USA CALIFORNIA YMCA YOUTH & GOVERNMENT

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1 COMMITMENT TO YOUTH & GOVERNMENT A Proposal to YMCA of the USA CALIFORNIA YMCA YOUTH & GOVERNMENT In collaboration to support the Youth & Government Professional Association

2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY To deliver on our commitment to the Youth & Government Movement across the nation as an integral part of the Y s Commitment to America, California YMCA Youth & Government is looking to become a Service Delivery Partner Y (SDPY) which will provide all the needed services that Youth & Government agents across the country deserve. Whether state entities, partners within their given Alliances or within an Association in their state, we will act as one of the major platforms of the Y s Youth Development promise to America. Therefore, on behalf of California YMCA Youth & Government, in collaboration with and to support the Youth & Government Professional Association (YGPA), we are requesting annual funding of $350,000 from YMCA of the USA to accomplish the following: Ensure Youth & Government remains the premiere Youth Development leader in Civic Engagement, Social Responsibility and Leadership Development throughout the nation. Bring Youth & Government programming to currently unserved communities in each state where the need is greatest. Amplify the voice and visibility of our nation s youth throughout the Y movement across the nation to support state and national commitments. Develop Youth & Government as a formidable, efficient and selfsustaining nationwide Youth Organization. Deliver on our Commitment to America: raise new generations of changemakers who are capable of creating communities in which we all want to live. Our goal is to not only become a SDPY, but to also provide the necessary tools, resources, awareness and funding the Youth & Government movement requires across the nation to become a self-sustaining entity. By hiring additional staff, California YMCA Youth & Government supported by the YGPA, (a nine-person governing body comprised of all three Youth & Government entities) will become a nationwide association. This new entity will be capable of leading statewide Youth & Government Y s, Alliance Based Youth & Government agents as well as those housed under associations to attain their fullest potential and allow us to expand our reach to youth in communities within states that need us the most. 1.

3 CONTEXT The Need for a Service Provider Delivery Y for Youth & Government The Y Movement and commitment to America are things important to all communities. Being a part of the movement in a non-traditional Y has had its benefits and challenges, all of which have helped California YMCA Youth & Government become the most robust of all Youth & Government Y s in the nation. Although California YMCA Youth & Government has delivered services to the state of California since 1936, there are several other state Y s that have served their communities for decades longer. It became clear 11 years ago that the Youth & Government entities needed to form a peer group that would allow for shared knowledge and support based on their like services. The YGPA has become the cohort for all things Youth & Government. The association does not have a fiduciary arm, however it acts in a governing capacity by voting in a leadership group every two years that consists of state YMCAs, Alliance/Youth & Government based agents, as well as Program based entities. YGPA assists the greater Youth & Government body with programmatic content, donor research & cultivation, continued youth development education for CEOs and other executive level staff, and provides knowledge sharing and national event management, as well as any other area where a Youth & Government agent may require assistance. After a meeting of six of the state Youth & Government Associations and YUSA, it reinforced that Youth & Government remains the premier youth program within the Y movement. Looking at the unique make up of each of the forty-one Youth & Government entities across the nation, it was also clear that it is time to request from YUSA financial support for a Service Provider Y that specializes in nothing but Youth & Government. Having the Service Delivery Partner Y work directly with the governing body that has been in place via the YGPA will allow for a state-based Youth & Government Association to act as the fiduciary and resource agent for the nation-wide movement while working in tandem with the governing model that has effectively been in place for more than a decade. The Youth & Government Movement Youth & Government has been the flagship Youth Development program within the Y movement for decades. Currently, there are forty-one states that have Youth & Government agents made up of the following: Eight State YMCA s Nine Youth & Government/ Alliance Combinations Twenty-four programs running independently under an association within their state 2.

