In this toolkit, we profile 12 nonprofits with potential to achieve high impact. These nonprofit organizations were vetted by our staff and organizational partners for evidence of positive impact and fidelity with evidence-proven interventions. They work in the U.S. and internationally to improve child and maternal health, educational outcomes, workforce readiness, housing stability, and community safety.
Many create positive impacts in more than one area. For example, Food 4 Education improves health and educational attainment for children while also supporting communities through well-paying jobs. West Side Recovery repairs homes for residents of neighborhoods disproportionately affected by environmental disasters, and advocates for policy change to improve disaster preparedness.
Below, you’ll find a list of the organizations profiled with take-away lessons learned, as well as links to other nonprofits we’ve profiled in recent years that are performing related work. We encourage you to apply the take-away lessons when analyzing these and other nonprofit organizations in the communities and issue areas where you aim to create greater social impact.
Organization
What they do
Lessons learned
More Ways to Help
Close the achievement gap with frequent, small group math tutoring
Small group, intensive tutoring improves student performance in underperforming schools
Prepare students for lucrative careers in the trades while addressing blight
Look for initiatives that can create multiple outcomes at once, like preparing students for the workforce and improving local housing stock
Prevent violence through a public health approach
Outreach workers from the communities they serve can play a key role in preventing violence and changing norms as trusted messengers.
Equip students to tackle real-world environmental challenges
Project-based environmental learning helps the planet and increases environmental literacy
Address chronic malnutrition through a smarter school meal program
Innovating on a proven model, like school feeding programs, can improve that model’s reach and effectiveness
Reduce homelessness by connecting individuals with affordable vacant rentals
Nonprofit tech innovations can build the capacity of nonprofit and government service providers, like enabling them to connect more clients to affordable housing
Prevent recidivism and homelessness by connecting those formerly incarcerated with stable housing
Community housing solutions connect at-risk people with housing and strengthen their community ties, preventing negative outcomes
Prevent maternal and child deaths by improving local healthcare and women’s financial status
Improving people’s financial status allows them to access lifesaving healthcare, improving health outcomes
Strengthen communities by building affordable housing for essential workers
Foundations can use program related investments to fund projects like the construction of affordable housing
Safeguard the livelihoods and food sources of residents by protecting island ecosystems
Ensuring environmental preservation projects benefit local residents strengthens their efficacy and long-term results
Ensure aid reaches those who need it most through secure, practical biometric tools
Funding organizations working to build the capacity of other nonprofits can amplify your impact
Accelerate communities’ recovery from natural disasters and improve disaster resilience
Combining direct services with policy advocacy strengthens communities in the short-term and long-term