Story of Impact | Gardhouse
Creating pipeline of employment for underserved college students
“It doesn’t feel like a typical funding relationship where you provide data and you get dollars; you provide yourself and you get support. Reemprise is the safe space of funder-fundee relationships.”
Jonathan Gardner, Gardhouse Founder & Executive Director
Game-changing Opportunity
Expand meaningful experiences for interns, identify more intern sites, and employ an applicant tracking system.
In support of its visionary leader, Gardhouse strived to increase capacity against a multi-faceted and complex array of needs. Reemprise’s investment involved taking time and working together to discern the most workable solution. Recent college graduates of color are twice as likely to be unemployed than their white peers. With over 37,000 Black and Brown college students within a 25-mile radius of Charlotte, it is Jonathan Gardner’s unique vision to ensure Gardhouse’s student interns are gaining experiences relevant to them and their futures. Realizing this vision means taking an unconventional approach to scaling the organization and its work.
Reemprise’s Role
Great leaders often envision the “who,” the “what,” and the “why” that revolutionary solutions require. Even so, it can take time to figure out the “how,” and put all the necessary parts in place. It’s why Reemprise invests time and expertise as well as money to support the organization and its leader along the way.
Making the Difference
Reemprise supported Gardhouse not just financially but as a true partner, committed for the long haul and working collaboratively with its visionary leader.
Measurable Impact
To date, 100% of graduating seniors have acquired full-time employment within six months or entered graduate school. Over 180 paid opportunities have been provided across small businesses and not-for-profit organizations.
Sustained Performance
Gardhouse is continuing to grow, increasing the number of interns and corporate partnerships, all while expanding to other North Carolina cities.