Zeroing In
A medium tiered program can be run in 3 – 6 months, whether during the school year or over summer vacation. This includes the entire process, from pre-recruitment to grant awards.
As you make your way through the Toolkit, you have the ability to skip ahead using the tabs above in header to move ahead or scroll through step-by-step. In the medium tiered pathway, you will find:
Each Girls Grantmaking program is different, and no one program fits a specific mold. Be sure to visit the resources section to mix, match and explore the materials from other Girls Grantmaking programs.
Timing Is Everything
There are many different ways to structure a Girls Grantmaking program. Medium tiered programs can be run in 3-6 months. Critical ingredients in developing your own program timeline are:
Allow up to three months. This includes development or refinement of an application, establishing a meeting schedule, and advanced promotion through local print media, electronic social media, websites, and school counselors.
Allow up to 5 weeks. For existing Girls Grantmaking programs- girls currently in the program are given the opportunity to participate for an additional year before new applicants are accepted. For greater detail, see the “Calling All Girls” section.
Curriculum development is always a fluid process and may be refined throughout the entire program. This is when you will develop your materials for distribution. For greater detail, see the “Diving In” section.
Allow up to three months for meeting with girls, facilitators and guest speakers. Note that programs run during the school year should make every effort to work around important dates such as, SATs, ACT’s, religious holidays and/or school breaks.
Once final decisions have been made allow up to one month to formally notify grantees of their award or decline and distribute grant money. Some girls programs might choose to have celebratory event for the girls and their families recognizing the grantees. In addition, the public announcement of grantees can be done through local print media, electronic social media and websites. For examples of press releases, see the “Wrapping Up” section or in the “Resource Section”.
Allow up to 1 month. You will review exit interviews completed by girls and meet with program coordinator to discuss improvements and enhancements to the program. For greater detail on exit interviews, see “Wrapping Up” section.
*Note that many of the steps listed above can and will occur concurrently.
Dollars & Sense
Budgeting and costs are an integral part of every Girls Grantmaking program. All Girls Grantmaking programs are an investment in the future of women leaders of tomorrow! But, it is important to develop an accurate and realistic budget for your program.
Staffing
Meetings
Organizational Costs
Grant Awards
Innovative Leadership
The leadership of a Girls Grantmaking program depends upon the resources and infrastructure of the larger organization. Models of leadership range from a fully volunteer coordinated program to one that utilizes an internal staff member responsible for all duties.
Calling All Girls!
The recruitment process is a critical part of your girls grantmaking program. It is important to have clear expectations and a set of standards communicated during the interview process.
Consider who will interview the applicants
There are many similarities in the recruitment process of different sized programs, so check out the resources section for more info and examples!
Diving In!
A thoughtful and well developed curriculum is pivotal to the creation and sustainability of a strong program. There are many goals for a Girls Grantmaking program—learning to be a philanthropist, a community advocate or developing leadership skills. Whatever your program goals are, the girls will also strengthen their own individual life skills including: active listening, tolerance, and team building among others your fund will identify.
Wrapping Up
Building and sustaining a strong program involves external communication as well as internal evaluation and refinement.
and program participants play a valuable
role in identifying strengths as well as areas needing improvement.
communication can include a celebration for participants and families, ongoing communication through social media as well as public announcements to the community at large.
