Shared Aspirations: Who & What

The statistics are troubling: 67 percent of children nationwide and more than 80 percent of those from asset-limited families are not proficient readers by the end of third grade. Research shows that when children fail to read on grade level by the end of third grade, they are more likely to drop out of high school and face an array of long-term negative consequences. This trajectory undermines efforts to end intergenerational poverty, close the achievement gap, and reduce high school dropout rates.

Launched in May 2010, the nationwide Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is a collaborative effort by foundations, nonprofit partners, business leaders, government agencies, states, and communities to ensure that more children succeed in school and graduate prepared for college, a career, and active citizenship. The Campaign focuses on an important predictor of school success and high school graduation — the ability to read at grade level by the end of third grade.

Across the Suncoast region—in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties—nonprofits, school districts, community organizations, agencies, and individuals are doing meaningful work at the local level. While there will be unique approaches to tackle the needs and challenges of each county, there is much to learn and share together.

The Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading strengthens the movement through a collaborative approach between all four counties, with each area contributing in its own strategic and creative ways.

Lead Partners:

  • Charlotte County – United Way of Charlotte County
  • DeSoto County – United Way Suncoast
  • Manatee County – United Way Suncoast
  • Sarasota County – Community Foundation of Sarasota County

The Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is grateful for the many ways these partners, The Patterson Foundation, and countless others contribute to strengthening people, organizations, and community to help children reach their potential, now and in the future.


OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPACT

The Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading capitalizes on methods to refocus efforts toward lasting impact.

(Access the PDF file of the entire “Opportunities for Impact” section to download it. Or, to share an individual icon and its text, click on the icon to pull up its JPG and then right-click to save.)

CHANGE HAPPENS

Finding ways for people to engage and create their desired future.

Scarcity

Abundance

Expanding a narrow scope of thinking to a broad view of the collective resources from multiple sectors

Issues

Aspirations

Shifting the focus from problems, challenges, and barriers to a shared vision and new possibilities


Enabling

Engaging

Rather than taking actions that perpetuate problems, creating opportunities that change realities

Silos

Systems

Rather than acting in isolation, exploring, discovering, and working together in a shared ecosystem


Outputs

Outcomes

Rather than focusing on short-term actions, optimizing efforts toward long-term impact


INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS

Engaging all stakeholders — CEO/ED, board, staff, donors, and volunteers. When we understand the “Why,” we embrace the “How” and the “What.”

CEO/ED

Board

Staff

Donors

Volunteers


EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS

Working together with people, businesses, nonprofits, government, and the media to rethink obstacles and explore solutions.

People

Business

Nonprofits

Government

Media


STRENGTHENING PEOPLE, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITIES

Rather than arriving with the answer, the suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading believes that people, organizations, and communities are the best architects for their own future. The Campaign collaborates with these groups to strengthen efforts toward achieving shared aspirations.

(Download the one-page PDF file of the entire “Strengthening People, Organizations, and Communities” section. To share an individual icon and its text, click on the icon to pull up its JPG and then right-click to save.)

People

Guided by individual values, experiences, and expertise, people engage in the world beyond themselves to create positives.

Organizations

Organizations are collectives — each with a mission focus to build a vibrant society.

Communities

Through the collaborative efforts of people, businesses, nonprofits, government, and the media, we can achieve greater impact toward community thrivability.
Copyright © 2023 Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. All Rights Reserved.