Families in Schools

A grant to strengthen small nonprofits’ ability to adapt to change and increase their effectiveness.

Families in Schools (FIS) works to involve parents and communities in their children’s education to achieve lifelong success. Created in 2000 by the Los Angeles Annenberg Metropolitan Project, FIS continues the movement of educational reform initiated by the Annenberg Challenge. FIS provides trainings and services based on research and best practices to community-based organizations, school districts, and in some cases, to parents as a direct service.

Counties Served:

Fresno
Kern
Kings
Madera
Merced
San Joaquin
Stanislaus
Tulare

Total Award: $150,000

Program Details:
FIS has developed a capacity building program that focuses on the concept of adaptive capacity: helping nonprofits be responsive, innovative, and adapt to lessons learned from both internal and external conditions. FIS will recruit and select two leaders from each of 15 organizations each year to participate in the program, for a total of 45 organizations and 90 participants. Organized in annual cohorts, each group will participate in four, one-day meetings and create a plan for building adaptive capacity within their organizations.

Selection process:
FIS will focus on nonprofits that provide services in education, children, youth and family development and that have been incorporated for at least three years, have annual budgets greater than $75,000, demonstrate a connection to and understanding of their communities and can invest in capacity development.

Target Launch Date: Early spring 2010

Website: http://www.familiesinschools.org/

Project Contact:
Oscar E. Cruz
Director of Community Engagement and Advocacy
ocruz@familiesinschools.org
(213) 484-2870