A Furniture Bank for Under-Resourced Families

Solutions Grant management Impact storytelling Grant research Grant strategy & proposal development

Be a success story Book a free consultation

Beds for Kids, a highly efficient furniture bank, transforming lives across Charlotte, with the responsibility of grants under a passionate and busy Executive Director.

Challenge

Grant strategy, writing, and management are time-consuming processes. This Executive Director needed support and a grant expert to improve processes, conduct research, and effectively communicate the story of Beds for Kids to local funders. With many "hats" and so much to do, Scribe was able to reclaim hours of her day.

Solution

In the Summer of 2023, Beds for Kids began working with Scribe, with the grant writer serving as the primary point of contact for all grant preparation and submission. As we move into the third contract with this client, we look forward to continuing to support their mission to provide beds and essential furniture to children and their families in need.

Implementation & Results

The Grant Writer has collaborated with the Executive Director to develop a grant calendar and maintain a continuous pipeline of grant applications throughout the year. Extensive prospect research is conducted annually to identify potential partnerships and opportunities. Programmatic language was developed to describe the impact of furniture on a family transitioning from homelessness, beyond operational requests. In 2024, with 25 hours a month, the Executive Director, both knowledgeable and responsive, was able to submit 36 formal proposals and reports in partnership with the Grant Writer. This effort refined language and built relationships across the State, developed data collection and impact storytelling strategies.

Outcomes

2024 was the benchmark year when Beds for Kids thoroughly outlined their outcomes and objectives with the Grant Writer, increasing their fundability.  These outcomes also confirmed their alignment with various funding priorities within the human services sector, including addressing basic needs, reducing poverty, and addressing housing instability as a health issue. During this time, Beds for Kids also expanded its referral partner network to over 70 partners, resulting in a 40% increase in its capacity to serve, with 1400 successful deliveries. In 2024 alone, the Grant Writer secured at least $234,750 in committed funding, with an awarded recipient status as a beneficiary of a projected five-figure fundraising campaign from a partner.