Stories

As business leaders, we have a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and experience that can help to uplift and support our local communities. By mentoring startups and sharing our insights, we can help budding entrepreneurs to grow and thrive, creating a positive impact on the wider community. In this blog post, we will explore how business leaders can use their talents and expertise to mentor their community and help start-up businesses succeed.

Inspiring the Next Generation: Child Creativity Lab Seeks Corporate Connections

Strategy Session

How Corporate Partnerships Fuel Child Creativity Lab's Growth

Child Creativity Lab has experienced significant growth in recent years, largely due to corporate support. They offer unique opportunities for businesses to get involved with their mission and inspire the next generation of critical thinkers, problem solvers, innovators, and leaders. With an increased demand for their programs, the nonprofit was seeking to expand their reach and build new partnerships with corporations in Orange County.

Child Creativity Lab Case Study

We have seen the demand for our programs continue to grow. However, we realized that our organization was not widely known in Orange County and we needed to expand our circle of supporters. Corporate support has been the major source of our growth and we have developed unique opportunities for businesses to partner with us, such as assembling STEAM kits or working with students during workshops. We also welcome corporate volunteers to become a part of our mission, like those from Edwards Lifesciences who impart their knowledge as engineers to children during workshops. It's important for us to continue to grow our partnerships and collaborations to further our impact and inspire the next generation of critical thinkers, problem solvers, innovators, and leaders.

Katy Vandermost

Child Creativity Lab
Director of Partnerships

Strategy Session Outcome

Child Creativity Lab (CCL) presented to the Institute for Community Impact at the March 2023 Influential Leadership Breakfast. Sharing their mission of Inspiring the next generation of critical thinkers, problem solvers, innovators, and leaders through hand-on exploration. The nonprofit is on a growth trajectory. From 2019 to 2021, the organization grew revenue 57% and have grown from three to seven full-time employees.

After meeting with the Passkeys follow-up group of interested and caring professionals, Child Creativity Lab walked away with several next steps in addressing their challenge. They will be:

1) enhancing their LinkedIn presence to interact with their supporters and meet new connections

2) investing time into participating in/connecting with targeted corporate associations, and

3) engaging corporations they’ve worked with previously to invite them into further collaboration and sponsorship of their mission.

We can’t wait to use these new strategies and see how we can further our impact in Orange County!
Katy Vandermost

Stay Connected with Community Leaders and Changemakers

Since its inception, the Institute for Community Impact conducts various events throughout the year. These inspirational events are designed to bring together business professionals, corporations and organizations who recognize the value in sharing their expertise to positively impact their local and regional communities. As an added benefit, many new and deep connections are made through shared philosophies and like-mindedness, and attendees tell us they illuminate various community issues.