Blogs

Lessons in Going to Scale is a newly-launched blog series featuring on-the-ground stories from nonprofit organizations at different points in their scaling trajectory. Hear from S&I 100 CEOs and nonprofit leaders in health, education, youth, and poverty alleviation about the strategies and challenges of developing a scaling model.

S&I 100 organization Wyman Center explores what it looks like to adapt their Teen Outreach Program^® model to settings outside of their network.

At Wyman Center, we take scaling with fidelity very seriously. The organization has a 115 year history serving children from low-resource environments, and the past 15 years have focused on nationally replicating programs, such as our evidence-based Teen Outreach Program^®(TOP). TOP^® is a nine-month program for teens in 6th to 12th grade that reduces the risk of problem behavior while helping teens make healthy choices, develop life skills and engage with their communities.

In order to meet our growth goal to bring faithfully-replicated TOP^® into the lives of 100,000 teens in the next five years, we developed a rigorous quality system and infrastructure to both support and monitor our 57 Certified Replication Partners.

The following post was written to enhance the discussion that took place during the April 30 webinar, which explored the topic of using evaluation to scale for impact. "Evaluation: What an Organization Needs to Scale for Impact" is now available online.  

With apologies to the Beatles, developing evidence-based programs that can be taken to scale does not happen in one hard day’s night. Rather, it truly is a long and winding road. At least for this organization.

OASIS, a national nonprofit organization and member of the S&I 100, is dedicated to promoting successful aging for adults age 50 plus. Our three-fold approach provides opportunities for people to participate in lifelong learning, active lifestyles and community involvement. Through its programs, OASIS puts into practice the findings of the landmark MacArthur Foundation study of Aging in America. Researchers Rowe and Kahn found that the key ingredients for a high quality of life are maintaining a low risk for disease, a high level of engagement with the community and high physical and cognitive function; “It is the combination of all three that represents the concept of successful aging fully.”

Carol Thompson Cole is President and CEO of Venture Philanthropy Partners (VPP), a philanthropic investment firm (and intermediary) that focuses on funding high-performing nonprofits in the National Capital Region. Carol brings a unique perspective to the field of venture philanthropy, having worked for over 30 years in both the public and private sectors. She spent significant time in government -- at both the federal and local level, and was the first woman to be appointed City Administrator in the District of Columbia.  She also served as Special Advisor to President Clinton on the District of Columbia, and prior to that, she was a Vice President at RJR Nabisco. The Exchange’s Tamara Schweitzer Raben spoke to Carol about the role of the intermediary in bringing together multiple sectors to fund and support the capacity of high-impact nonprofits going to scale.  

‘Spotlight’ features nonprofits that are pursuing active growth capital campaigns that will enable them to scale their impact.

Growth capital campaign aims to reach all low-income communities, classrooms, and children with the books and resources needed to eliminate knowledge poverty.

Having books – at home and in the classroom – is the number one predictor of reading success. But the reality for children growing up in poverty is this: books are scarce. Forty-five percent of children in the United States – more than 30 million kids – live in low-income households. Most of these children have no age-appropriate books at home; neither their parents nor the schools and programs they attend can afford to buy books at retail prices. Studies show that in the areas of deepest poverty, there is only one age-appropriate book for every 300 children.

Last week, the Harvard Business Review blog network posted a relevant article by Paul Carttar, the former director of the Social Innovation Fund and partner with the Bridgespan Group, which raises the question: Why Don't the Best Nonprofits Grow? Paul's post primarily focuses on the disconnect in the social sector between nonprofits that have proven results and their ability to access the necessary capital to grow their impact. Paul makes the point that it is the lack of evidence about what works and what doesn't that is holding the field back from making greater strides towards bridging this gap.