Today, we know YouthBridge as a community foundation that advises donors on what nonprofits to support, administers charitable funds, and provides support to nonprofit organizations on sustainability. But this organization is no stranger to change – it began as the German General Protestant Orphan’s Home dating back to 1877 and has since evolved to meet the community’s changing needs.

When its leaders saw another need they might be able to fill in the community, they sought the advice and expertise of The Rome Group to figure out whether and how to expand its program. YouthBridge wanted to assess whether a grant making program to provide general operating support to nonprofit organizations would meet the needs of the foundation and the region’s nonprofits.

Our consultants researched best practices in grant making, gathered community input through a focus group and individual interviews, and reviewed the results of several needs assessments to identify the opportunities to meet community needs. After compiling the results of this research, our team facilitated a conversation that resulted in a clear direction for YouthBridge’s grant making.

Program evolution is a natural part of a vibrant nonprofit organization. Our team assisted YouthBridge in developing a data-informed grant making program that expanded their efforts to meet their important mission.