Pillars of Change
Citizens Development Fund focuses on four distinct pillars of change
EDUCATION – HEALTHY LIVING – FAMILY –COMMUNITY
It is our belief each pillar must have a firm foundation, adequate support and access to opportunity for growth to happen. We accomplish this with quality programs rooted in best, promising practices, data and research and targeted services as listed below:
HEALTHY LIVING
Get Fit, Go Far Program (G2P)
uses a positive youth development approach integrated with mentorship, life skills training centered on social and emotional learning (SEL) and social supports where track and field, softball and fencing are our platforms for change. G2P operates year round serving over 300 underserved, school age youth in Orange and Polk counties.
We collaborate with our partners, Next Level Experience and Winter Garden Fencing to offer our youth a top tier athletic experience. We assist each family with social supports (as needed) in a discreet and confidential manner either directly or through referral to one of our trusted network of service providers.
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Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
provides FREE, NUTRITOUS meals to KIDS and TEENS up to age 18 including breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner. Meals vary at each meal site. SFSP is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and regulated by the Florida Department of Agriculture. CDF is an approved sponsor committed to ensuring no child goes hungry in the summer months. We successfully served over 150 youth in Holden Heights and Rosemont in the summer of 2021.
If your organization, apartment complex or church host a summer camp become a program site. We welcome the chance to serve and partner with you.
EDUCATION
Over half of all nonprofits fail or stall within the first few years due to lack of leadership, professional development, planning and investment in talent.
30% of nonprofits fail to exist after 10 years.
Without a business mentality, many new or newer charities are doomed to fail in short order. A good heart and a willingness to help is not enough to bring a new charity to fruition.
CDFWORKS
CDF Works offers a fellowship for emerging nonprofits and rising nonprofit professionals to learn the core essentials of the industry. We provide a 3 month boot camp or 6 month edu-series taught by experts. Topics include but are not limited to the ABC’s of nonprofit management, grant readiness, grant writing, best practice, leading program models, making the ask, sponsorship, community hot topics and much more.
Members benefit from weekly grant alerts, monthly newsletters and exclusive monthly group coaching/ empowerment sessions. Membership fees are based on a sliding scale measured by field experience and agency budget and size. Limited scholarships are available. For more information on membership rates, contact info@cdfworks.org.
COMMUNITY & FAMILY
BROTHERS ON THE MOVE
SISTERS ON THE RISE
This social intervention program operates in 6 and 12-week sessions specifically designed for disadvantaged male youth ages 11 to 18. Brothers on the Move is offered as a push in program for schools, youth groups and as a stand alone. The program integrates the arts, life skills and behavioral modification techniques pulling lessons from promising practices recognized by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the US Department of Education and youth development strategies. The design specifically tackles the major factors and barriers to success in school and life unique to adolescent males.
This social intervention program operates in 6 and 12-week sessions designed specifically for disadvantaged female youth ages 11 to 18. Sisters on the Rise is offered as a push in program for schools, youth groups and as a stand alone. The program integrates the arts, life skills and behavioral modification techniques pulling lessons from promising practices recognized by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the US Department of Education and youth development strategies. The design specifically tackles the major factors and barriers to success in school and life unique to adolescent females.