Work Samples

Dare Mighty Things specializes in the creation of a variety of products and publications that support the implementation of social programs:

• Research reports and program models
• Business plans
• Prototypes and operational tools
• Training and technical assistance resources

Please explore these links to learn more about DMT’s work samples through this selection of exemplary products.

Research Reports and Program Models

Heroic Choices research report and program model (2002)

Prepared for the Todd Beamer Foundation, this is the first of a series of studies that resulted in the design and launch of a national program for traumatized children. The research involved extensive interviews with mentoring and resiliency experts, children and families involved in 9/11, and school officials. The program model includes high impact retreats and intensive mentoring for children who experienced trauma due to the attacks of 9/11 or other detrimental life events.

Victory Generation research report and program model (2000)

Prepared for the Black Ministerial Alliance in Boston, MA, this is the first in a series of studies that resulted in the successful launch and expansion of a faith-based after school program throughout Boston. The report provides a program model detailing operational protocols for key program elements. DMT conducted dozens of focus groups and interviews with city government leaders, educators, and clergy to inform the design of the model and the creation of a development plan.

DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative research report and program model (1997)

Prepared for the Richard DeVos Foundation, this was the first in a series of studies that resulted in the development of a national leadership training for emerging leaders of urban youth programs. This study included focus groups with urban youth leaders in several cities as well as extensive research into the best practices of exemplary not-for-profit leadership development programs. The program model details the organizational structure, operational protocols, and training curricula for the initiative and provides a detailed development plan.

GEO Trust research report and program model (1993)

Prepared for Prison Fellowship International, this research report details a social enterprise model designed to help ex-prisoners and their families develop micro enterprises. Research drew on the expertise of leaders in the field of international corrections, micro enterprise development, and faith-based correctional programs. Onsite research was completed in Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia. This report guided the successful launch of this international program.

APAC research report (1991)

Prepared for the Eckerd Foundation, this is the first in a series of studies that resulted in the international replication of an innovative prison program in Brazil. Dare Mighty Things convened a team of correctional experts to complete onsite research and to report on the effectiveness of the Brazilian model. Best practices contributing to the success of the program were identified and used as the basis for replicating the program in several other countries, including the United States.

MatchPoint research report and program model (1990)

Prepared for Prison Fellowship Ministries, this report is the first of a series of studies, operations manuals, and training tools designed to support a national mentoring program for juvenile offenders. The report includes extensive research of the foundational needs of juvenile offenders, critical program elements and best practices, and a faith-based, mentoring-driven program model.

National Mentor Training research report (1994)

Prepared for the National Mentoring Partnership, this research report provides an analysis of the mentoring industry and identifies mentor training as the linchpin for the movement to achieve desired scale and effectiveness. The research relied on dozens of focus groups with mentoring program leaders, mentors, and industry experts. This document reports specific recommendations regarding a national mentor training program and resulted in the publication of a national mentor curriculum.

Business Plans

HopeShare business plan (2002)

Prepared for the Salvation Army, this business plan provides market and industry analysis, product description, operations and marketing plans, and pro forma financials to support the launch of a national product line for churches serving high risk children. Research included dozens of site visits and expert interviews and was completed in partnership with national program staff and a team of experts convened by DMT. As a result, the enterprise was funded and launched successfully.

PK Passage business plan (2001)

Prepared for Promise Keepers, this business plan provided a detailed program model, operations plan and pro forma financials to guide the development and pilot testing of a high impact, national program for adolescent boys. Research included extensive interviews with national youth experts, event and mentoring experts, church leaders, and PK staff. As a result, the enterprise was funded and successfully pilot tested with 24,000 adolescent boys.

WorldChair business plan (2001)

Prepared for Feed the Children International, this business plan provides a detailed analysis of the market and industry for the production and distribution of affordable wheelchairs to children in Africa. On-the-ground research conducted in Kenya and with NGOs resulted in the development of a working prototype, securing of production facilities, and initial sales orders. The plan includes detailed operational, facility, product development and marketing plans, as well as a set of complete set of pro forma financials.

Angel Tree business plan (2000)

Prepared for Prison Fellowship Ministries, this document details a plan for reengineering a flagship program for the organization, including specific findings derived from focus groups and interviews conducted with prison chaplains, church leaders, and program staff from around the country. Consequently, the plan was funded and successfully executed, resulting in a surge in program growth to 600,000 children the following year.

InnerChange business plan (1991)

Prepared for Prison Fellowship Ministries, this business plan provides a detailed market and industry analysis for the development of a faith-based prison, and provides a specific plan for developing the enterprise in Texas. DMT convened and led a team of correctional, constitutional, and marketing experts to complete onsite research in several locations and to finalize negotiations with Texas. As a result, the enterprise was funded and successfully launched.

Prototypes and Operations Materials

DULI national training program (2001)

On behalf of the Richard DeVos Foundation, DMT developed a national, twelve-month curriculum for urban youth leaders designed to produce a breakthrough in their leadership. Key components of the curriculum address five breakthrough skills and five core values taught through mentoring relationships, intensive retreats, and national conferences. As a result, the program is now active in twelve cities and has graduated thousands of urban youth leaders.

