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Executive Summary
Bright Paths Autism Community is a nonprofit that supports autistic children, teens and adults in our county and the nearby towns, and their families. We provide interest-based social groups, sensory-friendly events and a parent support group, built around what each person wants and needs.
Autism looks different in every person. Many autistic people and their families face long waits for evaluation and services, a lack of activities that fit them and little support after a diagnosis. Families often feel alone. Our program offers welcoming activities, practical help and a community, and listens to autistic people about what they want.
In Year 1 we plan to serve about 60 autistic people and their families. Our Year 1 budget is about $114,000, growing to about $234,000 by Year 5 as we grow from one program specialist to four. Each year's budget is planned to balance, with a small amount set aside in savings.
We are asking the Carlisle Family Foundation for $40,000, as part of the $100,000 in grants and contracts we need for Year 1. The other $14,000 in Year 1 comes from program fees and donations, which we plan to grow to about $45,000 a year by Year 5. Grant money pays for program specialists, adaptive equipment and materials, and the record-keeping funders require.
We will measure how many people and families we serve, how often they take part, what skills and goals participants work on, and what participants and families tell us about their experience. We will report results to our funders every six months.
Company Description
Bright Paths Autism Community is a nonprofit organization in South Carolina. A 501(c)(3) public charity
Our mission. To help autistic people and their families have a welcoming community and a good life.
How we started and what we have done. We began in 2022 when two parents started a Saturday game group for autistic teens at a library. Since then about 45 families have taken part, with 12 volunteers, including autistic adults, helping each month.
What we do:
- Offer social and recreation groups for children, teens and adults, built around participants' interests.
- Run sensory-friendly events, so families can enjoy community activities without stress.
- Teach everyday living skills, such as cooking, money and getting around the community.
- Support families with information, parent groups and connections to services.
- Train community members, such as librarians and coaches, to welcome autistic people.
Where we work. Library meeting rooms on Saturday mornings and a community center on Wednesday evenings.
Our partners. The public library, a pediatric clinic that refers families, two schools and a local disability rights group.
Our approach. Autistic people are experts on their own lives. We ask each person and family which words they prefer, we build on strengths and we include autistic adults on our advisory group and board. We do not provide medical or therapy services; for those we refer to qualified professionals.
How we are run. A volunteer Board of Directors (a small group of community members who oversee the organization) meets regularly, approves the budget, reviews the finances and oversees the Executive Director.
Problem & Opportunity
Why this program is needed.
Many families in our county and the nearby towns wait months or years for an autism evaluation, and many find few services afterward. Many autistic children and adults spend most of their free time at home, because activities are not set up for them. Parents struggle to find support, respite and community.
Facts about our community. The CDC tracks how many children are identified with autism, and the share identified has risen over the past two decades as screening has improved.
Gaps in the help that exists now:
1. Waiting. Evaluations and therapy often have long waiting lists.
2. Activities. Many sports, clubs and events are not welcoming to people who need a quieter, more predictable setting.
3. Transition. Services often end when a young person leaves school, leaving many adults with little support.
4. Families. Parents often feel isolated and tired, with few chances for a break.
5. Understanding. Many community members do not know how to include autistic people.
What we have seen ourselves. Many parents told us they had never been to a community event with their child because they were afraid of the noise and the stares.
Who we serve first. Autistic children, teens and adults and their families, especially those who are waiting for services or have limited income, in autistic children and teens ages 6 to 21 whose families have limited income and are waiting for services.
Products & Services
How the program works.
1. Groups built around interests. Small groups meet regularly around activities like art, games, cooking or sports, with a program specialist and volunteers.
2. Sensory-friendly events. We host regular events with lower sound and light, clear schedules and quiet spaces.
3. Life skills. Practical sessions on cooking, money, travel and daily routines, led by program specialists.
4. Family support. Parent groups, information and connections to services, so families do not feel alone.
5. Equipment and materials. About $9,000 in Year 1 pays for sensory tools, visual supports and activity supplies.
How we will measure results. We record attendance, goals each person chooses and progress toward them. Twice a year, participants and families answer a few questions, in the way that works best for them, about how welcome and supported they feel. Our goals for Year 1: serve 60 people and their families; hold 40 group sessions and six sensory-friendly events; have each participant set at least one goal; and have 85% of families say they feel more supported.
