Connections to Success
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Pathways to Success
Pathways to Success consists of life-long engagement that begins with a year-long commitment. One of the first steps is a Personal and Professional Development class. This experiential class provides in-depth job readiness training including cognitive skill building, soft skills training and other job related topics. Upon completion, each participant develops a life plan exploring the segments of employment, education, finances, housing, transportation, health & wellness, and family & friends. This life plan is then supported by a comprehensive set of ongoing services coordinating several job and social programs so that individuals and their families can address multiple barriers to self-sufficiency at once.
Dress for Success Midwest
The first program of Connections to Success, Dress for Success Midwest provides interview-appropriate clothing to low-income individuals preparing for the job market. Referrals are received from over 200 nonprofits throughout the region and receive a like-new business suit with all accessories.
Dress for Success Kansas City
Dress for Success Kansas provides interview-appropriate clothing to low-income women preparing for the job market. Referrals are received from over 200 nonprofits throughout the region and receive a like-new business suit with all accessories.
Where we work
Awards
Support KC 2014
Special Recognition in Nonprofit Leadership
Winning Women 2012
Regional Economic Development Award
Missouri Bar Association 2011
Liberty Bell Award
White House Office of Faith-Based Initiatives 2008
50 Success Stories in 50 States
U.S. Department of Labor 2004
Touching Lives and Communities
Commerce Bank - Wm. T. Kemper Foundation 1999
Community Service Award
Affiliations & memberships
AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals) 2010
Dress for Success Worldwide, New York 2010
National Practitioners Leadership Institute 2013
Community Health Charities 2014
Nonprofit Connect of Greater Kansas City 2014
External reviews
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Connections to Success is a nonprofit organization serving Kansas and Missouri with a vision to be the leader in empowering individuals in their transformation to economic stability. We aim to break down the systemic barriers low-income families face on the road to economic self-sufficiency. This is accomplished not just by helping individuals find employment, but also providing the resources and encouragement that help them sustain employment and earn a living wage – helping to break the generational cycle of poverty for themselves and their families.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Connections to Success provides a comprehensive network of services and support to help people living in poverty become economically self-sufficient. Since its inception, Connections to Success has continued to sculpt its unique evidence-based model of intervention, education, training and supports to better address societal issues associated with poverty, including addiction, homelessness, domestic violence and incarceration. This model, with lifelong mentoring at its core, delivers evidence-based results and impacts all areas of a person’s life.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The highly skilled and highly educated staff at Connections to Success have years of experience serving individuals coming from situations of poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, and incarceration. Many staff members are also graduates of CtS programming and, thus, uniquely equipped to engage participants by relating to them on a personal level. Our Board of Directors is comprised of business leaders, criminal justice professionals and community philanthropists committed to the growth and sustainability of the organization. Connections to Success is supported through individual donations, government grants, private foundations, and social enterprise revenues.
Connections to Success builds strong relationships in its communities by engaging existing organizations, agencies, churches, ministries and community centers. In order to create relationships, explore collaborative efforts and gain a better understanding of the area and its residents, we have secured productive relationships with over 100 local agencies in the various communities we serve.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Connections to Success has become the source of help for thousands of low-income people whose family resources are so scarce that there is literally nowhere else to turn during and after times of stress and strife. Since opening our doors, we have served nearly 25,000 people and created a new future for more than 75,000 children.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connections to Success
Board of directorsas of 08/17/2022
Michelle Moersch
Emerson
Term: 2022 -
Jeff Morris
World Wide Technology
Michelle Moersch
Emerson
Wendy Savlin
T-Mobile
Elizabeth Lawson
BJC Healthcare
Carla Smocks
Environmental Protection Agency
Robin Morgan
Rock of Ages Baptist Church
Poonnasa Corn
Edward Jones
Rosalina Syahriar
RSyahriar Integrated Coaching
Eric Madkins
Regions Bank
Madeline Franz
Kemper
Leslie Boe
Dysart Taylor Cotter McMonigle & Montemore P.C
Manuel Perez-Cosio
Bayer
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 08/17/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.