Innerchange training program (1997)

This product set was developed for Prison Fellowship Ministries. DMT led a team of experts in the development of all the program materials necessary to operate a faith-based pre-release prison and aftercare program for serious offenders. Key products included a video-driven prisoner and volunteer training program, operations manuals including standards and protocols, and complete life-skills curricula for prisoners in the program. As a result, graduates of the program recidivate at a rate of only eight percent.

Youth ChalleNGe Mentor/Mentee WorldView training curriculum (1993)

Developed for the National Guard Bureau, DMT created all operations, training, and marketing materials necessary to successfully implement the NG Youth ChalleNGe Post-Residential program. Key products included turn-key multi-media mentor training, video driven mentee training, operations manuals, online operational tools, and recruitment brochures. As a result, the program is now the second largest national mentoring program in the country.

Training and Technical Assistance Resources

National ChalleNGe Institute curriculum (2004 to the present; ongoing)

Developed for the National Guard Bureau in support of the Youth ChalleNGe Program, the institute necessitated the creation of an accredited course curriculum that includes more than 100 discrete course modules. This curriculum was designed to equip a variety of staff to work effectively with high risk youth. These modules address general areas including counseling, education, mentoring, job placement, and others. The entire curriculum is accredited by the International Association of Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

Compassion Capital Fund curriculum (2003 to the present; ongoing)

In serving as the National Resource Center (NRC) for the Compassion Capital Fund (CCF), DMT conducts training to support and equip CCF Demonstration Project grantees in their capacity-building tasks. The curriculum is marked by responsiveness and fluidity to enable the NRC to meet the constantly evolving needs of successive cohorts of grantees serving as intermediary organizations (IOs) to smaller faith and community-based organizations. Several methods are used to implement training, such as an electronic clearinghouse, online trainings, guidebooks, document wizards, conferences, and workshops Recurring topics include a three-phase orientation for new intermediary organizations, sustainability, semi-annual progress reporting guidance, outcome measurement, sub-award assessment, developing a sub-award plan and capturing stories of impact.

Compassion Capital Fund National Resource Center website (2003 to the present; ongoing)

Developed and maintained for the US Department of Health and Human Service’s Compassion Capital Fund, this website includes both public and private interfaces. The public site provides a summary of services and resources available to any organization providing program-specific services in their community. Current statistics account for about 10,000 unique visitors per month. The private side of the site is an online community specifically developed for the thirty-one intermediary organizations and the approximately 2,000 grassroots organizations that they work with. The site provides a wide array of services, which includes an e-clearinghouse - an electronic library containing materials related to organizational capacity building.

Compassion Capital Fund e-newsletter (2003 to the present; ongoing)

This bi-weekly electronic newsletter is created and distributed via email to assist program managers and human service providers increase their ability to develop programs, raise money, and understand a variety of other organizational issues. The e-newsletter currently has 4,000 subscribers. Approximately eight new individuals subscribe per day. The primary way that people learn about the free newsletter is through a subscription link on the public site. And secondary way is through a “forward to a colleague” link that functions as an electronic “word-of mouth.”

Compassion Capital Fund guidebooks (2003)

On behalf of the US Department of Health and Human Services in support of the Compassion Capital Fund, DMT developed a series of eight guidebooks designed to address critical needs among grantees in their role as intermediary organizations working with thousands of small faith- and community-based organizations. These resources address measuring outcomes, establishing partnerships, acquiring public grants, building multiple revenue sources, delivering training and technical assistance, designing sub-award programs, managing public grants, and identifying and promoting promising practices. DMT technical experts in each of these eight areas collaborated with CCF grantees in the research and development of these technical assistance products.

Youth ChalleNGe Program benchmarking series (2001 to the present; ongoing)

For the National Guard Bureau, DMT is leading a series of twelve benchmarking studies of the Youth ChalleNGe Program to unearth best practices in critical operational areas. So far, these studies have identified more than seventy-seven discrete best practices in areas including mentoring, job training and placement, GED preparation, life planning, leveraging resources, and others. More than a dozen program policy changes have been made as a result of these studies. Benchmarking studies are guided by a six month process that includes close collaboration with evaluators, onsite and offsite interviews and observation, and the convening of leading organizations in a benchmarking summit. Each study results in the output of white papers and best practices.

National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program website www.ngycp.org (2001 to the present; ongoing)

This website was designed and implemented by DMT on behalf of the National Guard Bureau. The public side of the site promotes visibility for the program while the private site, NCI Online, serves to increase communication and peer-to-peer learning through a customizable interface. Staff benefit from online resources and technical assistance as well as distance learning opportunities via the web. Additionally, DMT oversees the maintenance of eleven websites devoted to individual programs, a number that is expected to grow in 2005 to include a site for every program.

A MentorActive Approach to Reclaiming Youth at Risk (2000)

Developed by DMT and distributed by National Education Services, this multi-media, turn-key mentor training program is based on national research into the unique needs and learning styles of mentors who work with high risk youth. The story driven, audio and video based curriculum has been effectively used by tens of thousands of mentors nationwide.

Spiritual Access Survey (1997)

Developed by DMT in partnership with Straight Ahead Ministries and Prison Fellowship Ministries, this interactive CD is designed for both youth and adults to use in assessing the spiritual development of youth, identifying their spiritual needs, and providing strategies for parents and youth leaders to consider in facilitating spiritual growth.