There is no one formula or answer to the sustainability challenge.

However, creating a written sustainability plan will provide a road map to guide your program's community partners as they work on sustainability efforts. The process of creating a written sustainability plan can also strengthen community partners' buy-in and understanding of the efforts needed to keep your program operating and improving. You can use the plan to market your program to potential investors, and as a guide for ongoing management of the program and its sustainability.

Use the worksheets listed below to start the process of creating a sustainability plan. Each worksheet will help you brainstorm around one element of sustainability. By downloading and saving these worksheets (which are Word documents), you can then cut and paste your answers into the last worksheet which is a template for a formal sustainability plan. Having a tangible document that describes your sustainability plan can help you and your community partners monitor progress on sustainability efforts.

Laying the Groundwork of Your Sustainability Plan

Your first step must address the foundation of your sustainability efforts: your program's vision. Once you have that in place, you can begin to build your sustainability efforts around this common vision.

Vision: Your vision is what unifies all of your program's sustainability efforts. Click here for the Vision worksheet.

Building Collaboration: Community partners each possess unique skills and resources to contribute to your program and to expand its base of support. Click here for the Building Collaboration worksheet.

Advocating for Support: Advocates for your program can be parents, business leaders, community-based organizations, public agency representatives and youth from your community who are willing to speak up and take action on behalf of your program. Click here for the Advocating for Support worksheet.

Finding Funding: Securing diversified funding streams, from public and private sources, will increase your program's sustainability. Click here for the Finding Funding worksheet.

TEMPLATE for A FORMAL SUSTAINABILITY PLAN: Documenting your sustainability efforts in a written plan allows you to circulate your plan to community partners, supporters and potential investors, as well as provide you with a tangible document to help you monitor progress on sustainability efforts. Click here for the Template worksheet.