives our collective impact model?
Learning Objectives
Understanding the concept of catalytic philanthropy
Using four basic strategies to develop funding partnerships
Working with a funders collaborative
Aligning community and funding goals for success
Acomplishments 1
2010 - Awarded OneStar Foundation Grant to build partnership Initial 20 partner organizations grew
to nearly 100Monthly partner meetings every
month since Information sharing, networking,
collaborative planning, training2011 - Awarded USDA/RCDI grant
503 individuals participated in training during course of grant
Accomplishments 2
2012 - All American Cities GLR Finalist/CSAP
Helped develop County Community Plans for HGAC submittal
2012 - Gulf Coast Foundations Collaborative provided administrative/staffing funds to hire executive director
2012 - First Rural Coalition accepted into national STRIVE (Collective Impact) network
2013 – World Book Night partner – 500 books distributed
Accomplishments 32013 - Selected for the Results Based
Scorecard national data pilot project Collecting data across 12 school districts in 3
counties to set baseline for action2013 - Chosen to receive Mobile
Learning Lab by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting – thousands of apps distributed and mobile trans-media lab program kicked off
2013 - Awarded grant from Gulf Coast Medical Foundation for grant writing, media and web support
How can we help you? Q & A
What are the challenges related to the development of a funders collaborative and the implementation of catalytic philanthropy in your community?
What challenges or successes have occurred?
What have you experienced and what would you like to see…?