search_icon 
0
Back to Past Investments

Asian American LEAD

Jurisdiction icon
Jurisdiction:
District of Columbia
Issue Area icon
Issue Area:
Boys and Young Men of Color
Early Childhood Education
Partners icon
Partners:
Asian American LEAD
Dates icon
Dates:
2002-2006
Amount icon
Amount of Investment:
$425,000
Opportunity icon
Investment Opportunity:

This investment was a departure for VPP in that this organization was still in the early stages of its development, and we co-invested with the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation.

Through this co-investment, we learned how to best support early-stage, high-potential organizations, and developed a model for future co-investment relationships.

This investment provided funding and non-financial support to help grow and strengthen AALEAD in order to increase its benefit to children, position it for greater sustainability, and prepare it for more significant investment from funders in the future.

With our investment, AALEAD built a stronger senior management team, board, and more robust measurement system to ensure outcomes accountability and performance.

Visit Website
test
Key Accomplishments

  • Planning and Focus: Completed business planning in May 2005, facilitated by Monitor Group, resulting in a well-defined expansion plan for growth in new DC and Maryland communities, based on detailed data of regional demographic shifts.

  • Human Capital – Board and Management: Recruited and integrated deputy director and Director of Development positions. Added six new board members with needed expertise, shifting composition of board from founding board to a board with diverse professional areas of expertise, providing stewardship and governance.

  • Capitalization/Revenue: Secured recurring source of revenue totaling $200 thousand from local public funding source (OECD) and qualified for an additional continuing source of per-student funding through the Supplemental Education Services program in DC and Maryland. Increased capacity to secure public funding, resulting in $250 thousand for 2005.

  • Outcomes Assessment: With support and expertise in the form of a co-investment with VPP from the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, AALEAD developed a system of outcomes and performance assessment and management, which was then implemented in all program areas.

  • Raised Expectations for Talent: Founder Sandy Dang deepened knowledge and understanding of resources and time necessary to recruit and secure leadership talent and increased her ability to work with senior talent like the deputy director and outside consultants.

Read Our Case Study
Key Accomplishments
Before, I was doing development, programming, and being the executive director. It was very hard for the organization to expand because I was always scrambling, trying to do three roles at once. VPP helped me tease out the roles and look at different functions. I learned to delegate.
  • Sandy Dang, Founder, AALEAD
Learn more About Our Investments
AppleTree
Jack McCarthy, Carol Thompson Cole and Michelle Gilliard tell the investment story.   Jack McCarthy – ...
Read More
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington
Read More

VPP + Raise DC
is now Youth
Invest Partners

In June of 2000, Venture Philanthropy Partners opened it doors,
spurred by the efforts of three founders who asked themselves,

“Could the business world provide a different, innovative
approach to social change?”

In the years that followed, VPP quickly became a strategic hub for high-impact
investments through deep and sustained partnerships with foundations, businesses,
government agencies and school systems.

In April of 2020, VPP formed a strategic alliance with Raise DC to build an investment
organization capable of driving alignment among communities, and nonprofit, business
and regional leaders around systems change. VPP+Raise DC committed to call out and
confront policies, practices and systems that contribute to racial inequity.

Today, we recognize the need to do more, be bolder, and act faster. Youth Invest Partners
is a call to “dream big and do big” to drive change that will build better futures for
Greater Washington youth today and in the days, months and years to come. Our new
name and brand reflects energy and focus as we collaborate, innovate and transform.