http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/making-difference-where-you-live-learning-community_25679.mp3
For KSMU and Making A Difference Where You Live, I’m Mike Smith.
Since its inception in 1973, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks has grown to include 44 affiliate community foundations, and more than 2000 charitable funds totaling more than 180 million dollars in assets. CFO’s stated mission is “To enhance the quality of life in our region through resource development, community grant making, collaboration and public leadership”, and since 1973, has awarded more than 100 million dollars in grants and distributions to non-profit organizations across southern Missouri.
CFO does not just give money away. A non-profit’s needs and deeds must be shown in grant application form before approval, but quarterly “How to write A Grant Application” sessions are offered to make the process easier. Carrying that assistance even further is a component of the CFO’s newest initiative, The Ozarks Empowerment Project’s “Learning Community”.
“The Learning Community, is something we’re very excited about at CFO”, says Bridget Dierks, the Director of Non-Profit Services at the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. “We basically came to the idea, what if we brought 10 organizations in, and really worked with them intensely to truly improve upon what there are doing at their non-profit. They range significantly in size, in length of time they’ve existed, and we’re working with those agency partners both in full day education sessions, as well as working at their (non-profit) site, to implement the information learned at the education sessions. What we’re hoping to do with these “Capacity Building” programs, is build strong organizations which are able to effectively work their mission, because they are functioning at the highest level they are capable of.”
“The Learning Community is a model we’ve done in other communities; in Atlanta, Santa-Anna, L.A. area” says Tiffany Applegate. Applegate is a Springfield native and a senior partner with X-Factor Consulting. Retained by the CFO, X-Factor Consulting will, over a 10 month period, provide intensive training and technical assistance to the 10 non-profits awarded participation in “The Learning Community”. Applegate says “We focus on areas like board development, community engagement, revenue and organizational development. We’re focusing on strategic planning and really making a difference and impact on organizations so they can be strong enough all around, and they have that core foundation so they can be here for the long haul to make a difference in their community… sustainability!”
“For us to be a part of The Learning Community is a huge opportunity for professional development”. Caitlyn Kissee is the Business Affairs Manager of Springfield Ballet: “You must attend all 4 (group) sessions, and they are full day sessions each time. Following each session is a 3 hour one-on-one coaching, where Tiffany comes to, in our case, Springfield Ballet, and myself and any other members of our staff or our board or volunteers that would like to be present, can be. And what Tiffany does, both in the group session and the individual is very objective and goal driven. It’s taking general knowledge and general examples, and forming an action plan that fits our organization so we don’t leave feeling overwhelmed just with new knowledge, but with tangible activities we can put in to place to make positive change at Springfield Ballet”.
Tiffany Applegate, of X-Factor Consulting says “We believe very strongly in applying principles. Too often we sit in conferences and hear good ideas only go home and put them on the shelf with no action steps behind it. So we train on principles, we discuss some things as a group, then we have work sheets where they apply principles to their organization. We’ll go through that throughout the day, and then, at the end of the day, we go through an action planning exercise so they have a list when they leave “these are the 4 things I’m going to get done, these are the 6 things I’m going to get done”.
Joining Springfield Ballet in the first Learning Community : Lost and Found Grief Center; Isabel’s House Crisis Nursery of the Ozarks; Greater Ozarks Audubon Society; the Family Violence Center; the Giggle Box Project; Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks; the GYN Cancers Alliance, GYNCA; the Carthage Crisis Center; and Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks.
Bonnie Keller, President and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks and The Tooth Truck Incorporated, tells KSMU “The value of this, (X-Factor Consulting sessions) if you were to put a dollar amount on it for each organization, is over $17,000 of training services.” When this reporter indicated surprise at Keller’s participation in the Learning Community, she responds: “We did have several other people tell us they were surprised we applied for the program. And yes, I think we do a fantastic job. We have hundreds of volunteers, a wonderful staff, a great community, people pull together and support our organization. And I think we have one of the best boards around, but we will be doubling out Ronald McDonald House program, and one of my dreams is to have a very large tooth brushing program in the schools, so if we add another Tooth Truck, that will take a lot of energy, time, organization, and funding, and not just one time funding, but year after year. That’s why we felt it was so important to be a part of “The Learning Community”. I think sometimes when you’ve been around a long time, you have to be really careful not to rest on your laurels and think “we’ve got it all together and we know everything”. I just think there’s always, always an area of standing on a different hill to look at your own organization. When you look at growing, you have to change, to get out of your comfort zone and really be able to embrace what it takes to grow. And I can already say the experience we’ve had, and knowledge we’ve gained (in the Learning Community) is going to make a huge difference in our organization”.
Keller’s comments come as welcome news to Tiffany Applegate of X-Factor Consulting, who takes note of a trend toward societal expectations among charitable donors: “It has changed from charity to investment. Donors want to know you have results and you’re getting outcomes from dollars invested; that they’re going to see a change in their community, a change in a life. That they will see a difference made with the investment they are making in your organization”.
For more information about the Ozarks Empowerment Project and the Learning Community, www.cfozarks.org.
For KSMU and Making A Difference Where You Live, I’m Mike Smith.