 | Carol Mathey’s Center develops plan for growth.
Carol Mathey’s Center for Children and Families, Inc., serving low and moderate income families in the Twin Cities East Metro area, was at a crossroads when it applied to participate in FCF’s Growth Fund in 2006. In business for 37 years, the organization had recently acquired the church building in which it had operated for decades. “The church couldn’t afford to subsidize our rent any longer. We absolutely had to buy our building, even though we were far from ready,” said Stacie Penn, Executive Director.
Stacie attributes the Growth Fund’s impact on her program and her effectiveness as a leader to the discipline of the business planning process. “We had a strategic plan,” Stacie observed, “but now we have a much more focused business plan to guide us, and the board of directors is 100% engaged.”
What else has changed at Carol Mathey’s Center as a result of participating in FCF’s Growth Fund?
- The organization has completed a review of its program quality using the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scales (ECERS). Based on the ECERS, Growth Fund investments have been used for needed improvements to the playground.
- Other physical improvements were made after Xcel Energy conducted an energy audit of the building.
- Market analysis and marketing was also a fundamental need. The Growth Fund process has resulted in Carol Mathey’s Center taking a new approach to serving the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten market.
- The Growth Fund investment helped Carol Mathey’s Center hire a communications consultant and upgrade its print collateral and Web page.
The next big step for Carol Mathey’s Center as it enters the third year of Growth Fund participation is to expand the board of directors. “Going through the Growth Fund process has given our board of directors the confidence to recruit new board members very selectively,” Stacie concluded. “Board candidates can see we are an organization with a solid plan for growth.” Visit www.cmmcc.org to learn more about Carol Mathey’s Center. Learn more about FCF’s Growth Fund.
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