SCALE
Managing, Scaling, and Partnerships
Resource Mobilization
After reaching success in one location, your YSS/YC/ASPs could expand to new communities. This scaling requires additional resource mobilization, new team members, and strong community partnerships in the new area for expansion. In regard to funding this growth, a long-term funding horizon is important to sustainability and scaling strategies, and this related decision making should come at the design stage of the program itself.
Often YSS/YC/ASPs will need a four-pillar approach and strategy to resource mobilization to ensure sustainability and growth:
- Local Government Support — Mobilizing public-sector funds from local municipalities and ministries that can include subsidies, in-kind support (e.g., electricity and water, or buildings), and possible staff support (e.g., social workers, youth workers).
- Volunteers — Mobilizing volunteer support from local faith-based organizations, schools, universities, businesses, or volunteer groups.
- Private Sector and Donors — Mobilizing private-sector, foundation, or international donor support in the form of financial or in-kind support (e.g., computers, sports equipment, training materials, etc.).
- Developing a Social Enterprise — YSS/YC/ASP often will generate income from the products youth learn to build in the center or the set up of a local business that generates income for the center (e.g., gyms, car-washes, cafes, coffee shops, or even local service businesses, etc.).
Partnerships
Strong partnerships are critical for the organization to maintain funding, uphold multiple programs, pool resources, and reach new beneficiaries throughout the community. Government, private-sector, NGO, and other partners, such as faith-based and community organizations, are frequently engaged to enhance youth spaces implementation. These partners lend specific knowledge and skills and can contribute to ensuring relevance and local ownership of the program.[1]
Scaling
To successfully and sustainably scale a youth program studies recommend organizing staff and leadership buy-in, planning the local scale-up capacity, identifying sustainable funding, and identifying core components for the program being scaled.[2]
Additional resources for partnerships and scaling:
- Partner Finding Database for Creating Youth Programming | Salto
- A Guide to Successful Youth-Adult Partnerships | 4-H
- School-Community Partnerships | UCLA
- A Guide to Successful Public-Private Partnerships for Youth Programs | The Finance Project from Jobs First NYC
- Collaboration Guide for Museums Working with Community Youth-Serving Organizations | NISE Network
- Strategies to Scale Up Social Programs: Pathways, Partnerships, and Fidelity | The Wallace Foundation
- Models for Scaling the Impact of Youth Entrepreneurship Programmes. | Youth Business International
- Taking Innovations to Scale | Larry Cooley, MSI
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