Market Analysis
Where we work and who we serve.
We serve autistic people and their families in our county and the nearby towns, especially autistic children and teens ages 6 to 21 whose families have limited income and are waiting for services.
How we know people need this. Our first group had 10 spots and 35 families asked to join, and a pediatric clinic now refers families to us.
How many we will reach. In Year 1, about 60 autistic people and their families. Autism prevalence data and the number of children receiving special education services for autism are common ways to size the need, and the guide for this plan shows where to find them. As we grow from one program specialist to four, we expect to serve more people each year.
How families reach us. Pediatricians, schools, the library and other families.
Competitive Landscape
Other help, and how we work with it.
- Therapy providers offer clinical services such as speech, occupational and behavioral therapy. We do not offer therapy, and we refer families to qualified providers.
- Schools provide special education. We partner with them and offer support outside school hours.
- Disability organizations and local chapters of national groups provide information and advocacy. We partner with them. We are a partner of our state autism society.
- Recreation programs run activities. We help them become more welcoming.
- Parent support groups are very valuable. We help families find or start them.
What makes us different: programs shaped by autistic advisors, sensory-friendly settings and support that continues into adulthood
Marketing & Sales Strategy
How we reach people and build support.
Reaching people:
- Referrals from schools, pediatricians, therapy providers, libraries and other nonprofits.
- Information at disability and family events, libraries and community centers, in plain, accessible language.
- Word of mouth from families, who are our most trusted messengers.
- A website and materials that are accessible and clear.
Funding. State developmental disability councils, autism societies, health foundations and local community foundations support programs like ours. Many funders want to see autistic people involved in leadership, and we do.
Volunteers. College students in education and health, faith communities and autistic adults who want to mentor.
Raising money beyond grants. Program fees and donations are planned at about $14,000 in Year 1, growing to about $45,000 by Year 5, through a yearly giving campaign, business and community partners, a community event and online giving. Raising more of our own money means we depend less on any one grant or contract.
Operations Plan
How the program runs.
How a person moves through the program:
1. A call or visit, and a conversation with the person and family about interests and needs.
2. A trial visit to a group or event, at the person's own pace.
3. Regular participation, with goals chosen by the person.
4. Family support and referrals as needed.
5. Regular check-ins and a plan for the next stage of life.
A first visit. The family visits at a quiet time to see the space and meet the specialist. The person can watch, join in or leave when they need to.
Safety and respect. Staff and volunteers pass background checks and training in autism, communication, sensory needs and de-escalation, and never use restraints. We follow written safety and emergency plans, and we respect each person's communication, whether spoken or not.
Privacy. Information about participants and families is kept private. We share it only with permission or when the law requires it, and funders get totals, never names.
Equipment. In Year 1 we buy about $6,000 in equipment (sensory tools, visual supports, a laptop, a printer and activity supplies), then about $2,000 to $2,500 a year to replace worn items.
Staff. One program specialist in Year 1, then two in Year 2, two in Year 3, three in Year 4 and four in Year 5. Specialists receive training and supervision, and regular input from autistic advisors.
Office work. Bookkeeping, insurance and reporting cost about $10,000 in Year 1.
Management & Organization
Who leads the organization.
Brian Perry, Executive Director.
The Executive Director leads the organization, raises money and manages grants and contracts, builds partnerships, oversees the finances and reports to the Board. Planned salary: $54,000 a year.
Program specialists. Lead groups and events, support families, train volunteers and keep records. One position in Year 1, growing to four by Year 5, at a planned salary of $38,000 each. Qualifications we look for: experience in special education or disability services, a calm, flexible manner and respect for how each person communicates.
Volunteers. Volunteers help in groups and events, and some are autistic adults who serve as mentors and role models. They are screened and trained before working with participants.
Board of Directors. A five-member board including Kevin Walker, who brings nonprofit finance experience.
