STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE REVENUE MODEL

Children's Institute is a policy, advocacy, and research organization committed to strengthening early childhood education systems and improving outcomes for children in Oregon. In 2022, the organization launched a three-year strategic plan that included five imperatives grounded in its core values of honor, equity, learning, innovation, and connectedness. Children's Institute contracted a Capstone team to build out the fifth imperative: to establish a sustainable revenue model, inclusive of entrepreneurship opportunities, that advances the organization’s mission. The team prepared a literature review on social enterprise frameworks and a landscape analysis of early childhood education organizations that have incorporated a fee-for-service model. The team developed a comprehensive roadmap that integrates global insights from educational social enterprises, assesses organizational readiness, and identifies potential earned revenue models. The roadmap is intended to shape the organization’s revenue-generating model and guide its impact to ensure a sustainable and equitable future for the children and families whom it serves.