Rocket Science, is the strategic grantmaking partner for Youth Futures Foundation, setup in 2019 with £90m endowment from the Reclaim Fund to improve employment outcomes for young people from marginalised backgrounds. We designed their first grant programme in 2020 and launched in the Covid pandemic. We have now co-designed, co-delivered and supported grant management functions for the following funding pillars:
- Development & Impact Grants an evaluation focussed programme identifying ‘what works’ to support young people from marginalised backgrounds into secure, good quality jobs;
- Infrastructure grants to organisations demonstrating how they help young people who face intersectional barriers move towards and into work, through equipping the organisations in their networks with the knowledge, skills, and connections to provide world-class employment support and training;
- and the Connected Futures Fund to support young people to get good jobs through pioneering local partnerships.
We have also supported the client as an extension of their existing team to support the review and assessment of applications for the Building Futures programme, and Evidence into Action programme.
Rocket Science and the Foundation ensured evaluation and learning was embedded throughout the grant giving process in several ways, including:
- Youth Futures Foundation working directly with grantees to ensure they are evaluation ready.
- Delivering a meaningful impact report, which can be found here.
- Shared learning, including more specificity with expectations and criteria.
- Supporting 4,081 organisations through 20 Infrastructure grants totalling £3.5m
- Supporting young people facing disadvantage to land good jobs through the £6m Connected Futures Fund by pioneering local partnerships, joining up services at a local level so that young people furthest from the job market receive consistent high-quality support.
“I just wanted to thank you for all your hard work, effort and commitment in supporting us to launch our first grant making programmes. A particular note of thank to Michael, who has delivered exceptional services to Youth Futures, it’s been a real joy working with him.” Matthew Pool Interim Director of Programmes
“I just wanted to let you know that the support we have been receiving via Rocket Science for Blackbaud has been brilliant. Michael Theodorou always comes back to me promptly and always offers great assistance and in a timely manner. Great customer experience and always deals with any issues we encounter professionally whilst explaining everything clearly. Super happy to have them onboard.” Michael Duncombe, Relationship Manager.