The Children’s Services Council of Leon County (CSC Leon) is releasing its intent to award funding to organizations selected through the Small Investments for Program Success (SIPS) initiative. These funds will help strengthen the capacity of local nonprofits to serve children, youth, and families in Kindergarten Readiness and Youth Mental Health. Following an application review, organizations that scored 80% or above on their proposals have been selected for funding. This announcement is an intent to award, pending internal budget request audits, with service delivery expected to begin in July 2025.
SIPS 1.0: Strengthening Foundations
SIPS 1.0 provides up to $15,000 to nonprofits seeking to build their foundation. These funds support essential infrastructure and program development. The following organizations are receiving funding under SIPS 1.0:
- Girls on the Run of the Panhandle: Building youth mental health through physical activity, fostering emotional resilience, self-esteem, and life skills for girls aged 8-13.
- She Academy, Inc.: Supporting youth mental health by empowering young girls through mentorship and wellness programs that build self-esteem and emotional resilience.
- Domestic Violence Coordinating Council: Addressing youth mental health by offering teen dating violence prevention education to high school students, teaching them to form healthy relationships.
- FWPC Community Development Corporation: Promoting Kindergarten Readiness through the Shoes4School initiative, ensuring children in low-income families are prepared for school by providing shoes.
SIPS 2.0: Scaling Impact
SIPS 2.0 supports organizations that have established programs and are ready to scale. These applicants are receiving up to $25,000 to transition from outputs to measurable outcomes, with enhanced data collection, financial oversight, and program evaluation. The following organizations are receiving funding under SIPS 2.0:
- ADDUS INCORPORATED: Providing diagnostic ultrasounds, health education, and case management to improve maternal and infant health, addressing disparities in Kindergarten Readiness.
- The Achieve Academy: Enhancing youth mental health by providing academic and emotional support for students facing challenges, helping them build resilience and succeed.
- S.I.S.T.E.R.S Mentoring S.I.S.T.E.R.S Corporation: Empowering young girls through mentoring and leadership development, focusing on youth mental health, resilience, and emotional strength.
- Divine Revelations Ministries, Inc.: Offering anger management and recovery programs to build youth mental health by helping youth develop emotional wellness and resilience.
- Dream Builders Greatness Center, Inc.: Focused on Kindergarten Readiness, providing educational enrichment and wellness support to children aged 5-12, helping families overcome barriers to academic success.
Why SIPS Matters
The SIPS initiative is about more than just providing financial support—it’s an investment in the future of these organizations. By receiving training, coaching, and structured support, awardees will be equipped with the tools they need to strengthen financial management, program evaluation, and operational sustainability. This capacity-building framework ensures that these organizations are set up for long-term success and can continue making a meaningful impact in our community.
CSC Leon received 15 applications. One was deemed ineligible. The remaining fourteen applications were evaluated by members of the CSC Leon Governing Council to create an average score across evaluators. The scores and ranking by each application are available here. Note, this intent to award is not the final funding award, but rather an announcement of the selected entities, pending internal budget request audits. The organizations listed above are now in the process of contract execution, with service delivery expected to commence in July 2025. Organizations not selected for funding will have the opportunity to receive personalized technical assistance and group support. This assistance will help them understand the strengths and opportunities within their applications, enabling them to strengthen their capacity for future funding cycles.
The intent to award is not the final funding decision, but rather an announcement of the selected entities, pending internal budget request audits. The organizations listed above are now in the process of contract execution, with service delivery expected to commence in July 2025. Organizations not selected for funding will have the opportunity to receive personalized technical assistance and group support. This assistance will help them understand the strengths and opportunities within their applications, enabling them to strengthen their capacity for future funding cycles.
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