Heads Up and VPP shared a high expectation that Heads Up would achieve its aspirations to become a leading and influential provider of out-of-school programs for children and teenagers in the District of Columbia, and to become the premier youth-related community service program for local universities and undergraduates.
Planning and Focus: Completed business planning in 2002, resulting in a well-defined expansion plan for scaling their tutoring program to serve more children in the District. Planning facilitated by McKinsey & Co.
Human Capital—Board Management: Successfully completed a leadership change. Met goals to strengthen senior management, integrating a COO/CFO. A good board was significantly improved and expanded, completing the transition from founder-centric to a governing board.
New Revenue: Significantly fortified future revenue by securing a continuing, public source of per-student funding for nearly 300 students—a third of students served. Increased awareness of Heads Up among high-net-worth donors in the Region, after winning 2005 CharityWorks funding. More than quadrupled its annual support from AmeriCorps by winning a national competitive grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Performance Reporting: Defined and implemented outcomes assessment and performance management system, and now in process of refining based on experience gained.
Innovative Partnership: Forged a unique partnership with three well-respected companies—Scholastic, Inc., Michaels Stores, and Binney & Smith—to produce “Read and Create Craft Packs” that opened up an opportunity for a new source of revenue, but more importantly, built awareness of its efforts.