Best Buddies Grant Proposal

To: Best Buddies of Utah

From: Professional Writing 3015 Students: Sydney Chan, Caleb Ham, Riley Ostler, William
Tjaden

Summary of request
As an international non-profit organization that strives for the inclusion and integration of people
with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) into society as a whole, Best Buddies
formally and respectfully requests the amount of $______ from (committee, corporation, etc.).
As an expanding non-profit organization that is based solely around volunteer work and
donations, Best Buddies is a thriving organization that focuses on one-to-one friendships and
relationships for people with IDD, helping to provide secure job opportunities, schooling and
education, and social interactions in order to create a better quality of life.

Where does the money go?

For every donation received by Best Buddies, exactly 81% is used for expansion, development,
and funding of each of the eight individual programs within the organization that directly
integrate people with IDD. 14% of donations received go toward other means of fundraising
such as friendship walks, the annual Best Buddies Ball, rallies, campaigns and others of the
sort. While the remaining 5% of donations are put toward administration. At the University of
Utah chapter, for example, donations will be used to pay chapter dues, activities and expenses
like food for events, supplies, traveling expenses, fliers/ advertising, travel fees for the Best
Buddies International Leadership Conference, etc. On the chapter level, expenses

include the $350 chapter dues each year, generally the cost of a flight to our
International Leadership Conference for the chapter president to attend
(mandatory), and food/supplies for monthly activities. On a statewide/international
level, donations will be used strictly for the expansion of the organization, allowing for Best
Buddies to keep providing services to people with IDD all over the world.
As a contributor and a supporter of Best Buddies, you will be helping to provide people with
intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to be a included in our society,
whether it be through employment, education, or socially. Opening these doors to persons with
IDD promotes the equality of all individuals in todays world. Not only will you be helping this

generation of people with IDD, your consideration may influence other employers to consider
accepting someone with these developmental disabilities into their place of work; providing this
opportunity to them along with others. Donating to Best Buddies will directly influence these
people with developmental disabilities, along with the volunteers, by paying the thought of
inclusion forward.
Best Buddies Mission
Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization, founded by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, that strives to
establish integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and
developmental disabilities ( IDD) and create a global volunteer movement to form one-to-one
friendships. Our organization strives to provide people with IDD opportunities to secure
rewarding jobs, live independently, become inspirational leaders and make lifelong meaningful
friendships and connections. Best Buddies goal is to better integrate people with IDD into
society and have them become a major part of their community, state, and country. Individuals
with intellectual and developmental disabilities tend to be excluded from their communities and
underestimated by others. Best Buddies seeks to change societys perception of people with
IDD by helping them establish sincere and supportive friendships, allowing them to live life with
more confidence and comfort. The organization also wants to get individuals with intellectual
and developmental disabilities involved with leadership and expose them to resources and
teachings that will help them make positive contributions to themselves, the workplace and
other roles in the community. Overall, Best Buddies wants to assist individuals with IDD get so
integrated in their communities that eventually its services will no longer be needed and the
individual will be essentially self-sustaining.
In 2011, Best Buddies created the 2020 initiative, with the goal of opening offices in all 50
states, expanding into 100 countries, and impacting 3 million people with and without intellectual
and developmental disabilities by the end of 2020.These actions includes plans to teach and
train 4,000 Buddies Ambassadors, develop 1,000 jobs for people with IDD around the globe and
increase the number of school based chapters to 2,500.
Impact/effectiveness of project
Best Buddies is composed of eight programs (more details listed in the Program Dynamics
section) that have positively impacted nearly 900,000 individuals with and without disabilities.
The programs have changed many lives in all 50 states and in 50 countries internationally.
Individuals with IDD have had many positive results from their involvement in the program such
as gaining more independence, obtaining secure employment, forming strong connections with
other people in the society and gaining the knowledge and resources to become strong leaders
in their local communities and countries. Best Buddies helps people with IDD achieve their
dreams and fulfill their potential.
The importance of Best Buddies is expressed each day by parents, family members, friends,
volunteers, and participants. We have received a great amount of positive feedback and have

been informed about Best Buddies impact on the lives of the participants, their families and
even the volunteers. We give IDD members the support and tools necessary to

take the initiative in their lives, allowing them to begin building and
expanding their future. Many participants have earned jobs, received leadership positions,
and obtained solid positions in their community through the program. They are advocates
for themselves and our program.
Although Best Buddies has tremendously advanced in the short amount of time since its
establishment, many areas of the country and other regions of the world still lack programs that
supports and assists people with IDD become a part of the mainstream society. With this in
mind, Best Buddies is implementing the 2020 initiative (as stated earlier) which will oversee and
track the organization's growth and impact, both domestically and overseas.
Program Dynamics
Best Buddies fosters one-on-one friendships and inclusion for people with intellectual and
developmental disabilities (IDD) through middle school programs, high school programs, college
programs, citizens programs, e-buddies platforms, job partnerships, and ambassador trainings.
Middle School: Best Buddies starts their mission for inclusion within middle
schools in order to foster an inclusive environment for those with intellectual
and developmental disabilities in education. Starting at such a young age is
crucial for building the confidence of those with and without disabilities.
These one-on-one friendships limit social isolation and help adolescents
within the program build self-esteem before they begin their next educational
chapter of high school.
High School: High school is a time of heightened social and emotional
development for many students. This program reinforces the mission of
inclusion at the pinnacle for adolescents before one is considered an adult.
High schools aim to prepare students to be successful in whatever their life
endeavors may be. Having an intellectual or developmental disability should
not limit these life endeavours.
College: College is an excellent environment to strengthen social skills and
build life-long friendships. This program promotes one-on-one friendships
between college students and adults with intellectual and developmental
disabilities. This is a great opportunity to get involved on campus and
community life for those with disabilities. Specifically, the Best Buddies
Chapter at the University of Utah strives to promote inclusion by participating
both on campus and off campus activities as a group. For example, previous monthly
activities consisted of University of Utah basketball games, movie nights at Gateway
Megaplex, barbeques at Liberty Park, and Buddy Ball dances. Each one of these

