The Flour Bluff ISD Education Foundation recently achieved a milestone, becoming the first non-profit organization ever accepted into the Doing Business With Giants (DBWG) program in its four-year history. The Foundation didn’t just participate. They walked away with a $5,000 grant to benefit students in the OCEANS program.
The Doing Business With Giants program is a competitive, application-based initiative hosted by Texas A&M University Corpus Christi (TAMUCC) and held at the Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center right here in the Coastal Bend. Acceptance into the program is not guaranteed. Organizations must apply and be selected to participate. This year marked the program’s fourth year running, and for the first time, a non-profit was among those accepted. That non-profit was the Flour Bluff ISD Education Foundation.
Once accepted, participants commit to six sessions held every two weeks, with each session running two hours. Attendance at all six sessions is required just to be considered for the grant, and for good reason. Each session is packed with valuable content. Local business leaders and speakers cover topics ranging from business modeling, budgeting, and hiring and HR practices, to real-world stories of successes and lessons learned. Local vendors were also present at each session, giving participants the chance to network, collect business information, and even schedule follow-up meetings. These connections can make a real difference for any organization.
Two weeks after the final required session, an optional two-hour elective session is held. This session focuses specifically on the grant application process and what the DBWG program is looking for from applicants. Participants then receive the grant application via email and have two weeks to complete and submit it. The grant itself is thorough, covering the organization’s mission statement, goals, budget, how funds will be tracked and spent, community impact, IRS status, board membership, and a detailed explanation of what is being requested. The maximum award available was $20,000, and the Foundation submitted a request for the full amount.
Twelve days after submissions were due, participants gathered back at the Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center for an awards ceremony where grant recipients were announced. The Flour Bluff ISD Education Foundation was awarded $5,000, consistent with what most recipients received this year.
Throughout the process, the Foundation worked closely with Larisa Ford and Mr. Dial to make sure the grant request was focused on what the OCEANS program truly needs and where the funds would make the greatest impact. That collaborative approach will continue as the Foundation works to put every dollar of the grant to work in the most meaningful way possible for students.
This achievement is a testament to the dedication of everyone involved with the Flour Bluff ISD Education Foundation and their commitment to finding creative, resourceful ways to support Flour Bluff students.
Congratulations to all who made this possible!
