\u201cWe\u2019re pleased to see the continuing interest in the grants program, and in 2023 we were excited to get nearly three times the applications we received in year one as more organizations have learned about the program,\u201d said Eileen Manners, head of claims for The General. \u201cWe\u2019re honored to support so many nonprofit organizations right here in the Nashville community, doing such positive and meaningful work in the place we call home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A key objective of The General Community Grants Program is not only to provide financial support, but to foster authentic partnerships with the organizations. \u201cThese organizations are community partners, and by listening, learning and working together, we strive to understand the needs they\u2019re addressing and the effective ways they\u2019ve learned to respond to them,\u201d said Manners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last year during the first year of the program, giving priorities were identified, designed to support initiatives that close equity gaps and create opportunities \u2013 and ultimately better communities \u2013 that benefit all. Those giving priorities include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Academic Achievement and Education<\/i>: Programs and services that advance educational equity in learning and academic achievement through access to high-quality education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Healthy Youth Development<\/i>: Programs and services that support the ongoing needs of young people from birth through 25, including social-emotional learning and mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Economic Opportunity:<\/i> Programs and services that increase employment access and opportunity, such as job training and workforce readiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Community Resiliency<\/i>: Programs and services that remove barriers to short and\/or long-term needs of individuals and families such as food, housing, transportation and daycare needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The General Community Grants Program will continue to center on using trust-based approaches in its philanthropic efforts in Nashville. This is a philosophy that is shared by American Family Insurance Group in its community investment partnerships through the American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation. This means funds are provided via unrestricted, general operating support rather than having to earmark funds for specific programs. Trust-based philanthropy also doesn\u2019t require traditional reporting requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This successful approach promotes equity and solid relationships between the partners, as well as demonstrating confidence in the organizations\u2019 commitment to their own objectives and priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur trust-based practices communicate to our partners that we understand they are closest to the work and are in the best position to most effectively use the funds to achieve measurable and impactful results,\u201d said Manners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One organization supported by The General\u2019s Community Grants Program for a multi-year commitment is Persist Nashville, an organization dedicated to creating community and doubling the rate of college graduates from Nashville. Persist was founded in 2019 in response to the low rate of Nashville high school students pursuing post-secondary education. Since 2019, Persist has coached more than 3,500 students and they currently coach students across 109 campuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Persist uses three main pillars when empowering students: coaching, community and care. They integrate text-based coaching with in-person programming, delivered by coaches who have years of professional expertise in their respective fields. The text-based approach was designed to give students an easy and reliable way to communicate with their coaches using their cell phones while at school. Persist also facilitates community-building opportunities for students to connect with each other through on-campus study groups and events. The third pillar, care, is a commitment to the well-being of their students. This is demonstrated through their Persist Fund, an emergency resource fund created to support students facing unforeseen financial burdens related to their education, offering up to $200 to offset expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere is a clear need for these types of programs,\u201d said Persist Chief of Staff Jennifer Hill. \u201cAbout 27% of Metro Nashville Public School graduates go on to earn a degree in six years, but in Davidson County, where we\u2019re located, only about 48% of adults have a college degree. It\u2019s very important that we provide these services to connect students to their post-secondary aspirations, who may not have people in their circle who understand the process.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n About 65% of Persist\u2019s students are first-generation college students, who may face more barriers when pursuing a degree. Persist strategically pairs coaches of a similar background with these students to help guide them, demystifying the college process and preventing roadblocks from becoming detrimental to their success. Many Persist graduates return to contribute as mentors, providing support and empowerment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe had a student who attended Colorado State that returned and became a board member for us,\u201d said Director of Communications Melissa Watkins. \u201cWe love when students mentor other students. They want to help other students feel good about their journey and this only makes our community stronger. We also love hearing feedback from our students and interns because it helps us serve them more effectively.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Persist plans to use the grants from The General to provide more opportunities for students to come together and build community, fostering a stronger sense of camaraderie among students who strive for similar success despite their challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are so grateful to The General for these unrestricted grants that allow us to continue assisting Nashville students,\u201d said Hill. \u201cWith their support, we\u2019re creating a better future for our city. Programs like The General\u2019s Community Grants Program help organizations like ours expand the work we are doing in our communities, allowing us to reach even more people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n More information about Persist Nashville and their mission can be found on their website<\/a><\/span>, and in the video below.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPrioritizing Trust <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
One Grant Recipient\u2019s Story: Persist Nashville
<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thegeneral.com\/going-places\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Persist-Nashville_2_2023.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n