For 18 years, LUCY Outreach has been making a difference for kids and teens in Camden, NJ. They offer a safe place where young people can learn, grow, and build confidence, helping them become leaders in their communities while supporting their education, health, and overall well-being. LUCY focuses on serving youth from low-income families and has expanded its programs to address diverse needs, including tailored support for LGBTQ+ youth, a college and career academy, and emergency assistance for families. LUCY recently took a bold step forward by acquiring a new property, adding to its existing building with a new expansion that doubles its capacity to empower and uplift local youth. This exciting growth unlocks new opportunities for impact but also brings an urgent challenge: securing sustainable funding to ensure its critical programs continue to thrive as the organization’s reach expands.
To address this, LUCY’s volunteer and outreach coordinator Kate King collaborated with Comcast volunteers Jeremy Greene and Lisa Harmon for an eight-week skills-based volunteering program facilitated by Common Impact. While the nonprofit had already developed successful grant templates and secured local grants, its three grant-writing staff members needed help strengthening its ability to sustain its services by researching and identifying new funding opportunities to support its expanded operations in the recently acquired space.
Laying the Foundation
Lisa and Jeremy had previously volunteered with LUCY Outreach during a separate event hosted by Comcast’s Team UP and Common Impact in 2023. When the opportunity for a longer-term project arose in 2024, they were invited to join. With their prior experience and a strong desire to continue supporting LUCY’s work in the community, both were eager to contribute their skills once again.
In the first few weeks of the 2024 project, Lisa and Jeremy reviewed LUCY’s existing fundraising materials and strategies. They held in-depth discussions with the LUCY team to understand strategies that were successful in the past, their challenges, and new funding sources they wanted to explore. The volunteers asked key questions about LUCY’s goals and priorities, helping clarify the best funding avenues that suited the nonprofit. They then researched new grant opportunities aligned with LUCY’s need for funding youth programs, music and art initiatives, mental health services, and general operational support for the new building.
“Jeremy developed an easy, efficient way for us to identify grant opportunities and organized the information so we can access it quickly whenever we need it.” stated Kate. “Lisa’s local connections and creative fundraising advice were equally invaluable. Her suggestions opened new ways to engage donors and maximize their impact on our programs.” Together the volunteers worked on a grant prospecting strategy that took into consideration Lucy Outreach’s three grant-writing staff members’ capacity.
Using their expertise in market research, strategic analysis, and client relationship management, Jeremy and Lisa helped LUCY identify grants they had not previously considered or been aware of. The team also developed a list of federal grants and potential donors, helping LUCY diversify its funding sources and making it easy for them to increase their outreach to secure additional funding. Reflecting on the experience, Lisa shared, “I’m so proud of the recommendations we discussed and the plans already in motion at LUCY. It was incredibly rewarding to dive into research, listen, and collaborate to help unlock LUCY’s growth potential!”
LUCY Outreach’s Takeaways
The Comcast volunteers delivered a comprehensive pipeline of upcoming grant opportunities and shared a tailored approach to research and prospecting that LUCY could continue to use independently. They also developed recommendations to enhance LUCY’s grant application process, from tracking deadlines to tailoring applications for specific funders. “We’ve already seen a positive impact. LUCY was able to benefit from two recommendations, specifically the Jaws Foundation and Leveling the Playing Field, which yielded a new community partnership and access to gently used sporting equipment available to the youth year-round,” stated Kate. With new funding opportunities and enhanced grant strategies, LUCY will better support Camden’s youth and strengthen its community for years to come.
Volunteer Takeaways
The time Jeremy and Lisa spent volunteering with LUCY Outreach was as impactful for them as it was for the nonprofit. Jeremy shared, “I am very grateful for the opportunity to directly impact an organization and use skills I don’t typically tap into every day. Seeing the tangible results of our work for such a deserving organization was incredibly meaningful.”
Lisa echoed this sentiment, sharing how enriching the experience was: “Being part of this program allowed me to add more diverse and philanthropic projects and experiences to my resume. I got to explore different sides of the business, such as research, which boosted my capabilities and knowledge.”
Another incredible accomplishment for the volunteers was when LUCY Outreach connected with two donors for interviews, thanks to the list of recommendations Jeremy and Lisa had compiled. “Seeing the immediate impact of our work was so rewarding. It made every hour we put in worth it,” Jeremy stated enthusiastically.
For Lisa, the experience also deepened her appreciation for volunteering: “I would highly recommend these skills-based volunteer programs. They’re an amazing way to grow professionally, give back, and challenge yourself to step up and make a difference.”
A Lasting Impact
Jeremy and Lisa’s passion for giving back reminds us all that volunteering is more than just giving time. It’s about building stronger communities, sparking transformative growth, and creating ripples of positive change long after the project ends. Through Common Impact’s skills-based volunteering program and Comcast’s commitment to empowering its employees to make a difference, LUCY Outreach gained critical tools and connections to sustain its expanded operations.
LUCY Outreach has long been a pillar of strength in the Camden community, making an extraordinary impact through its tailored programs and deep understanding of local needs. This skills-based volunteering engagement wasn’t about reinventing the wheel but about supporting and amplifying the incredible work LUCY is already doing. It’s a testament of how important it is for individuals and companies to find their role in uplifting nonprofits—champions like LUCY—who are experts at addressing community needs and creating lasting change.
Ready to learn more about skills-based volunteering? Reach out.
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