4 Collectively, we serve more than 60,000 teens each year. Fifty percent of those teens are served by the eight state YMCA Youth & Government Associations. Collectively, we represent more than 30 million in revenue for the Y movement. This movement has helped hundreds of thousands of teens become effective leaders in almost every industry for more than 150 years. Although leadership is a primary outcome of this premier youth program, it also provides much needed civics education that has been removed from schools throughout the country and lays the framework for socially responsible adults in each community we serve. However, for all the positives that Youth & Government has provided the Y movement and our nation s youth, there is still an immense gap in the awareness of this amazing program verses that of some of our national competitors. Lack of awareness and adequate funding are dramatically affecting the amount of youth we can serve each year and it threatens the future for socially responsible adults who can help shape the wellbeing of our nation. Why California? There are currently eight state YMCA Youth & Government Associations, with California leading the charge fiscally. With an annual operating budget of close to 5 million dollars and full staff and board support, we are positioned well to take on the task of serving our fellow Youth & Government counterparts throughout the nation. California also has the support of the entire Youth & Government Movement to take on this responsibility. We currently serve all major metropolitan areas within the state, as well as several other suburban and rural population centers. We specialize in in-depth programming that allows our teens to truly run a model of California s Government with over 30 program areas, as well as a Model United Nation Program that provides nine areas served within the actual United Nations. We know that the in-depth programing we offer, along with the character building and soft-skills, create a level of impact unsurpassed by other youth organizations. The hands-on programs of California YMCA Youth & Government provide positive opportunities and experiences for youth. Participants strengthen their communities by becoming active and responsible contributors who are inspired to lead, and are empowered to create meaningful change. California YMCA Youth & Government prides itself in offering the following skills to help youth transition and succeed with ease from middle school through college graduation. Leadership Public Speaking Research & Writing Core Values & Team Work Study Skills Critical Thinking Greater Understanding of Civic Engagement Addressing Issues on Statewide & National Level 3.

5 Our collective impact is highlighted by: Serving nearly 5,000 teens each year in more than 100 communities throughout our state. Providing life-changing programs to over 100,000 teens in the past 10 years alone. Offer over 290 thousand dollars in financial assistance on an annual basis to ensure our program stays affordable to all teens within our state. As a result of its success in youth development, President Obama and YUSA honored California YMCA Youth & Government as a Champion of Change in Students who join California YMCA Youth & Government are 88 percent more likely to earn a bachelor s degree 8 percent of California Youth & Government high school delegates agree that they personally need to take action to change their communities, their state and our nation for the better. Youth & Government delegates register and remain active voters over 40 percent more than their peers who have not gone through the program. Our nationally acclaimed production services team has produced and shared informational videos and PSAs with other Youth & Government programs to assist them in effectively promoting their own programs. Our professional staff which supports our 30 additional state associations to promote Youth & Government in their communities include; a CEO with over 25 years of Executive Management experience in the for-profit and non-profit sectors, board development as well and multi-million dollar contract negotiation skills, two statewide program directors with over 30 years of experience combined, a Senior Director of Marketing that has run state campaigns, a development department that is CFRE certified, a communications team that is certified in multi-faceted media buys and placements as well as in house design work, a designated volunteer team with combined 25 years of experience and a Presidium Guardian, an operations team that executes and manages multiple functions for up to 4,000 people at a time throughout the year, a finance team that includes a certified bookkeeper and an accounting firm that specializes in non-profit management. We re proud of the positive impact our California YMCA Youth & Government has made and of the accomplishments our teens have achieved. We also know that there is much more to do. CASE FOR SUPPORT Delivering on Our Commitment to the National Youth & Government Movement To nurture the potential of teen programming throughout the country and to develop thriving communities where our youth play an active role, we want to have high functioning and resilient Youth & Government Programs in every state in the nation. We want to build an SDPY that works in collaboration with our national governing body to ensure awareness through national events (four national events will be absorbed by separate YGPA members), and programmatic support opportunities are available to all. 4.

