For funders
Funders FAQ
Clear answers to common diligence questions
What is People United Foundation’s mission?
People United Foundation, Inc. empowers people and strengthens communities through education, leadership, innovation, and strategic partnerships.
What needs does PUF address?
PUF develops practical responses to education, youth and family development, digital and AI readiness, workforce preparation, community partnership, and access-to-opportunity needs identified with community and institutional partners.
What are the current priority areas?
Current priorities include AI and digital readiness, workforce and career development, youth and family education, Community Connections, PUF Community Alliance partnerships, and appropriately authorized use of separately governed educational or creative IP.
How are programs delivered?
Depending on the audience and partner setting, PUF can use live, online, or hybrid delivery in schools, libraries, churches, nonprofits, employers, community sites, and institutional environments.
How does PUF decide whether to scale a new program?
Materially new programs are generally piloted first with a defined audience, learning or impact outcomes, facilitator and technology plan, privacy/accessibility/safety safeguards, assessment, feedback, and implementation measures. Findings are used to revise and approve the model before broad expansion.
What does success look like and how do you measure it?
Measures are matched to the program and may include participation, attendance, completion, learning, confidence, skills, readiness, applied action, facilitator observations, partner feedback, and implementation quality. PUF avoids overstating outcomes that cannot responsibly be attributed.
How will funds be used?
Common uses include program design and delivery, facilitator support, participant materials and access, technology, accessibility, evaluation, applied activities, partner implementation, and reporting. Final use of funds should be tied to the approved pilot or project scope.
Do you collect sensitive personal data or use surveillance?
PUF follows a minimal, purpose-limited data posture. Public program design does not rely on covert surveillance, hidden behavioral scoring, or sale of participant data. Program-specific data requirements should be documented with the host or partner.
How does PUF handle separately governed intellectual property?
PUF does not assume ownership of separately governed creative or commercial IP. Where such material supports a PUF program, use should occur under the appropriate permission, license, program-use authorization, or other approved relationship.
How can a funder or institution support PUF?
Support can include pilot funding, participant access, technology and materials, facilitator capacity, evaluation, host-site support, sponsorship, or broader implementation after an initial model has been measured and approved.
What materials can you provide for diligence?
PUF can provide public organizational information, program briefs, implementation scopes, budgets, timelines, measurement plans, governance and stewardship information, and additional diligence materials appropriate to the proposed relationship.
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