Pros
Many staff come to LaunchCode with a genuine desire to impact the lives of people in St. Louis and with excitement to work at a start up. This results in energy and passion that have the potential to propel this organization forward. The organization has hit a nerve with state and local governments and is timely with the national spotlight on jobs and transforming the workforce to meet 21st century needs. It remains to be seen if LaunchCode will be able to realize its potential.
Cons
For fundraising specifically, you will be required to show funders inflated budgets, "data" and "outcomes" will be massaged so it looks like outcomes are being met when they are not, and the executive director will not contribute positively in the fundraising process. Having to coach the executive director to take a shower and take off his hoodie before meetings with leadership of fortune 500 companies is a waste of your time and talent. Fundraisers will also be tasked with raising money above and beyond total operating budgets, without a plan to spend the money. When you raise the concern that foundations, corporations, and governments that are providing grant funding expect you to use the funding as described in a solicitation, you will be told that you have no vision, lack an entrepreneurial sense, and aren't "LaunchCode material." Fundraising staff will be required to break the AFP Code of Ethical Standards to be successful. General atmosphere right now is bad across almost every division. Instead of addressing staff concerns, the executive director and his closest friends, whom he put in positions they are now failing in due to utter lack of experience and humility, will recount the good 'ol days of how much they accomplished with so little. It's a tired old story that isn't fooling anyone.