Strategic Initiative Enhances Capacity of Youth-Serving Nonprofits in the County
November 16, 2022
The Prince George’s County Council and Venture Philanthropy Partners (VPP) have announced the continued expansion of the Ready for Work Nonprofit Capacity Building Initiative, an intensive three-year program and investment to strengthen nonprofits to better serve youth across Prince George’s County developed to help students become college and career-ready adults. Nearly $10M has been raised for the Ready for Work initiative in partnership with Prince George’s County.
Following a competitive process, three additional nonprofits in the County have been identified as organizations specifically focused on serving children and youth through early childhood development, middle school, and high school with kindergarten readiness, academic achievement, middle and high school completion, post-secondary preparation, career readiness and healthy behaviors.
FY 2023 nonprofit recipients BCAUSEICAN, Art Works Now, and The L.E.E.P. to College Foundation will join previous recipients Liberty’s Promise, Side by Side, Ivy Community Charities, WeTATi, The Training Source, College and Career Pathways, Inc., Community Youth Advance, First Generation College Bound, the Foundation for the Advancement of Music and Education, Inc. (FAME), Joe’s Movement Emporium and End Time Harvest Ministries as a part of the Ready for Work Nonprofit Capacity Building Initiative.
Council Chair Calvin S. Hawkins, II, says continued expansion of the Ready for Work Nonprofit Capacity Building Program reaffirms the Council’s commitment to support the County’s nonprofit community.
“The Council is excited for the opportunity to again partner with VPP in support of nonprofits serving Prince George’s County’s young people, in a continuing commitment to improve their lives. Especially as our communities continue to address post-pandemic challenges, this critical and timely investment will assist nonprofits and encourage important collaboration in their work to provide the County’s youth with the best services and resources. We congratulate the selected participants and look forward to their progress.”
Carol Thompson Cole, VPP’s President and CEO remarked, “VPP is excited to continue partnering with the Prince George’s County Council on this important program, especially as so many children and youth are still experiencing the negative impact of the pandemic on their academic and social-emotional development. These nonprofits are a critical component of the social safety net.”
Through the Ready for Work program, nonprofits will be provided the opportunity to strengthen grant writing, management and report writing skills and capacities to become high-performing organizations. Each of the participating nonprofits will compete for mini grants to further enhance select organizational and programmatic capacities. The program will also focus on strengthening the boards of the participating organizations.
