Case Study: Supporting Strategic CSP Grant Management at The Opportunity Trust 

Background 

The Opportunity Trust, a St. Louis-based organization committed to expanding high-quality public school options, was awarded a five-year Charter Schools Program (CSP) State Entities (SE) grant. From the start of the grant, they joined a national community of practice led by Lumen, where other SE grantees gathered to discuss implementation challenges, share resources, and learn from each other. 

While they benefited from the peer learning environment, it wasn’t until about nine months into the grant period that The Opportunity Trust engaged Lumen for direct, one-on-one support. At that point in the implementation of the grant, the demands of managing a complex federal grant were mounting, and internal capacity was stretched thin. They recognized the need to step back and establish more strategic, sustainable systems to support both immediate implementation and long-term goals. 

Our Engagement 

Lumen partnered with The Opportunity Trust at this critical juncture to bring clarity, structure, and capacity to their grant work. 

Phase 1: Assessment and Strategy Alignment 

We began with a thorough review of their existing grant and subgrant management practices. This initial audit helped identify areas of strength and pinpoint gaps—both in systems and in team capacity—that could hinder long-term success. 

“It’s a big responsibility to be awarded a large grant like CSP. It can be exacting and tedious and specific, but you have to stay grounded in the ‘why.’ It all comes back to the impact for the students and the opportunities we’re creating.” 
— The Opportunity Trust 

Through this process, we worked with their team to clarify roles, responsibilities, and workflows so that day-to-day operations were directly connected to long-term CSP goals and compliance expectations. Our approach blended capacity building with what we call guided implementation—walking alongside their team to support compliance and grant management tasks in real time while also strengthening their internal knowledge and systems for the long term. 

Phase 2: System Building and Capacity Development 

With a strong foundation of understanding, we supported the team in refining internal systems for grant tracking, subgrantee support, and federal compliance. This included building customized tools and templates that streamlined reporting and reduced administrative burden. We also helped design processes that made it easier for them to demonstrate and communicate impact—both internally and externally. 

“As a partner in managing our CSP grant, Lumen has been really responsive to our needs. We have a regular weekly check-in where we talk through the immediate needs and plans for what is to come. In addition to supporting us as things come up along the way, they’ve been great partners in helping us figure out how we’re going to report on everything and show highlights to our leadership in a quarterly update to make sure everybody is feeling aligned and aware of the work we are doing. It’s been a huge gift to have Lumen help us communicate that impact to our stakeholders.” 
— The Opportunity Trust 

Our support extended to helping the team think not just about systems for today, but the future. We helped them develop documentation and scalable practices that could  support continuity through team transitions and adapt as the grant scope evolves 

Phase 3: Transitional Support and Ongoing Partnership 

When The Opportunity Trust experienced internal staffing transitions, Lumen remained a consistent partner—bridging short-term gaps while continuing to strengthen long-term capacity. We provided hands-on support where needed, while continuing to anchor the work in their strategic vision. 

“In Lumen we have a thought partner, someone in our corner to build confidence, and someone who sees what’s coming that can help us future-proof our management of the grant. We feel like we’re set up for success.” 
— The Opportunity Trust 

Throughout the engagement, we worked side by side with the team—not just answering urgent questions but also planning for what comes next. 

“I’ve really appreciated Lumen’s support in the CSP process. They balance the urgency of short-term questions—the ‘Am I thinking about this properly?’ moments—with thoughtful mid- and long-term planning. Their guidance helps us consider both our needs and our subgrantees’ needs, so we can better support one another.” 
— The Opportunity Trust 

Impact 

By working in close partnership with The Opportunity Trust, Lumen helped build not only stronger systems, but stronger confidence. As a result, the team is now equipped with: 

• A clear, streamlined process for subgrant management 
• Stronger alignment around goals, responsibilities, and reporting 
• New tools and structures to clearly communicate impact to leadership and stakeholders 
• Greater resilience through change, from staff transitions to long-term planning 
• Expanded capacity through real-time coaching and guided implementation 

What began as a need for tactical support evolved into a strategic partnership grounded in shared purpose and mutual trust. 

“It’s very clear that Lumen’s work is rooted in the same ‘why,’ and it’s encouraging to know that the people you’re working with have similar values and are drawn to the work for the same reasons you are.” 
— The Opportunity Trust

Click here to learn more about how Lumen supports strategic CSP Grant management.