Planning for Sustainability: Attracting Support for Specific Programs
Learn ways to attract support--not for your entire agency, but for a specific component of your agency, or for a single activity your agency conducts.
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WHAT DO WE MEAN BY ATTRACTING SUPPORT FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS?
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WHY TRY TO ATTRACT SUPPORT FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS (AS OPPOSED TO THE WHOLE INITIATIVE)?
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WHEN SHOULD YOU TRY TO ATTRACT SUPPORT FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS?
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WHOM SHOULD YOU TRY TO ATTRACT SUPPORT FROM?
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HOW DO YOU ATTRACT SUPPORT FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS?
Institutionalizing a program means making sure that people realize it is needed and necessary to the community's interests, and that steps are taken to make sure the program becomes permanent. One way that a program can be institutionalized is to convince other area agencies, organizations, and coalitions to support it.
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY ATTRACTING SUPPORT FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS?
In this section, we'll talk about ways to attract support--not for your entire agency, but for a specific component of your agency, or for a single activity your agency conducts. There are different forms that this support can take:
- Having someone else run the program: You might be able to get another group to take over a program entirely.
For example, if your literacy coalition starts a writing program in the elementary schools, you might be able to get a child advocacy group or a college preparatory initiative to take over running that program.
- Having someone else provide funding or resources for the program: You may find that while another group might not be willing to take over the nuts and bolts of running the program, they may be willing to give you money, supplies, or personnel time for it.
For example, you might be able to find a local print shop that's willing to do all the printing and photocopying for your writing program.
- Having someone else house the program: A very simple way for another group or agency to provide support is to give you office or meeting space.
For example, the schools could designate rooms to be used for workshops in the writing program we've been talking about, or a local business could let your program use an office in one of their buildings.
WHY TRY TO ATTRACT SUPPORT FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS (AS OPPOSED TO THE WHOLE INITIATIVE)?
- To make your program permanent. Obviously, if you have a program that you think is worthy and effective, you will probably want to see that program continue. Getting others to help support that program will go a long way toward making it permanent.
- To get support from people who might not normally support your overall initiative. Some potential supporters might be willing to support a specific program even though they might not be willing to support all of your work.
For example, let's say you work with a county-wide AIDS and HIV prevention coalition. You might find that although your local faith community is reluctant to back your coalition because you distribute condoms and conduct safer sex education programs, you still might be able to get their support for a specific program on abstinence.
- To make a limited-time program go on for a longer period of time.
For example, let's say you you've received a grant to conduct a one-year street drug prevention program in your town. The program has been successful and you'd like to see it continue, but the funding can't continue beyond the end of that one year. This would be a good reason to start looking for others to support this program.
- To make you less dependent on any one source of support. If you depend on a single source of support, you run the risk of losing it all if something goes wrong. What if you get all your funding for your youth theater program from a single source, and then that source decides that it should be able to dictate the content of the plays your group performs? Or what if that source decides to stop funding your program at all? Getting support from a variety of sources gives you more autonomy to do the things you want to do and more certainty that you'll always be able to do them.
- To raise support for your organization as a whole. Getting support for a specific program can raise awareness about your overall organization. Being able to show that people support one of the things that you do can get people interested in the other things that you stand for. This can interest other agencies and bodies in adopting your programs and philosophies.
WHEN SHOULD YOU TRY TO ATTRACT SUPPORT FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS?
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