Scottsdale Community Impact Group - Report Example

Scottsdale Community Impact Group, Inc., Executive Summary Established in year 2001, the Scottsdale Community Impact Group Inc. (SCIG) is a non-profit organisation, located in Maricopa County, with its services spanning through out the state of Arizona. With a membership of over 300 volunteers the organisation implements direct programs as well as support other charity organisations within the state. SCIG’s mission is to be a dream fulfiller by assisting children from financially challenged families to pursue their life dreams. While the organization have largely depended upon its fund raising activities and membership subscriptions for its revenue to date, the board has decided in seeking federal funding assistance to expand its programs further. 1. Organizational Overview Established in year 2001 and located in Maricopa County, Arizona, the Scottsdale Community Impact Group Inc. (SCIG) is a non-profit organisation, which serves the communities throughout the state of Arizona. SCIG is committed to help those in need within their community regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender any other segregating differences. The organisation carry out its community serving activities through both independent programs as well as through its affiliations with larger charity organisations such as Make-A- Wish Foundation and St. Mary’s Food Bank. The organisation’s mission is to assist children who are financially compromised in pursuing their life dreams. SCIG operates with a staff of twenty and a membership of over three hundred volunteers. Approximately 50 wishes are granted by the SCIG and the 250th wish was granted at its fifth year inauguration anniversary. 2. Description of Programs The programs conducted directly by Scottsdale Community Impact Group Inc. falls in to two key categories termed “Fairy God Mother’s Wishes” and “Wishing On a Shooting Star”. Other programs conducted by the organisation are linked to its affiliate charity organisations where SCIG provides the service of its volunteer members to these organisations as well as provide funding support for certain projects. 2.1 “Fairy God Mother Wishes” program The Wishes being granted by the “Fairy God Mother” are targeted at smaller children aged 3 years to 10 years and an average of US$ 250 - 500 is incurred in granting this category of wishes. Examples of wishes falling in to this category include funding of paint sets and musical instruments for artistically gifted children or sports goods and gears for those children with a talent for sports. 2.2 “Wishing On a Shooting Star” Program Wishes being granted under the “Wishing On a Shooting Star” category are offered to children who are in the age group of 11 to 18 years and can range from a worth of US$ 500 to 5,000 depending on the individual project. Few examples of such wishes being granted by SCIG includes partial funding of educational fees in the form of scholarships for scholastically or artistically gifted children, facilitating the organising of solo concerts and art exhibitions for gifted artists as well as consideration of providing required equipments, traveling costs etc for financially challenged gifted children who wish to pursue their life dreams. 2.3 Affiliate Programs The organisation also support the activities of other larger charity organisations operating in the State of Arizona as state chapters of national or international organisations. Such support is two pronged. SCIG not only provides these organisations with the service of their volunteers as and when need arise but also considers the funding of certain project activities carried out by these affiliated charities such as Make- A- Wish Foundation and the St. Mary’s Food Bank. 3. Population Groups Served The key group being served by SCIG is children in the age group of 3 – 18 years who are from families, which live below or in close proximity to the poverty line. As per the records of USDA the state of Arizona, has a population of 5.9 million approximately out of which 13.9% live under conditions of poverty. In the Maricopa County itself there is over 3.6 million population and 1.1 million households with 33% having children under 18years. Approximately 8% of the county’s households were below the poverty line income of US$ 20,000 approximately for average 4-member household. These population groups are the key segments being served by SCIG. 4. Project Description for funding SCIG is interested in developing its “Wishing On a Shooting Star” program to include an annual scholarship of US$ 10,000 to pursue higher education each for 10 students who are scholastically or artistically gifted. The selection will be made representing different counties of state of Arizona and selection process will be carried out with the support of state schools to ensure the deserving students gets an equal chance for selection. In addition to above, it is also interested in establishing a special fund, which will promote healthy habits among the younger generation through exercise and sports. Children from financially compromised families will be assisted in funding their sports and outdoor activities such as participation costs of summer camps, sports center membership costs or trainers fees and special sports gear costs. 5. Project Evaluation The evaluation of the scholarship project will be carried out by assessing the effectiveness of the selection process as well as the overall performance of the selected scholarship holders. The continuous assessment of their performance will be carried out on a quarterly basis. The Trust Fund projects will be evaluated on a half yearly basis by the trustee board on project-by-project basis. 6. Grant Budgets Federal Government grants for special community service projects are being disbursed under the Federal Domestic Assistance program and SCIG is applying for US$ 250,000.00 annual grant for the purpose of funding the 10scholarships each worth of US$ 10,000.00 and for the purpose of setting up the US$ 150,000 special trust fund named “Youth Health & Fitness Fund.” 7. Line Item budget detailing how the money will be used # Particulars Amount – US$ 01 10 Scholarships each worth US$ 10,000 100,000.00 02 Planned Disbursement from Trust Fund Money (Total fund worth US$ 150,000.00) 75,000.00 2.1 Funding Sports Gears for individual children (Average cost US$ 250.00 x 50 children) 12,500.00 2.2 Funding sports and exercise equipment for local youth centers (Average cost US$ 5,000 x 10) 50,000.00 2.3 Funding of summer camp trips to deserving children (Average cost US$ 500 x 50) 2,500.00 2.4 Funding Sports training fees and sports center memberships 10,000.00 Balance in the Trust fund after disbursement of planned funding 75,000.00 8. List of Key Staff Members and Biographies President & CEO – Mr. Cleff Zeranoff Cleff Zeranoff is the founder and president of SCIG and a retired professor of child psychology from the State University of Arizona. With over 3 decades of community service experience through charity organisations such as the International Lions Clubs, Cleff Zeranoff has been the country director to represent USA for the 12th Lion Convention held in Fukuoka Japan. Vice President – Miriam Rose Miriam Rose is one of the founding members and brings in years of experience in terms of working in community service organisations such as USAID and USA Peace Corps country manager for Myanmar. Secretary – Ira Swift Ira Swift has served in similar capacity for “Wish-List Foundation” in Florida is a member of Company Secretaries Association. Treasure – Jeffrey Scottsdale Jeffrey Scottsdale the Vice President of Scottsdale Business Auditors Inc. is an auditor and CPA qualified management accountant by profession. Project Director – Direct Programs – Anna Henderson Anna Henderson, a past lecturer of aesthetics in the Collage of Aesthetic studies in Phoenix has served in various project coordinator positions in charity foundations such as International Rotary Club and Save The Children foundation. Project Director – Affiliate Programs - Suresh Sharma Suresh Sharma a sports instructor with the Arizona Youth Sports Development foundation is one of the founding members of SCIG and also the membership development coordinators of the organisation. Read More