Taproot Fellows See NYC Service Grants In Action

Late last year, my fellow Taproot fellows and I went on a quest around New York City to discover and photograph nonprofit logos and marketing materials created via Taproot’s Service Grant Programs. Our group first trekked out to Long Island City to meet with the Long Island City Partnership , then backtracked across the East River and up to East Harlem to the Union Settlement Association. Finally, we landed in Midtown to visit the offices of the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding. Although involved in vastly divergent service areas, these nonprofits do have one thing in common: Taproot’s logo development service grant has helped each of them to better communicate their mission, and vision to the constituents whom they serve.

Discovering the impact

At each location, we immediately noticed each nonprofit’s new logo proudly displayed outside the building or in their front lobby. I was particularly struck by the warm welcome we received at each office we visited and the willingness of the staff to take time out of their day to speak with us. We got the inside scoop on the logo development projects and the positive impact they have had on the organizations: “We are more visible in the community.” “We have raised our level of professionalism in the public’s eyes.” “We are more unified internally so that we can better present ourselves to the people we serve.” These were just some of the impact statements we heard during our visits.

Personally, it was exciting and enlightening to visit parts of the city that were previously unknown to me. And, seeing the great work in which these nonprofits are involved was particularly inspiring. Like many nonprofits, these organizations are doing the hard work necessary to make a positive impact in their communities; to bring new businesses into the community and grow the local economy; to provide opportunities and services to children and the elderly; and to ensure that diversity is cultivated and respected in the classroom, the office, and the emergency room. I look forward to meeting many other nonprofits with whom Taproot has had the privilege to work.

Julie Cornell is a Product Development Fellow here at the Taproot Foundation.

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