December 2005 — Technology Funding
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Keep Your Program Growing After the Money Runs Out
With the committee formed and the goals laid out, the next series of steps involves taking actions to support your project’s sustainability:
- Identify current resources and gaps.
- Determine additional human and financial resources needed to implement and sustain your goals.
- Think about resources and expertise that can be shared, and then develop and prioritize strategies to obtain those resources.
- Anticipating changes and adapting to them are keys to long-term sustainability; discuss potential changes in your community and population served that may change the scope or services of your project.
- Identify a core and broad base of community supporters and key champions. Clearly define how the project benefits each supporter and champion. Find a supporter who can help your organization develop a marketing plan to build community awareness and support.
- Make sure that key stakeholders are willing to adopt the proposed sustainability plan. Once all of these points are settled, you’ll have a plan you can now use to drive implementation—and sustainability.
| 8 Elements of Sustainability | |
DOES YOUR PROJECT HAVE THE RIGHT STUFF FOR THE LONG HAUL? 1. VISION Develop a vision statement that clearly defines what it is that you want to sustain. A vision is a clear picture of what the organization would ideally like the project to be. A project will never be greater than the vision that guides it. 2. RESULTS Identify measurable outcomes and establish processes to track performance. The data collected should be used to improve the project and services over time. 3. STRATEGIC FINANCING & STEWARDSHIP Identify financial strategies that integrate project and community needs and decisions. Project leaders must be good caretakers of funds and know how to balance current decisions with future effects. Resources should always be used efficiently. 4. ADAPTABILITY Recognize that change is inevitable and can bepositive. Involve the community in planning and implementation. 5. COMMUNITY SUPPORT Develop broad-based community relationships that include and extend beyond financial contributions. Create a spirit of collaboration and responsibility among all current and future stakeholders. 6. CHAMPIONS Identify and develop champions who can assist your organization in gaining the recognition and resources needed to achieve short- and long-term goals. 7. INTERNAL SYSTEMS Identify and hire strong leadership, staff, and volunteers. Develop communication systems, processes, and a riskmanagement plan. 8. SUSTAINABILITY PLAN Develop a written document that includes each of the elements of sustainability and establishes an action plan. Prioritize actions and activities. |
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Sheila A. Fernley is the Education eLearning Curriculum Director for LRP Publications, which publishes resources for education professionals and parents. She has successfully written grants and trained others to write grants for more than 15 years.
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