ProgramsMBA Capstone (Fall 2026)ProjectsLaunch the Country's Largest Free Bookstore & Literacy Hub in an Im...

Project Title: Launch the Country's Largest Free Bookstore & Literacy Hub in an Impoverished Baltimore Neighborhood

Our Kids Read Association

Details
Project Title Launch the Country's Largest Free Bookstore & Literacy Hub in an Impoverished Baltimore Neighborhood
Project Topics Budgeting, Forecasting, and Cost Optimization Civil Engineering Corporate Social Responsibility Digital Marketing Employee and Labor Management Entrepreneurship Growth Strategy Innovation Inventory Management Operations Political Organization, Policy Change, and Advocacy Purchasing, Logistics, Supply Chain Research, Analysis, Evaluation Sales & Business Development Training & Development Urban Planning
Skills & Expertise Data Collection Rapid Prototyping Statistics
Project Synopsis: Challenge/Opportunity
70% - 80% of our nation's low-income 4th graders are functionally illiterate, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), widely known as "The Nation's Report Card."  Our organization instills the joy of reading and improves the literacy skills of K-3rd grade students through a remote, corporate employee-driven, one-on-one mentorship and reading program (Reading Buddies) AND an in-person literacy hub in Baltimore, MD, featuring the largest free bookstore for low-income families in the country.
 
 We recently received a $625,000 pledge from a donor which will allow us to purchase a building to take the vision even further.  We're looking for help:
 - help develop a plan to expand the current 2,000 square foot bookstore to an interim 5,000 square foot space

- assess what properties our organization can purchase using the donor’s 625K gift
 - determining how to take advantage of public and private funding sources to support the expansion to a 7,000 - 21,000 square foot building
 - plan 1 $500K - $1M capital raise
 - identify community partners, contractors, city officials who can support the implementation process
 - develop a project plan
 -  execute project plan to completion of project
Project Synopsis: Activities/Actions Required
Activities & Action Items

  • Conduct a feasibility assessment of the organization's expansion goals, including operational, financial, and facility requirements.
  • Analyze the current 2,000-square-foot literacy hub and develop recommendations for expansion into an interim 5,000-square-foot facility.
  • Assess potential properties that could be acquired using the donor's $625,000 pledge and evaluate each property's suitability, renovation requirements, and long-term potential.
  • Develop a facility growth strategy outlining pathways to expand into a permanent 7,000–21,000-square-foot literacy hub.
  • Research public, private, philanthropic, and government funding opportunities that could support acquisition, renovation, programming, and ongoing operations.
  • Develop a capital campaign strategy to raise an additional $500,000–$1 million for facility development and program expansion.
  • Identify and engage key stakeholders, including community organizations, foundations, city officials, contractors, architects, and potential corporate partners.
  • Conduct benchmarking research on successful literacy centers, community learning hubs, and educational nonprofits with similar models.
  • Develop conceptual space plans and programming recommendations for the expanded facility, including bookstore operations, tutoring space, volunteer engagement areas, community gathering spaces, and technology-enabled learning environments.
  • Create financial models and operating scenarios to evaluate sustainability under different growth strategies.
  • Develop a comprehensive project plan outlining timelines, milestones, budgets, risks, dependencies, and implementation responsibilities.
  • Create a stakeholder engagement and communications plan to support fundraising, community buy-in, and project execution.
  • Develop recommendations for governance, staffing, volunteer management, and operational processes needed to support the expanded facility.
  • Establish performance metrics and success measures to track project implementation and long-term impact.
  • Provide implementation support and project management recommendations through completion of the planning process and transition into execution.
Project Synopsis: Expected Results
What Would Make This Project a Success?

This project will be successful if it provides Our Kids Read with a clear, actionable roadmap for transforming our current 2,000-square-foot literacy hub into a larger, sustainable community asset that significantly expands our ability to serve children and families affected by the literacy crisis.

Measurable Results We Hope to Accomplish

  • Identify and evaluate viable properties that could be acquired using the donor's $625,000 pledge.
  • Develop a facility expansion plan that supports growth from the current 2,000-square-foot bookstore to an interim 5,000-square-foot location and ultimately a 7,000–21,000-square-foot Literacy Hub.
  • Create a detailed capital campaign strategy capable of generating an additional $500,000–$1 million in philanthropic, corporate, government, and community support.
  • Identify at least 25–50 prospective funding sources, including foundations, government programs, corporate sponsors, and community development initiatives.
  • Establish relationships with key community stakeholders, including city officials, contractors, architects, developers, and nonprofit partners who can support implementation.
  • Develop a comprehensive project plan with timelines, milestones, budgets, risks, and implementation recommendations.
  • Create a financially sustainable operating model for the expanded Literacy Hub.
  • Produce conceptual designs and space utilization recommendations that maximize community impact.
  • Develop a strategy to increase the number of children and families served annually by at least 3–5 times current levels.
  • Position the organization to become a nationally recognized model for literacy-focused community hubs and free bookstore programs.
Long-Term Impact

Ultimately, success means creating a roadmap that enables Our Kids Read to establish one of the nation's premier literacy hubs—a destination where children and families can access free books, reading support, mentorship, technology resources, and community programming designed to help every child learn to read and love to read.

Project Timeline

Touchpoints & Assignments Date Type

Program Kickoff

 Mar 04 2026 Event

Program Managers

Name Organization
Leslie Sukup Saint Leo University

Teams

Team Name  Project Name  Team Members 
No Teams Available