Money management. Grant and contract money is tracked separately so we can show each funder exactly how their money was spent. An outside accountant reviews our books every year.
Milestones Narrative
Our goals and how we will measure them.
Year 1:
- Form an advisory group that includes autistic adults and parents.
- Hire our first program specialist and recruit and train volunteers.
- Serve about 60 autistic people and their families.
- Reach our Year 1 goals for participation, personal goals and family satisfaction.
- Stay within a balanced budget of about $114,000.
Year 2: two program specialists; budget of about $153,000.
Year 3: two program specialists; budget of about $154,000.
Year 4: three program specialists; budget of about $194,000.
Year 5: four program specialists; budget of about $234,000.
Over the five years: grow to four program specialists, add groups for adults and teens, a respite program and community trainings. Adaptive equipment and materials costs grow about 5% a year.
How we will check our results. We track participation and each person's chosen goals. Twice a year, participants and families give feedback in ways that fit them. Staff, the advisory group and the Board review results and share them with funders.
Funding Request
What we are asking for, and how the money will be used. Our request: $40,000 from the Carlisle Family Foundation for our first program specialist's salary, adaptive equipment and the costs of reporting results, for January through December 2027. Year 1 budget: about $114,000, planned to balance. Year 1 money coming in: - Grants and government contracts: $100,000 (this request plus other grants we are applying for). - Program fees and donations: $14,000. Year 1 costs: - Executive Director: $54,000. - Program specialists: $38,000. - Adaptive equipment and materials (sensory tools, visual supports, activity supplies): $9,000. - Office costs (bookkeeping, insurance, reporting): $10,000. - That is about $111,000 in costs. The remaining $3,000 or so goes into savings. Equipment we buy once at the start (about $6,000) is paid from startup money, not from the yearly budget. The next five years. Our budget grows from about $114,000 in Year 1 to about $234,000 in Year 5 as we grow to four program specialists. Grants and contracts are planned at $100,000 in Year 1, $133,000 in Year 2, $126,000 in Year 3, $158,000 in Year 4 and $189,000 in Year 5. Program fees and donations grow from $14,000 to $45,000, so grants become a smaller part of our budget over time. Savings. We start with about $14,000 of our own plus $48,000 in startup support, and we add to savings each year. Important for grants. Many grants pay in installments or after a report, and some depend on results. We plan for that and keep careful records. Help we receive that is not cash. Donated space, volunteer hours, donated activity passes and supplies, and professional advice are a real part of what we do and are not counted in the budget above. Free use of library meeting rooms (about $4,000 a year in rent value), about 900 volunteer hours a year and donated activity passes If we are just starting. A new organization can begin before it has its own 501(c)(3) status. One way is a fiscal sponsor: an established nonprofit that agrees to receive grants for you and pass them to your program, usually for a fee (commonly around 5% to 10% of the grant, sometimes more; ask before you agree). Many funders accept this. Another way is to start smaller: partner with a library or community center, start with one small group and a few trained volunteers, and track results carefully. Start by listening to families and autistic people. Strong results from a small start make larger grants and contracts easier to win.
Appendix Notes
Documents to attach with this proposal:
- Your IRS 501(c)(3) letter, or your fiscal sponsor agreement.
- Your most recent financial statements and your current budget.
- A list of your Board members and what they do.
- Letters of support from families, schools, therapy providers or other partners.
- Your safety, privacy and volunteer screening policies, and your volunteer training outline.
- A list of your advisory group members, including autistic people and parents.
- Your participation numbers from the past year, if you have them.
- Resumes for your Executive Director and key staff. If you don't have any of this yet, no worries - let's continue.
The assumptions behind our numbers (change them in the Financials section to match your own):
- Staff pay: Executive Director $54,000; each program specialist $38,000, growing from 1 to 4.
- Adaptive equipment and materials about $9,000 in Year 1, rising about 5% a year
- Office costs about $10,000 in Year 1, rising about 4% a year.
- Grants and contracts set so each year's budget balances with a small amount saved.
- Every dollar amount is an estimate. Replace them with your organization's real budget.