Prior to reorganizing and applying for non-profit status, the Umbrella Impact Project began as a proposed charitable fundraising mission written by Nasiyra Clayton. Under the Christian Love Center Church (CLC) in the West River district of New Haven, CT, the initial purpose and goal of the ministry was to enhance the lives of youth in the church by raising funds to award their academic achievements. The fundraising ministry and committee was formed and decided to reach more youth therefore and adopted a class at the nearest school - Barnard Environmental Magnet School. The ministry adopted a Special Ed class in Barnard and, by using a non profit organization outside of the church that donates to classrooms directly, we were able to provide Chrome books for the class. In addition to that success, the fundraising ministry raised funds to purchase several adaptive equipment items for the students diagnosed with ADHD, ID, and those suffering from trauma.
The Pandemic caused the church and the mission to cease its efforts in all matters. However, while isolation was inevitable for everyone, Nasiyra decided to keep the mission alive and broaden it to reach all youth in cities of New Haven and West Haven once the pandemic was over. Umbrella Impact was birthed to become a 501c3 non-profit with a mission, not only to award students with incentives for academic progress but to empower students by addressing character, community, and financial skills. Students in families with low to moderate income households are the focal audience. Umbrella Impact recognizes academic education to be the cornerstone of successful minds coupled with character building and community consciousness as extra tools for success for the individual, family, community.
Umbrella Impact also recognizes the disparities in the black, brown, and underserved communities that would benefit from addressing the wealth gap and the need to enlighten the youth in business ownership and wealth creation. Therefore Umbrella Impact grass-roots approach was set in motion.