1. Jacob’s Ladder
Neurodevelopmental
Learning Center
Staff Capability Project

2. Description of Agency
• Jacob’s Ladder provides intensive one-on-one educational
experience for children ages 2 – 18 with severe
developmental delays including Autism, PDD, Down’s
Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Asperger’s Syndrome, etc.
• The agency evaluates each child and then designs a
centralized, multi-focused plan. Jacob’s Ladder provides
the environment, methodology, and support for the
children and families dealing with these developmental
issues.
• They serve approximately 50 students each week at the
center as well as over 1,000 students on active caseload.
• There are no other programs in the community that
offer this specialized brain-based intervention. Jacob’s
Ladder receives referrals from public and private
schools, pediatricians, and neuropsychologists from all
over Georgia, the United States and other parts of the
world.

3. Proposed Project
• Jacob’s Ladder seeks Charity Guild funds to more
effectively hire, train and retain teachers. This
is key to the children’s continued growth and
success.
• Jacob’s Ladder learning model is labor intensive.
The children need instructor consistency to
sustain lasting progress. Two years is optimal
with the methodology.
• The grant will increase staff salaries, benefits
and training in order to reduce staff turnover and
increase consistency of the therapeutic
environment.
• Currently the average instructor makes an annual salary of
$22,000 with 2 paid days off per year and only $100 toward
health insurance.

4. Project Costs and CG
Grant Request
• Charity Guild Grant of $40,000 will
be used to
– Increase wages $25,000
– Healthcare reimbursement $8,000
– Staff Development $7,000

5. Jacob’s Ladder Strengths
• Leadership and Staff who are committed to
work in a challenging environment
• Proven evaluation and learning methodology
• Learning methodology used in Atlanta City
Schools and Juvenile Justice Project
• Recognition in Forbes magazine and on CNN
• No other agency provides this type of
program for the community
• Preparing for full accreditation

6. Jacob’s Ladder Challenges
• Ability to retain talented and
committed teachers
• Increased number of students to
evaluate and serve
• Economy forcing trained
teachers away for higher salaries
and benefits outside of this
industry

7. Project Costs and CG
Grant Request
• % of Expense for Programs 83%
(higher is better)
• % of Expense for Administration 17%
(lower is better)
• % of Expense for Fundraising 0%
(lower is better)
• Unrestricted Net Assets $211,471
• NO PREVIOUS CG FUNDING

8. Jacob’s Ladder
Neurodevelopmental
Learning Center
Staff Capability Project