Lizz Kelly, MPA Student
Dr. Marjorie McLellan’s Fundraising and Grant Writing Course (URS 4340/6340) assigned students to work with a community organization to create a development plan, draft an event plan, and write a grant in Spring 2013. Lizz Kelly, MPA student, chose to work with the Dakota Center, located in West Dayton. The Dakota Center’s mission is to provide a safe community atmosphere engaging Dayton neighborhoods and people of all ages in programs that educate the whole person.
When Lizz visited the center, it was clear what grant needed to be written. The Dakota Center’s afterschool program had a computer lab full of mismatched and often broken furniture, badly outdated computers, and a space that did not meet the needs of their students. Finding a foundation to provide funding was the next challenge. Lizz identified The Iddings Foundation which has been grant-making for forty years in Montgomery and adjacent counties. Recently the Foundation has made a stronger focus on youth development- a clear fit for the Dakota Center needs.
The Dakota Center was recently notified that nearly the full grant was awarded and they will get the computer lab their students need!
Click here to learn more about The Dakota Center.
