Diving Into Collaboration Corners
In-person events are back at Mission Capital
We had a fabulous kick-off with Collaboration Corners! This pilot series is part of our membership benefits, and seeks to bring together mission-aligned organizations to connect, learn, and problem-solve the issues specific to their area of focus.
Our first Collaboration Corner brought together organizations dedicated to supporting the development and sustaining of economic security and the alleviation of the effects of poverty for the Central Texas Community. We were pleased to welcome 30 registrants from 24 different organizations, ranging from established large organizations to small startup organizations.
Purpose of Collaboration Corner
We sought to bring together organizations seeking to serve individuals and families experiencing food insecurity, housing insecurity, or other necessities that are affected by poverty. The primary objectives were to discuss challenges in our work, map what our respective organizations provide to the community, and identify any gaps in services we might be able to address collectively.
The goals of our time together included:
Gain a deeper sense of what is being offered by peer organizations
Generate ideas for collaboration
Understand areas of overlap
Identify gaps in services
Feel energized about your work and the work in Central Texas
Collaboration Corners are designed to provide peer-to-peer discussion space, and the agenda is set by a planning committee of organizations that work within the space.
Mission Capital Thanks Our Planning Partners
City of Austin Office of Innovation- Dre Kaltz
El Buen Samaritano - Stephanie Cerda, Dr. Roasmaria Murillo, Martha Robayao
LifeWorks - Wendy Varnell
Mobile Loaves & Fishes - Laura Griebel (special gratitude for hosting our event)
United Way for Greater Austin - Christie Bradow
Overview of the Agenda & Conversation
Our planning team suggested a loose flow for the day so that we could follow where the conversation went naturally, it was brilliant and worked very well.
Agenda:
Introduction 360 - each organization shared their organization name, mission, something their organization does exceptionally well and one area of challenge they are experiencing
Breakouts by the primary challenge themes
Free time to discuss possible collaborative opportunities
Conversation:
Identified challenges were around recruiting and retaining high-caliber staff, finding and keeping volunteers, and the changing nature of funding in the nonprofit space these days. Here were some key takeaways from each of those areas:
Recruiting and retaining high-caliber staff
Challenge: People are leaving organizations earlier and more frequently, the cost of living in Austin, quality of candidates seems to be declining, increase of burnout experienced by staff, sustaining staff (what are the right levers), and challenges related to direct services. Also, the Americorp stipend is less than cost of living, so organizations that count on those volunteers are having fewer volunteers than in the past.
Suggested solutions from the group:
Get creative with benefits. Free pizza doesn’t pay bills, but the total package of benefits can help make your organization be more attractive. Examples are: Flexible schedules, Hybrid and or remote work options, Increased PTO and leadership modeling a healthy balance of taking PTO.
Transparent salary is a must at this point. Let applicants know the salary range up front so that you don’t waste time interviewing and investing in folks for them to turn you down as a result of salary. Also, be transparent about Cost of Living Adjustments if your organization makes them.
Create leveled job titles. People want to feel like they are progressing. So if you have a Coordinator of Events position, consider having a behind-the scenes process for what they need to do to be elevated to Coordinator of Events 2, or Senior Coordinator of Events. This helps people stay in a position longer because they are able to show growth and feel like they are growing in their career.
Prioritize Wellbeing. Create a burnout education package and work burnout management into the work that your organization does.
Balance Staff Capacity. If you add new programs and don’t add new staff, then something needs to be sunset. We cannot continue to add to the workload of current staff and expect them not to burnout or to produce the same caliber of work when the work grows.
Prevent Burnout. Provide training that creates psychological safety for your staff. It must be okay to be human and need time off for life events or JUST BECAUSE; further, staff must know that it is okay to take risks and fail sometimes. Failure produces iteration and growth.
Finding and keeping volunteers
Challenge: Many volunteers didn’t return following the pandemic shutdowns. Additionally, many organizations struggle to find skilled volunteers who commit for long term service.
Suggested solutions from the group:
Invest in relationships. Spend time building personal relationships with potential and current volunteers.
Provide tours of what you do to the public. Invite businesses, other nonprofits, college students, etc. for tours.
Leverage networks including the networks of current volunteers, some organizations even have an incentive program for volunteers that bring in new volunteers
Invest in volunteer management. Having a dedicated staff member to build relationships, make sure volunteers get regular communication, and thank you notes for their service can make a huge difference.
Consider generating a volunteer to staff pipeline.
Have incentive programs for recurring and consistent volunteers. Earn swag, volunteer tiers which can include training levels, etc.
Professional Development. Train volunteers to see service as an opportunity to learn so that you remove hero/savior complex service.
Be clear. Mange expectations of what you need from volunteers.
Meet volunteers where they are - not all volunteers will be appropriate for all of your activities. Have an intake process that will place volunteers where their strengths and passions meet (example: some people aren’t good with customer service, so maybe place them in a background role).
Provide adequate training and onboarding for new volunteers, don’t just “throw them in”. Also, make sure that the jobs they are doing are clearly defined and expressly tell them how it makes a difference for your organizations and the constituents it serves.
Changing nature of funding in the nonprofit space
Identifying ways to connect business growth with supporting newer organizations and BIPOC led organizations. Funders will appreciate seeing that their funds would help an ecosystem of organizations through you.
Corporate Donors are key.
Social impact - volunteer opportunities for employees
Marketing - client alignment and profit
Foundations- mission aligned outreach
Creating a new table to meet with other startup organizations or growth phase organizations.
Use collaboratives and commissions to raise your profile.
Stewardship is important in fundraising. Making and nurturing relationships with funders.
Big brands can bridge support to smaller brands.
Need to work to overcome scarcity ecosystem mindset.
Bring together social enterprises for conversations.
Feedback
Percent of participants who either Agree or Strongly Agree with the following statements:
92% - I have a deeper sense of what is currently being offered by peer organizations
67% - Today, brought up at least one idea for collaboration for a future project or offering
83% - I have a better understanding of areas of overlap in my work with the work of peer organizations
42% - Today, helped me identify a gap in services to our intended audience
83% - I was able to process or brainstorm ideas to solve common challenges experienced by my peer organizations
75% - I feel energized about the work being done in Central Texas to support the mission area of discussion today
9% - I was able to learn about or speak to at least one possible funder
“Great job with this pilot! My only suggestions would be to set an audible timer whenever folks are taking turns sharing, and to expand outreach to more intentionally engage different demographics. Loved the tactile items on tables, the organic flow of the event, and the energy and warmth of everyone in the room!” - Participant Feedback
Overall, 83% of participants reported they are either likely or very likely to recommend this event to peers or colleagues.
Register for a Future Collaboration Corner Opportunity
It is possible that your organization will comfortably fit into more than one category, you are welcome to register for as many offerings as you like. Members from any level of your organization are encouraged to attend. And, if your organization would like to serve on the planning committee, please reach out to our membership team.
Serving Families Dealing with Incarceration Collaboration Corner
January 22, 2024 - 1:00 to 4:00 PMEducational Services Collaboration Corner
April 19, 2024 - 1:00 to 4:00 PMNonprofit Startup Organizations Collaboration Corner
June 27, 2024 - 1:00 to 4:00 PM