The Transition Academy Honored with Kauffman Foundation Capacity Building Grant
The Transition Academy is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded a Capacity Building Grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. This honor marks a significant step forward for our organization as we work to empower youth with disabilities and reimagine inclusive education.
Capacity-building grants are unique in their focus on strengthening an organization’s internal infrastructure, ensuring sustainability and long-term impact. The Transition Academy’s CEO and founder Kim Riley says this grant will enhance our organization’s ability to innovate, expand our reach, and deepen our impact.
(Photographed left to right: Tess Koppelman (PR/Comms, The Transition Academy), Trese Booze (Senior, Director, Kauffman Foundation), Kim Riley (Founder/CEO, The Transition Academy.)
“For far too long, families with disabled youth have felt abandoned after high school graduation, unsure of where to turn. Our families tell us how valuable our services are in filling that gap,” Riley said. “This grant allows us to expand our reach and grow to meet the needs of even more families in our community. We’re so grateful to the Kauffman Foundation for believing in our mission and supporting our efforts to build a more inclusive future.”
Dr. DeAngela Burns Wallace, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation, said the vision behind this initiative is a focus on sustainability and enhancing organizational leadership infrastructure, ensuring organizations like ours will thrive as we work to support under-resourced communities.
“We’re honored to support organizations that are actively breaking down barriers to opportunity,” Wallace said. “Our Capacity Building Grants aim to strengthen the impact and reach of nonprofits in our communities, particularly in areas that drive career growth, college access, and entrepreneurship.”
The Transition Academy is deeply grateful for this incredible opportunity. This funding will expand our ability to serve youth with disabilities and contribute to building up the educational resources available in our community as we strive for equity, inclusion, and economic justice for our young people.
Thank you to the Kauffman Foundation for believing in our mission and for investing in the sustainability of organizations like ours. This partnership represents an exciting new chapter of growth and opportunity, and we can’t wait to share with you everything we can accomplish because of it.