Pocono Family YMCA
Driving a $21 Million Capital Expansion
Grant writing, USDA Rural Development financing, operations audit, and project management across a one-year $21M facility expansion.
- $21M
- Capital project value
- $8M
- USDA RD loan package
- $1M
- Paired federal grant
- 40%
- Administrative hours saved
The Pocono Family YMCA embarked on a transformative $21 million capital project to expand and renovate their facilities and programming. NDCS partnered with the YMCA across grant writing, financial oversight, operations audits, and project management through an ambitious one-year endeavor.
The challenge
- Navigating complex federal and state grant compliance requirements.
- Managing a multifaceted $8 million USDA RD loan application packaged with a $1 million grant.
- Modernizing outdated grants management systems.
- Coordinating efforts across diverse stakeholders, including architects, engineers, and funding agencies.
- Delivering professional project management against a highly ambitious timeline.
What we did
Grant writing
Crafted persuasive proposals tailored to federal, state, and private funding opportunities. Collaborated with stakeholders to present narratives aligned with funder priorities, and secured the grants that directly supported the capital expansion.
Grants management modernization
A deep operational audit revealed inefficiencies in the YMCA’s grants management. We implemented a modernized system: centralized tracking for all applications, awards, and compliance requirements; automation to streamline reporting and reduce administrative burden; and training so staff could run the system sustainably after we left.
USDA RD loan and grant oversight
The $8 million USDA Rural Development loan, packaged with a $1 million grant, was the cornerstone of the project. We coordinated every component of the application for accuracy and compliance, acted as primary liaison with USDA RD officials to answer questions and expedite approval, and secured the funds — unlocking progress on the project timeline.
Compliance management
Overseeing compliance for tens of millions of dollars in federal and Pennsylvania grants required meticulous attention. We established compliance protocols for every funding stream, prepared and submitted the reporting each one required, and ran regular audits to surface risks before they became problems.
Project management
The scale demanded coordination across a lot of parties at once. We led cross-functional teams of architects, engineers, construction managers, and funding officers; managed timelines, budgets, and deliverables; and built the relationships with hospitals, nonprofits, and private funders that kept everyone aligned.
Results
Secured funding. The $8 million USDA RD loan and $1 million grant were managed through to award, alongside additional grants supporting the $21 million project.
Streamlined operations. Administrative hours fell by 40% through the improved grants management system, with better reporting accuracy and compliance from centralized tools.
Project advancement. Construction and programming expansion progressed on schedule, with markedly better collaboration across project partners.
Long-term impact. The YMCA is positioned for sustainable growth with modernized facilities and expanded programming, and a stronger capacity to serve the Pocono community for years to come.
Nicholas Daly Creative Services provided invaluable expertise and leadership throughout our capital project. Their comprehensive approach to grant writing, compliance, and project management ensured our success at every stage. We are deeply grateful for their partnership.