sustainability: the buzz word that keeps us busy as bees presented by: cindy coney monarch training...

Sustainability: The Buzz Word that Keeps Us Busy as Bees

Presented by:Cindy Coney

Monarch Training and Consulting, LLC

This product was supported by Florida Department of Children and Families Substance Abuse and Mental Health Program Office funding

Introductions

PositionsWhat would you like to learn today?

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Overview: Six Keys To Sustainability

1. Vision2. Mission3. Goals/

Objectives4. Leadership

Commitment5. Financial

Stability6. Evaluation

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“Too busy doing the urgent to get to the important.”

What do you want to sustain and why?

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What are the “bare bones” necessary to sustain it?

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Coalition/Collaborative Uniqueness

Coalition

A coalition is a pact or treaty among individuals or groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause. Wikipedia

A temporary alliance of distinct parties, persons, or states for joint action-Miriam Webster Dictionary

Collaborate-to work with another or others on a joint project

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Three Functions that Make Coalitions Unique

Create collaborative capacity among diverse organizations

Help communities develop the capacity to develop social capital that can be applied to other areas

Catalysts or agents of change at the local level, advocating for stronger policies, influencing individual behavior, and delivering services, among other activities.

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Sustainability

What is Sustainability?

The ability to deliver an appropriate level of benefits for an extended period of time after assistance from an external donor has terminated. USAID

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Sustainability

The capacity to endure

Long-term maintenance of responsibility - has environmental, economic, and social dimensions

Encompasses the concept of stewardship, the responsible management of resource use

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Predictors of Coalition Sustainability

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Challenges to Sustainability

ChallengesThe Research Says…

Structure of CoalitionsGovernance ChallengesLack of Funding for Core OperationsOther Challenges

From: Developing a Conceptual Framework to Assess the Sustainability of Community Coalitions- Jan. 7, 2010

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Structure of Coalitions-Challenges

Partnerships are loosely bound, and there are few barriers to exiting the coalition (Alexander et al 2003)

Loose organizational structure, low level of funding and voluntary nature of program (Leviton et al 2006)

Comprised of different groups with divergent structures and work cultures-difficult to maintain a working partnership (Leviton et al 2006)

Member organizations found it difficult to balance their time and commitment between the coalition and their home organization (Alexander et al 2003) .

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Governance Challenges

Responsibilities of Steering Committee or Executive Team are not clearly defined.

Steering committee overrides the rights of individual members (Butterfloss, 2007)

Role clarity between staff versus the Steering Committee

Absence of Memorandums of Understanding that clarify the roles and responsibilities of all entities involved (NORC, 2007)

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Lack of funding for Core Coalition Operations

Challenge: identifying resources that can be used to convene members, hire staff, build collaborative capacity, and plan for the future (Cutler, 2002)

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Other Challenges

Turf battlesLeader and member turnoverShifting coalition priorities

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Question???

When you think about sustaining the work of your organization, what are the biggest challenges you face?

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Vision

Vision

• Defines where you want to go

• Clarifies future state

• Drives passion for your work

• Donors buy vision©cindyconey

Vision defines WHERE you will be when your goals and mission are accomplished.

• Change in behavior of client/s

• Your impact

• Improved Society

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Mission

Mission

WHY your organization exists. Reason for being? Purpose?

Remember…it isn’t WHAT you do, but WHY you exist.

Apple-Challenge the status quo (Think Different)

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Walt Disney• Vision:

To make people happy!• Mission:

"The mission of The Walt Disney Company is to be one of the world's leading producers and providers of entertainment and information. Using our portfolio of brands to differentiate our content, services and consumer products, we seek to develop the most creative, innovative and profitable entertainment experiences and related products in the world."

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Your Mission Statement Should: Express purpose so as to inspire support

and ongoing commitment Motivate those who are connected to the

organization Be articulated in a way that is convincing

and easy to grasp Use active verbs to describe what you do No jargon BONUS: Be short enough so that anyone

connected to the organization can readily repeat it

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Activity

On a piece of paper write 2 or 3 words that would explain why your initiative exists?

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Leadership Commitment

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The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet.

- Theodore M. Hesburgh

Sustainability Question:

Do we have leadership that is committed beyond the grant cycle?

Has a plan been created which takes the organization/project beyond the grant cycle?

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Leadership

Leaders take action on behalf of clients Leaders hold group together Can articulate what the project does and

the measurable change seen in clients Stay focused on vision/mission - Avoid

“mission drift” Passionate - Motivate others to invest Financial stewards Review funding environment, strength of

partnerships and collaborations

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Financial Stability

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Sustainability Questions

Where will funding come from beyond the grant cycle to fund collaborative efforts?

Who can help create a funding plan?Have we begun, as a group to explore

where funding may come from in the future?

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Where will revenue come from?

•Patient Service Fees•Other Public Funding•Fees for Education Services (earned

income)•Grants•Donations & Fundraising

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RevenuesFundraising

• Cultivating relationships• Collaborative partners• Communicating your story - with passion

Key to Sustainability

Revenue DiversificationSolid Accounting Systems, Policies and

ProceduresDetermination in revenue generationEvaluation shows resources are invested

well (ROI).

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Evaluation

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Remembering What You Already Know:Evaluation

A: Program Evaluation is a systematic method for collecting, analyzing, and using

information to answer questions about projects, policies and programs.

(Source: US HHS, Administration for Children and Families, The Program Manager's Guide to Evaluation, 2010. Chapter 2 “What is Program Evaluation?”

Q: What is program evaluation?

Three primary uses of evaluation:

1. Persuasive: To persuade an audience (potential stakeholders) to support and sustain your program, outcomes, mission…

2. Instrumental: Using evaluation results to change, fix, and improve the program itself. (What we call “Evaluation to improve, not prove”)

3. Conceptual: To raise awareness of the issues that your program is organized around, especially to illuminate challenges or barriers faced in route to a specific outcome

Review

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Six Keys to Sustainability

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1. Vision-everyone is clear on WHERE the organization is going

2. Mission-everyone is clear on WHY the organization exists

3. Goals/Objectives- HOW to achieve vision-measurable

4. Leadership Commitment-have leadership that is committed beyond the grant period

5. Financial Stability-financially self-supporting with diversified revenue

6. Evaluation-used to inform decisions around what should be sustained

Thank you!

Cindy ConeyMonarch Training and Consulting, LLC

813-833-7026cindyconey@aol.com

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