6 The model for this position has been in existence for the past two years in the form of a Shared Services Coordinator that served six states year-round and all of the YGPA through national events. By building a SDPY staff structure to ensure we deliver on our commitment to raise new generations of change-makers who are capable of creating the kind of communities in which we all want to live, we propose hiring a Director of Program Resources with expertise in Youth Development, Civic Education, Advocacy and Operations. This individual will support our local Youth & Government agents in offering high quality, sustainable programs that help all teens learn, grow and thrive. Primary responsibilities of this position would include: Supporting nationwide innovation and expansion of Youth & Government programming in under-served areas throughout the country. Informing public policy advocacy and communications related to youth development. Assisting local Ys in developing long-term strategies of collaboration, shared services, management agreements, and mergers/acquisitions. Supporting the expansion of Youth & Government programs into states or communities currently not served. Keeping Youth & Government Top of Mind as the Premier National Youth Development Organization We propose hiring a Director of Strategic Partnerships who will increase the financial stability of all Youth & Government agents throughout the country by researching and obtaining national grants, corporate funding and in-kind resources that will allow all Youth & Government programs the opportunity to provide additional funding to underprivileged youth in communities across the country that are not currently being served. This position will require a CRFE certification, high level of experience in national partnerships, donor cultivation, stewardship, database management and impeccable communication skills. With these collective qualities, we are confident we will achieve the fiscal sustainability for all throughout the nation. Primary responsibilities of this position would include: Partnering closely with the CEO and Governing Board for YMCA National Youth & Government to develop and execute a partnership development strategy that meets the organization s annual revenue and program goals. Managing a portfolio of major city and county governments that includes both current partners and new prospects. Cultivating relationships through in-person site visits, meetings with civic leaders, engagement with top executives, and collaborations with those responsible for budgeting, procurement, contracting, and legal approval in each local government. Developing a detailed description for prospect and the role they can place on the national landscape by interviewing stakeholders and managing the host agency s review and approval process. Within the scoping process for each project, this position will help governments prioritize opportunities for cross-sector collaboration, community engagement, data-driven decision-making, and results-orientated policymaking. 5.

7 Identifying and help secure sufficient funding for each project by focusing on the government s standard budget process and/or, when necessary, engaging with local and national philanthropic funders who can help to underwrite projects. Oversees the successful completion of all contracting processes to meet specific programmatic deadlines for each cohort. Conducting ongoing relationship management and program support. Raising the Profile of Youth & Government To raise the voice and visibility of Youth & Government throughout the nation and attract greater financial resources, we propose to hire a part time Marketing & Communications Specialist that will promote the impact of the Youth & Government movement to potential donors, legislators and community leaders. Primary responsibilities of this position would include: Develops and implements a communication plan for the YGPA Coordinates internal and external communications functions for the Youth & Government movement nationwide Develops and manages potential donor base to promote the YGPA s core Message Connecting Our Leaders To support our proposal in all aspects of connection, communication and coordination, we propose the hiring of an Administrative Assistant, who will coordinate the logistics of our movement across the nation, support the work of our SDPY as well as that of the YGPA, and serve as a conduit of information. Primary responsibilities of this position would include: Provides administrative support specifically to the national Y&G movement Coordinates logistics for all YGPA meetings and functions Serves as a virtual front desk professional to assist YGPA members 6.

8 PROPOSED BUDGET PER YEAR FOR TWO YEARS PERSONNEL Director of Program Resources $ 75,000 Director of Strategic Partnerships Communications Specialist Administrative Assistant Benefits, taxes, retirement $ 90,000 $ 30,000 $ 45,000 $ 57,000 Conferences/Training $ 5,000 Travel $ 35,000 Printing/Promotion $ 5,000 Professional Fees $ 10,000 Supplies $ 8,000 TOTAL $350,000* *We would like to increase to $360,000 for the second year to account for increase in wages and benefits. 7.