CASE STUDY
Background
Main Street Wisdom was brought in by High Impact Partnering to provide strategic planning and map out potential sources of public funding for the organization as it enters a new growth phase in New York City. Given its relatively new presence in the city. We were tasked with identifying key government stakeholders and public sources of capital and programmatic funding to help Artists for Humanity scale its services in New York City and expand the number of students it serves citywide.
Challenges
Given its relatively new presence in New York City, Artists for Humanity had few public relationships and relied on private funding to support its programming and operations—a stark contrast to the original site in Boston. To pursue public funding, the organization needed to build relationships with and secure strong support from public partners, including municipal and state government, as well as City and State legislators. Our role required leveraging strategic insight, expertise, and knowledge of the local political landscape to facilitate critical relationship-building within a short time frame.
Solutions
To ensure a strategically aligned approach, we collaborated with High Impact Partnering and the NYC Site Director to understand and document Artists for Humanity’s history, relationships, capabilities, goals, needs, and existing capacity in New York City. Together, we strategized on how best to prioritize next steps, identify available options, and navigate the political landscape within a reasonable, realistic timeframe.
Results
We developed a comprehensive yet concise strategic plan that clearly outlined a path to relationship-building and securing public funding in New York City and New York State within one year. The strategic plan prioritized City and State relationships in the organization’s immediate area and in New York City locations where the organization had previously worked, as a foundation for broader expansion. It provided Artists for Humanity with an achievable roadmap for organizational growth.