PMFO Sustainability Module (Office of Head Start)

Challenge:
Emerging from the upheaval of Covid, Head Start and Early Head Start (HS/EHS) programs faced ongoing uncertainty related to funding cycles, shifting federal priorities, and increasing community needs. Program leaders needed a clear, accessible way to understand sustainability – not just as “fundraising,” but as the broader organizational capacity to survive, adapt, and sustain positive outcomes over time.

NSC Approach:
NSC developed a comprehensive Sustainability Planning module for the Office of Head Start’s National Center on Program Management and Fiscal Operations (PMFO). Drawing on evidence-based research and years of field experience, we designed an on-demand webinar, tools, worksheets, and a trainer’s guide that framed sustainability as organizational resilience: the ability to thrive despite funding shifts and external pressures. The module integrated Head Start–specific examples and emphasized scenario planning, adaptive leadership, and long-term capacity building. 

Result:
The Sustainability Planning module has become PMFO’s most utilized professional development offering, equipping HS/EHS programs nationwide with practical tools for strengthening financial and organizational stability. PMFO’s leadership has repeatedly highlighted its strong uptake and relevance to current grantee needs, and the module was formally published as part of the Office of Head Start’s planning resources. It is now publicly available and widely used across Head Start communities.

The Care Center (Holyoke, MA)

Challenge:
The Care Center – an innovative program supporting young mothers in Holyoke, Massachusetts to achieve high school and college success – was poised for transformational growth but needed clarity around long-term sustainability. As new opportunities emerged (including the launch of a groundbreaking two-year college program for young mothers), the organization sought support to expand operations, strengthen systems, and prepare for increased visibility and demand.

NSC Approach:
NSC partnered with The Care Center to assess organizational capacity, examine funding structures, and identify the strategic conditions required for durable success. Our work supported leadership in articulating a long-term sustainability vision, aligning internal systems with planned program expansion, and communicating The Care Center’s impact in ways that resonated with funders and partners. This partnership complemented the bold programmatic work described in UMDI’s feature on The Care Center’s innovations, reframing success through a sustainability lens.

Result:
The Care Center has maintained its singular focus on improving outcomes for young parents and their children, with enhanced capacity to sustain its nationally recognized two-generation education model. The organization deepened its ability to articulate outcomes, strengthened leadership alignment around growth goals, and increased its readiness to secure and maintain diverse funding streams – positioning it to expand life-changing opportunities for young mothers and their families.

For additional detail, see our impact story about The Care Center. 

OAH Sustainability Center (Office of Adolescent Health, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)

Challenge:
The Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) sought to strengthen the long-term resilience of Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) grantee organizations nationwide. Programs needed support to build sustainable funding models, deepen community mobilization, and prepare for an uncertain policy environment. This required a coordinated, national capacity-building strategy that could meet grantees where they were and elevate sustainability as a core organizational competency.

NSC Approach:
As OAH’s National Provider for Community Mobilization and Sustainability Capacity Building Assistance, NSC designed and delivered a multi-year national strategy to strengthen grantee sustainability. Our work included:

• Designing original sustainability tools, guides, and training curricula;
• Delivering webinars, podcasts, and tailored technical assistance;
• Facilitating two national Communities of Practice (one on Sustainability, one on Community Mobilization);
• Hosting the national “Building a Bridge to the Future: Sustainability in Action” conference, bringing together approximately 160 leaders from over 75 organizations for intensive sustainability-focused training;
• Developing federal sustainability toolkits and five specialized webinars on sustainability planning, fundraising in challenging environments, participatory evaluation, and collaboration.

These efforts built the foundation for Accelerated Sustainability Planning™, NSC’s streamlined approach for helping organizations address urgent funding threats while strengthening long-term capacity. 

Result:
NSC’s national sustainability initiative significantly expanded the capacity of TPP grantees to navigate changing funding landscapes and maintain critical outcomes for youth. Feedback from OAH, participating organizations, and federal partners was exceptionally strong – our Sustainability Lab earned rave reviews, and the national conference was described by federal staff as “transformational.” Even after the federal program was discontinued, many grantees sought continued support from NSC, demonstrating the lasting value and credibility of our sustainability expertise.