Our Expertise

Program Design

No one ever wants to reinvent the wheel. Yet each day presents us with opportunities to improve. The clients of nonprofit organizations and public sector agencies deserve high quality, affordable services. Our firm's longevity, diverse client base, and talented consultants create a rich environment to explore the fit and feasibility of program and service innovations. Our design projects range from creating new programs using the best national models to helping organizations tweak what already works to improve client outcomes and reduce costs.

Success Story: Casa Otoñal / Easter Seals Goodwill Industries - New Haven

"Casa Otoñal has worked with HWF for several years because of their superior planning and grant writing skills and their knowledge of what is happening in the community. In the case of our partnership with Easter Seals, however, it was HWF's faith in the project (which obviously goes way above and beyond the scope of services we paid for) that proved invaluable by giving me confidence when I had doubts about our ability to pull it off."

- Patricia McCann-Vissepó, Executive Director, Casa Otoñal

"The team at HWF is highly skilled, keenly aware of the needs of our community, and always well informed on best practices for addressing issues on a neighborhood, city-wide and regional basis. They continue to be some of the most effective "bridge builders" in our community."

- Joseph Parente, Vice President for Programs, Easter Seals Goodwill Industries - New Haven

Easter Seals Goodwill Industries of New Haven (ESGI), which works to enhance the quality of life for people with special needs, sought to invest revenues from its retail stores in high-impact community programs. Casa Otoñal (Casa), a multi-service organization focused on strengthening New Haven's Latino community, needed to develop programs for its new building, Casa Latina. HWF, which had previously worked with ESGI and Casa individually, immediately identified the potential for a mutually beneficial relationship.

HWF facilitated a partnership in which ESGI funds and operates an after-school and summer program at Casa Latina, with oversight and support from Casa Otoñal. After connecting ESGI and Casa leadership to agree on a direction, HWF assisted with fund development, budget planning, and program design - including student focus groups and meetings with the principals of neighborhood schools. The Casa Latina after-school and summer program, which serves youth ages 11-14, opened in 2007. The program fills a need for high-quality, after-school and summer activities for young people in New Haven's low-income Hill Neighborhood. It offers academic enrichment activities, career exploration and entrepreneurial education, community service opportunities, arts activities, and computer training.