Building Capacity of Grassroots Social Enterprises
The Problem
Shon Hart faced the crisis of fatherlessness as a Prison Chaplin as he worked with inmates who struggled with their inability to support their families. As a visionary social entrepreneur, Shon created InvolvedDad to partner with the Friend of the Court to address fatherlessness while also dealing with the massive challenges created by the Child Support System in Michigan. InvolvedDad successfully secured grant funding to operate a few programs, but the organization was 100% grant-dependent.
“SIPI helped us transition from a program to an enterprise. We went from a great idea to a model for delivering impact while also generating the revenue necessary for us to sustain and grow. Their team was great at working with me, our board, and our partners to help us build a solid foundation for the future.”
The Solution
SIPI developed program curricula, fundraising strategies, and refined the InvolvedDad business model to position the organization for growth. We also helped the board of directors and Executive Director clarify their roles and responsibilities while setting a clear vision for future success. These changes allowed InovlvedDad to secure a major investment from the American Heart Association Social Impact Fund in 2020.