activities is one step closer to accomplishing the Best Buddies mission of inclusion.
Necessary funding is imperative to facilitate large group activities and spreading
awareness throughout the community.
Jobs: This employment program develops partnerships with employers,
assists in hiring processes, and provides additional support for those with
IDDs looking for future employment. Employment is a privilege that should
not be taken away from an individual due to disabilities if the person is able
to perform necessary tasks. This program provides the framework for those
with IDDs to showcase their skills and abilities.
E-Buddies: This electronic platform provides those with and without IDDs
the opportunity to communicate over long distances. Unfortunately, there are
regions within the United States that dont have Best Buddies chapters yet,
however this should not hinder one from sustaining one-on-one friendships.
Ambassadors: This program offers educational and group training sessions
to build leadership and public speaking skills. Not only are these skill sets
crucial to making an impact within ones community, they are imperative for
self-advocation. The University of Utah has numerous Best Buddie
Ambassadors that consistently develop their leadership ability at conferences
in order to spread their desire for inclusion.
Citizens: This program fosters one-on-one friendships for people with and
without IDDs. This program is crucial in order to promote inclusion within
mainstream society. It is unacceptable to support barriers for those with
IDDs for any circumstance and it is our job to provide equality for all.
Promoters: This program is all about empowering students who do not have
special education programs at their schools with awareness with regard to
the disability rights movement. These students can then pass on their newly
acquired knowledge and enthusiasm for the movement to hundreds of people
around them.
Budget Justification/Statistics:
The inclusion of individuals with IDD into our society is an inspiring tale, one that requires
monetary support from companies like yours. IDD success stories are the reason we come to
work every day and move forward with such determination. One such example comes from one
of one of Chicagos largest law firms, Seyfarth Shaw. The Chicago Tribune describes Shalonda
Sanders, who suffered brain damage when hit by a car as a child.
Shalonda takes on package delivery and cleaning duties at Seyfarth Shaw. She had tried for
years to acquire paid-work, unsuccessfully, until she was connected with this opportunity
through Best Buddies Illinois.

Best Buddies mission to find competitive jobs for IDD individuals isnt just a good thing to do,
but good for the bottom line wrote the Chicago Tribune. Best Buddies Illinois alone has placed
14 people into paid- jobs they couldnt have found otherwise.
The employment numbers for those individuals nationwide with intellectual disabilities hovers
around 33%, while the numbers for those without intellectual disabilities are above 75%. Around
11% of IDD individuals are looking for work but unable to find it while still others are part-time or
underemployed. The key is job training which organizations such as Best Buddies focus on in
preparation for getting IDD individuals into positions that fit their skill set.
Demographics and population served
Best Buddies has positively impacted nearly 900,000 individuals with and without disabilities
worldwide, and counting . Our programs stretch across all 50 states, to the rainforests of Latin
America; from the savannahs of South Africa to the bustling metropolises of Hong Kong and
Beijing; from cities high in the Alps to the desert oases of the Middle East. Our footprint is truly
vast and growing with every donation.
Best Buddies Chairman and Founder Anthony Kennedy Shriver has praised NBA commissioner
Adam Silver for employing adults with IDD at the league offices. Most recently, Shriver met with
athlete Tom Brady, food-celebrity Guy Fieri, actors Dane Cook, Michael Chiklis and Hublots
Ricardo Guadalupe in Boston in an event expected to raise over $5 million toward Best Buddies
cause.
Volunteers
Best Buddies is a volunteer-based organization who relies on the support and dedication of
amazing volunteers. We currently have just under 1000 approved members in

Utah. This includes individuals with and without intellectual and

developmental disabilities in our middle school, high school, and college
programs. In addition to this, we have volunteers who serve on our advisory
board and dedicated people who volunteer at our state level events. Once
our new chapters get registered, we estimate to obtain an additional 60
members this year.
There are multiple programs that volunteers can decide from to help make a difference in the
lives of people with disabilities, as well as their own. There are many interactive and entertaining
activities for volunteers and their buddies to get involved in; including, participating in group
activities, bowling, classrooms visits, reading, or even sharing a lunch.
The benefit of having dedicated volunteers and multiple programs is that almost every age
groups offered in the program will get a chance to take part in the mission to help give
individuals with IDD a chance to live comfortable and accepting lives. Overall, Best Buddies

volunteers contribute supportive services that equate to more than $168 millions U.S dollars
( with no cost to their communities).
What makes Best Buddies unique?
The ultimate goal of our organization is to terminate Best Buddies completely. Best Buddies is
unique in a way that we strive to make integration of people with IDD in the workforce and
leadership roles that it will become a normal occurrence and, therefore, put Best Buddies out of
business. Our dedication to our one-to-one model is very unique and has had wonderful
outcomes and numerous success stories. Because we pair our students, one to one, with a
person with IDD, they both spend multiple hours a month dedicated to their friendship, giving
them the necessary time to make it grow. These friendships are mutually enriching with
everyone gaining something from their experience. Acceptance and inclusion of people with IDD
should be a staple in every community, meaning that there should be absolutely no need for an
organization, such as Best Buddies, to have to fight for people with IDD to obtain a job, to get
involved in school programs or others of the sort. Funding and donations for Best Buddies
today, could make for a community that accepts people with these disabilities unconditionally,
tomorrow.