The Gift of Change
Your support plays an important role in helping Connections to Success empower families to break the cycle of poverty, building stronger families and communities.
The average cost of all annual program services is $2,025,000 over a two-year evaluation of our work.
Reduction in annual incarceration costs of $4,950,000 over a two-year evaluation of our work
70% of participants are still employed nine months after getting a job.
84% of participants report reduced conflict in co-parenting relationships after going through the Pathways to Success program.
Program alumni are improving their credit, building emergency savings, and reducing personal debt.
The recidivism rate for program graduates is just 14% – and drops to 8% among those in the mentoring program, compared to the 44% national average.
Pathways to Success graduates contribute to an increase in annual tax revenue of $1,434,430 over a two-year evaluation of our work.
Within six months of starting work, 82% of graduates experience an increase in earnings.
The Pathways to Success program reduces costs to taxpayers through lower reliance on the court system, Medicaid, foster care, and prison services.
74% of participants secure employment shortly after completing the program.
Studies showed a six-fold ROI of $6.85 for each dollar invested in Connections to Success services over a three-year evaluation of our work.
Give to the Next Success Story
When you give to Connections to Success, you’re not just making a donation. You’re investing in the future of a person who’s striving for economic independence, healthy relationships, and belonging. You make their dreams possible by helping us provide job training, coaching, mentorship, and wrap-around support. Make a one-time or recurring donation to support our compassionate, evidence-based programming that empowers youth and adults to discover their strengths, build self-confidence, learn new skills, and achieve economic independence. With your generosity, we’re able to equip people with the skills and tools they need to flourish, creating lifelong connections and lasting change. Be a part of someone’s success story today!
Donation Tiers
$25
Workplace Essentials
Your $25 gift makes it possible to purchase the essential work gear, such as boots, uniforms, or tools, that participants need to begin their new jobs. Sometimes, a small item can make a big difference in starting strong and stepping into a bright future.
$50
Career Readiness Basics
With $50, you provide access to mock interviews and résumé workshops that prepare our participants to confidently present themselves to employers. These practical tools help transform potential into opportunity.
$100
Transportation Access
A $100 donation helps cover transportation costs to job interviews, breaking down one of the most common barriers participants face. Your gift ensures that someone has the chance to show up, make a positive impression, and secure meaningful employment.
$250
Connection & Community
Your $250 gift supports bi-monthly Connect Nights, where families gather for food, prizes, and family-friendly fun. These events promote belonging, strengthen relationships, and provide participants with a supportive community that celebrates their progress, every step of the way.
$500
Fuel for Growth
With $500, you can cover meals for the 10-day personal and professional development training, ensuring participants are nourished and ready to focus on building skills, confidence, and community.
$1000
Provide One-on-One Career Coaching
A $1,000 donation provides six months of intensive support from one of our Life Transformation Coaches. These dedicated staff members walk alongside participants as counselors, motivators, and guides, helping them set goals, overcome barriers, and build confidence for lasting success.
$2500
Advance a Participant’s Career
Your gift of $2,500 helps fund industry-recognized credentials that open doors for our participants. With your support, individuals gain the qualifications they need to compete in the workforce, bringing long-term career advancement and providing stability for themselves and their families.
We inspire families to realize their dreams and achieve economic independence by providing hope, resources and a plan.
Mission
Monthly Donations
Join us in breaking the generational cycle of poverty, one family at a time. By partnering with us as a monthly donor, you’re investing in a brighter future for others. Recurring donations to Connections to Success help sustain our programs throughout the year. By becoming a monthly donor, you’re providing us with consistent contributions that allow us to plan ahead, respond to urgent needs, and ultimately, impact more people.
Honor and Memorial Gifts
Honor someone special by giving a gift in their name. Whether you are celebrating a birthday, commemorating a milestone, or remembering a loved one, your gift will make a meaningful impact in their honor.
Donate Items
We gladly accept new or gently used professional clothing, shoes, accessories for our men’s and women’s boutiques. We also welcome virtual or physical gift cards for gas, groceries or pharmacy needs – you can send via email to info@connectionstosuccess.org, or mail a physical card to any of our offices and help meet the immediate needs of families. In addition, we are always in need of any of the following items:
- Vehicle in clean and working condition
- Hygiene Products (shampoo, soap, toothpaste)
- Seasonal Toy Drive Items
- Non-Perishable Foods
- Lunches
- Office Supplies
Corporate Gifts
Your company can create lasting change by sponsoring an event, providing a matching donation, or working with our Job Developers to explore potential employment opportunities within your company. Partner with Connections to Success to build up your corporate social engagement and strengthen your community.
Stock Donations
Donating stocks can be a tax-efficient way to support our mission. We accept gifts of stock and will work with you to ensure a smooth transfer. Donating appreciated assets (like stocks) can also help you avoid capital gains taxes on the increase in value.
- For stock transfers, please use the following account information:
- Bank: Busey Bank – Raymond James Investment
- DTC #: 0725
- FAO: Connections to Success, Inc.
- Account #: 766YL945
Employer Gift Matching
Double your impact! Many employers will match their employees’ charitable contributions and volunteer hours with equivalent dollars. Ask your employer about gift matching to see if your donation can make an even bigger impact.
Donor-Advised Funds
You can support Connections to Success through donor-advised funding. It’s an easy way to give while also receiving a tax deduction. A donor-advised fund (DAF) allows you to make a charitable contribution and receive an immediate tax deduction, while funds grow tax-free and can be distributed to the charitable organization of your choice.
Estate Planning
Consider a charitable donation made through your estate planning, and you’ll help us continue to provide a hope-filled environment where people feel welcomed and empowered to discover their strengths, build self-confidence, learn new skills and practice accountability for creating the future they desire. This form of giving can reduce your taxable estate, potentially lowering estate taxes for your loved ones later on, and will leave a lasting legacy for your community.
Have a question about our donation options? Contact us today!
“
It’s always been a passion of mine to be a coach, to give back anything I have and to keep people connected to success.
– David (Connections to Success Alumni)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes! Connections to Success is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN: 43-1859283), and your donation is tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Can I set up a recurring donation?
Yes! You can choose to make a monthly gift of the amount of your choosing when donating.
How can I see the results of my donation?
Signing up for our newsletter, bookmarking our website, and following us on social media are the best ways to stay in the know about the impact your gift is making! Connections to Success regularly shares success stories, staff and participant profiles, program stats, and financial updates so you can see how your donation is making a difference.
Can I cancel or change a recurring donation?
Yes! You can adjust, pause, or cancel your recurring donation anytime by contacting Connections to Success or managing your donor account.