Steering Committee
A small steering committee will form with members to develop a strategic plan for
the development of a strong and successful nonprofit sector in Southern Florida. The groups first objective is to more clearly
define our short and long term goals, develop an identity and support the other sub-committees described below.
Advocacy Committee
This is the largest of the three sub-committees. The group's goals are to work with the steering
committee to clearly define the groups identity and short and long term goals so that a clear and coherent image of the larger
group is communicated to other nonprofits and the general public.
In addition, the group shall be developing
a specific action plan that will allow us to make some progress in the short-term.
In order to provide immediate information
and education on advocacy and lobbying, we have provided links to tutorials at www.clpi.org/. Although there are some guidelines, nonprofits can and should lobby.
An organized nonprofit sector could deploy such tactics as cultivating awareness of policy makers regarding nonprofit issues,
legislative alerts, lobbying, and sustaining revenue streams. Some sub-sectors of the nonprofit sector do carry out this function
in terms of their individual interests, however some general issues that impact all nonprofits may require a broader united
effort in order to be effective.
Despite concerns that it would be difficult to find a single policy agenda relevant
to the diverse organizations that make up sector, the reality is that legislation is passed regularly that impacts all nonprofits
regardless of their individual mission statements.
Finally, it is important to further educate all nonprofits about allowable activities in the area of advocacy and the effective
use of advocacy tools.
Public Awareness Committee
A unified nonprofit sector can increase public awareness regarding the value and contributions we make to our communities.
Working together the nonprofit sector can develop a media and a public relations campaign targeted at policy makers,
corporations, foundations and other funders, and the general public.
Imagine going to a donor and asking for $100
and having them say, "only $100? I know what you do is so important. I am going to give you $1,000." The for-profit world
does this all the time through collaborations, associations and networks, why don't we? Fundraising is one need that all nonprofits
regardless of their mission have in common.
We need to regularly capture and communicate real evidence of the economic
and social impact of the nonprofit sector in our communities. By doing this, we could help to create leadership that values
nonprofits and would foster greater community involvement and support for the work of nonprofit organizations.
Collective
Purchasing Committee
This sub-committee will research the potential for fledgling collaborative groups such as this
one to begin the process of developing a collective purchasing plan. In order to take advantage of the experience of others,
they will be reaching out to other groups that have already gone through this process with some success. For many
small to medium size nonprofits it is virtually impossible to receive meaningful discounts for D & O insurance, health
insurance, travel, office supplies and equipment, technology upgrades, printing, employee benefits and other necessities that
ALL nonprofits need. Forming a substantial network of many nonprofits would allow you to receive the same discounts as larger
for-profit businesses.
Training and Technical Assistance Committee
By organizing within the nonprofit sector and coordinating
our efforts more efficiently, we can provide better and more training and technical assistance to empower all nonprofits to
fulfill their missions. Training providers in our community need to work more closely together and find better ways to disseminate
information about available trainings.
In addition, we need to join together and share our limited resources to bring
more and better trainings into the sector. We need trainings that assist nonprofits at all different sizes and levels of growth.
As it is, many of our current trainings speak only to the middle, leaving out those in the introductory and advanced stages
of learning.
Imagine a group of fifteen nonprofits joining together to bring in a national expert in some area where
training is desperately needed. One nonprofit may not be able to afford this, but fifteen could. Imagine larger nonprofits
opening there doors to smaller ones and allowing those smaller nonprofits to attend their trainings.
Collaboration
Committee
This sub-committee will look to develop resources to support collaborative efforts in programming and other
areas of nonprofit management.
Building strategic partnerships and collaboration within the nonprofit sector as well as with the public and for-profit
sectors is a way to maximize effectiveness while building clout and visibility as well as serve to increase access to resources
to serve our missions.
It would also be great to find ways to reduce unnecessary competition, reduce duplication of
services through mergers and other efforts to consolidate service delivery when appropriate.
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Other committee/volunteer action areas
We will create a monthly showcase for local, regional and state nonprofit sector organizations and programs that take
an innovative and collaborative approach. The intention behind the "Spot Light For Greatness" is to improve the nonprofit
sector's imagine, provide people with unique ideas for programming and call attention to programs providing excellent services.
a group will form to provide a forum for nonprofit executives to confidentially share information and ideas and learn
from one another in a supportive environment. The group's name is Non-profit Executives Together and is intended
for Tucson's nonprofit executives.
Research, design, implement and promote a centralized location where all nonprofits know they can go to find existing resources
that are available to them.
Ideas for potential future action
Create a nonprofit resource exchange opportunity, either online through a
listserv or a live meeting schedule. A venue where nonprofit leaders can exchange information and resources.
Community
meetings in cities throughout southern Florida..Public Forum
