Kaleidoscope

?? Trying to create a standout scholarship application? Here are 3 tips to help attract the right candidates: 1?? Focus on your unique value – Highlight what sets your scholarship apart, from mentorship to career opportunities. 2?? Simplify the process – A streamlined, accessible application means more quality candidates. 3?? Be clear from the start – Communicate expectations, guidelines, and deadlines early to avoid confusion. Follow these steps from our Senior Customer Success Manager, Brooke, to help build a scholarship that stands out!

We had a fantastic office media day, and it was even more special as we captured all the new faces added to the team these last two months! ?? Excited to have this team on board as we continue to grow and innovate together.

Looking for ways to make your scholarship program more inclusive? Here are some top ways to create an affirmative and inclusive space in your application. 1?? Rethink gender identification options. It’s a small change to your application, but utilizing open text for self-identification as a choice can make everyone feel seen and included in your application process! 2?? Prioritize essential information. No one likes being overloaded with questions. Consider being transparent on which information will be used or not in the selection process and placing demographic questions further down in the application. This can help applicants feel more comfortable and valued throughout the application. 3?? Include opportunities to share financial situations. Unique circumstances create unique applicants. When you request FASFA information, it is essential to give applicants an opportunity to elaborate on their financial situation. Financial need may not be reflected appropriately if some applicants face obstacles in completing the FAFSA and the Student Aid Index might not solely capture the financial challenges of applicants. One of our Customer Success Managers, Megan, provides insight into how these changes can create an inclusive space for your applicants!

New Paint. ?? New Space. ?? New opportunities. ?? Last week we started in our new space. Yesterday we made it official with a fresh paint job. Swing by and check it out next time you are in the North Loop!

It's officially been one week in our new North Loop space and it's been incredible so far! The new space is more than just an office – it's the start of a new beginning for the our team that will provide us the opportunity to grow even bigger, and help us create an environment that inspires and fosters collaboration. Here's to the next chapter! ?? ?? ??

We are growing at Kaleidoscope! There are several new open positions on the Sales, Marketing and Account Management teams that will all play a critical role in driving continued growth and shaping the culture of our team. Open Roles: ? Business Development Rep ? Account Executive ? Marketing Manager ? Enterprise Account Manager If you or someone you know would be a good fit for any of the roles and wants to dig in at a mid-stage start up company, please feel free to shoot me a DM, or check out a link to all of the job postings in the comments below ?

An amazing way to wrap up #PrideMonth in our Kaleidoscope office! We had the pleasure of hearing from Aaron Zimmerman, MA, CFRE the Executive Director at PFund Foundation on the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusivity in scholarship. One of the key takeaways for our team is the importance of an unbiased, diverse review board and selection committee. We'll share more takeaways soon in an effort to help all scholarship providers ensure they are not simply being "non-exclusive" but are making a real effort to be actively "inclusive". Thank you Aaron for all of the knowledge today! We're better off because of you and your work.

So much admiration for my friend Jason Von Bank, who took over as CEO at Kaleidoscope about a year ago. We worked together and have strengthened our relationship, which includes me joining Kaleidoscope’s board. Honored that he would join me on our YMCA of the North podcast to discuss a range of topics from his humble upbringing, to his remarkable career and our aspirations for Kaleidoscope! Check out the clip of him talking about what drew him to Kaleidoscope, then listen to our entire conversation on all podcast platforms. https://lnkd.in/gxeDKv8H https://lnkd.in/g-2-5inQ #ymcaofthenorth #conversationsonrace #Kaleidoscope #jasonvonbank?

Here are some of the top ways for you to keep your donors engaged and continuing to support your scholarship and grant programs year over year 1?? Send Donor Impact Reports This will help donors understand the difference their dollars make - think, number of scholarships awarded, schools attended, dollars disbursed, demographic information, and even further accolades these scholars have received after attending college. 2?? Send Donor Thank You Notes This one seems almost too simple, but the impact that a thank you note from you or even better, one of your award recipients, makes on donors can be profound. 3?? Produce Student Success Stories Taking the time to highlight a couple of students who have received awards can help donors visualize where their dollars are going by hearing directly from the scholars they are supporting. These stories can be as simple as a selfie video from a scholar with templated questions. No need to have a fancy video producer in order to make this work! One of our Account Managers, Audrey, gives more details on how these strategies can be impactful in retaining donors!

We're excited to announce our newest partnership with The SkillPointe Foundation! Together, we’re empowering donors to make a real difference by investing in skilled labor education and workforce training. ?? Why This Matters 70% of the 9.5 million job openings in the U.S. don’t require a four-year degree, and approximately 80% of students attending a 2-year school drop out due to an unexpected expense of less than $1,000. Our new partnership allows donors to create their own Signature Scholarship or contribute to The National SkillPointe Scholarship, to directly support individuals pursuing these high-demand careers. Join us in supporting the next generation of skilled workers and building a stronger workforce for America’s economy! Read the full release in the comments below.