Discussion Questions: Investment in Change

Discussion Questions for Key Characteristic #5: Capacity Building and Civic Action

  1. At one point in the video, Candace said that the project partners wrote their grant proposal with sustainability in mind. Have you or your organization applied for grants with the goal of the project continuing after the grant? If yes, how did you do it and did it successfully extend beyond the grant? If not, what could you do during the early planning stages to plan for sustainability?

  2. Cadence mentions that they started their relationship with the school district with the expectation it would be long-term. How are you or your organization signaling to school districts or other organizations that you are committed for the long-term? How are districts signaling to their partners that they are looking for more than a one-off program?

  3. One successful method for a long-term relationship is sharing ownership of a project or program. How have you or your organization supported a school district in co-owning a project?

  4. Blandy Experimental Farm had a three year relationship with the school district before applying for a grant together. Was this important? What are the pros and cons of jumping into a grant with a new partner? 

  5. Sometimes we see programs fall apart when they rely on a single point of contact or relationship or when they don’t incorporate the values of multiple stakeholders (teachers, principals, district administration, etc). How do you or your organization get support from multiple stakeholders? Are some more important than others for sustainability sake?

  6. Sustainability includes funding. What creative things can you or your organization do to continue to resource a program? What role should your partner or school district have in finding/securing this continued funding?

  7. How have you or your organization spread awareness about your programming? Does recognition help with continued community or partner support? 

 

Last modified: Thursday, September 15, 2022, 12:21 PM