Grantee Profile: CCRC Develops Earned Income Strategy to Fund Innovative Programs

Beginning in the summer of 2008, Ellen Cervantes, the vice president of programs at CCRC, and a team of staff participated in the Social Enterprise Academy, which was offered to current and former First 5 LA grantees, to strategize on how to bring in unrestricted dollars. The team attended monthly meetings and worked independently with consultants from the Social Enterprise Institute to develop a social enterprise plan, or an "earned income strategy."

The academy took CCRC staff through a process of identifying opportunities that are both mission-driven and earn income, how to choose a service or product, conducting market research and launching the project. Cervantes and her team identified a need for CPR teachers for child care providers, and more specifically Spanish-speaking CPR and First Aid training, training her existing staff can now do.

"We are grateful to First 5 for giving us the opportunity to learn ways to combine our needs to earn income to sustain creative programming, meet our mission, and learn the skills required for the shift from social service to social enterprise," Cervantes said. "We're getting a great response from the community."

Because the organization had dedicated itself to the concept of providing free services, Cervantes and her team worked with CCRC's board and staff to become comfortable with the idea of charging a fee for the new CPR training courses. After overcoming some discomfort the staff has become excited about the new programs and the opportunity to develop additional earned income ventures.

The first CPR training course is scheduled to begin this month, and CCRC anticipates making close to $20,000 in the first year of offering the service. CCRC already has some ideas on how to use the monies, including providing mental health services training to child care service providers. CCRC has also identified another potential earned income strategy - a fee for an enhancement to the referrals the organization offers over the phone, including an assessment of what each child care option offers, and charging for online access.

To learn more about CCRC's CPR courses, and it's involvement in First 5 LA's Social Enterprise Academy contact Ellen Cervantes at  ECervantes@ccrcla.org.