Rock For Kids connects Chicago Public School students to music education. Aimed at inspiring and promoting creativity among underserved kids from third-eighth grade, Rock For Kids enables critical thinking, cultural exposure and ultimately, academic success through its programs. The organization was founded in 1988, and over the past several years has used Taproot Foundation Service Grants to develop their organizational infrastructure and tackle pressing challenges limiting their growth.
Rock For Kids first came to Taproot for pro bono support in 2009 and since then, has been awarded four additional projects, which will deliver nearly $300,000 in pro bono support to the organization. These service grants have connected Rock For Kids to resources they would not have been able to otherwise purchase.
The service grants awarded to Rock For Kids span across the fields of strategy, human resources, and marketing and, as such, this collection of projects and their respective deliverables have built upon each other and connected the organization to an array of resources. Starting with a SWOT analysis in 2009, to a board recruitment strategy in 2010, to a comprehensive marketing overhaul running from 2011 that led to a planned new website launch in 2014, Rock For Kids has been connected to resources in key function areas that will positively affect their ability to serve Chicago Public School students.
It seemed perfect that Taproot, an organization that has been with us every step of the way, was there to see us through this transformation.
-Maria Mowbray | Executive Director
The SWOT analysis helped Rock For Kids understand where they line up in the competitive youth development sector, the board recruitment project has connected them to a stronger and more strategically developed board of directors, and the marketing projects and eventual website rollout has supported better communication and expanded visibility in regards to their mission, programs, and goals.
Rock For Kids’s Website Service Grant is currently in progress and is projected to complete in the spring of 2014.
Each Service Grant awarded to Rock for Kids was made possible by the generous support of local foundations. Thanks to the following philanthropic institutions for connecting Rock for Kids to these invaluable resources:
Competitor/Collaborator Analysis – Taproot Foundation
Board Recruitment – Chicago Community Trust
Key Messages & Brand Strategy – Anonymous
Naming & Visual Identity – Metlife Foundation
WordPress Website – Crown Family Philanthropies
