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Program Implementation

Tips to Implementation:

Below are a few suggestions for implementing an AFI project in your city.

  • Determine a Target Population: Identify who you want to serve by learning more about what asset-building needs exist in your area. Once you have established your target population, assess its needs and strengths.
  • Set Goals/Objectives: Reflect on the findings from your target population assessment and outline a goal or goals to create a broad vision. Also, setting objectives will be an important step as you consider major results your project will strive to achieve for meeting its goals.
  • Develop Training and Support for Project Participants: Think about how you will train project participants to become financially literate (i.e., learn how to develop a budget and savings plan) and prepare for their asset purchase, as well as what other support services you will offer.
  • Create a Marketing and Recruitment Plan: Now that you know who the project will serve and what it will provide, develop strategies to reach the target community with information about the potential of IDAs to help them and change people's lives.

Keys to Success:

Below are some important guidelines for organizations that are considering starting an AFI project.

  • Assessing Organizational Capacity: Determine whether your organization has the experience, commitment, and staff resources to successfully manage an AFI project.
  • Forming Partnerships: Explore opportunities for using partnership arrangements to expand your organization's abilities and leverage other resources so AFI participants will be more likely to succeed. Also, such partnerships and collaborations might make the project more cost effective.
  • Forming Networks: Examine opportunities for forming a network for your AFI project. An AFI network is a program management model in which the grantee organization works with multiple subgrantees or service sites to offer IDAs across a wider geographic region.
  • Developing an Implementation Plan: Map out your ideas on a timeline so you can plan what resources and activities will be needed at points throughout the project. This timeline also will help you track successes and challenges.