4.10: Key Takeaways

Key Takeaways: Lesson 4

• Plan for sustainability from the beginning: Think beyond securing funding for one cycle and consider what will be needed to support Powerhouse® over the long term.
• Understand the full cost of delivery: Budget for the complete cycle, including staff time, coordination, screening, materials, overhead and reporting.
• Start with your existing capacity: Identify what your organization and partners can already contribute, then use external funding to address the remaining gaps.
• Use early funding to build toward sustainability: Pilot or seed funding can help you launch Powerhouse®, demonstrate demand and collect local evidence that strengthens future funding requests.
• Look beyond funding labelled “young caregivers”: Consider how Powerhouse® aligns with broader funding priorities such as youth mental health, family caregiving, prevention, recreation and community wellbeing.
• Build a strong case for investment: Connect the evidence on young caregivers to the needs in your community and show how Powerhouse® supports the funder’s existing priorities.
• Build sustainability across your organization: Long-term sustainability depends on more than funding; it also requires trained staff, strong referral pathways, organizational support and ongoing partnerships.