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Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS. United Way of America Fall 2005. Standards of Excellence Framework. Results for Communities, Value for Investors. United Way’s strategy for strengthening communities. Impact Strategies, Resources & Results. Community Engagement & Vision.

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Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

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  1. Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS United Way of America Fall 2005

  2. Standards of Excellence Framework Results for Communities, Value for Investors United Way’s strategy for strengthening communities Impact Strategies, Resources & Results Community Engagement & Vision Broad organizational capabilities needed to execute on strategy Relationship Building & Brand Management Organizational Leadership & Governance Operations Core values of commitment to community success, accountability/ transparency, operational excellence, customer-centered, inclusiveness, innovation/continuous improvement Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  3. Component 2: Impact Strategies, Resources and Results • Five Standards: • 1: Impact Strategies • 2: Partner Engagement • 3: Resource Development and Mobilization • 4: Implementation and Action • 5: Measure, Evaluate and Communicate Results • “Getting focused” relates to all of these. Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  4. Intended Outcomes • As a result of this session, you will: • Understand the strategic benefits of focusing your resources to achieve targeted results • Have a framework and examples to help your organization narrow its focus • Know issues to consider in making decisions • Have advice and lessons learned from United Ways that have focused successfully Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  5. Topics Getting focused: Why do it? What are the benefits? What does “getting focused” look like? How one United Way got focused Making decisions about your focus Other lessons learned Related resources Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  6. Benefits Reported by “Focused” United Ways • Contributed to their recognition as a community leader around specific community issues • Led to a framework for a 5-year investment strategy focused on community change • Provided a rational alternative to historical funding • Helped them to say “no” to work not in alignment • Helped align skills and resources Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  7. Benefits of Getting Focused, continued • Defined different investment products to • offer to different donor segments and • serve as alternatives to agency designations • Provided content for a marketing strategy that differentiates them • Revitalized interest in the United Way by donors, staff, volunteers, partners • Attracted new people with fresh ideas Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  8. Topics Getting focused: Why do it? What are the benefits? What does “getting focused” look like? How one United Way got focused Making decisions about your focus Other lessons learned Related resources Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  9. What Does “Getting Focused” Mean? Selecting a limited number of issues and strategies in which to invest time, relationships, technology, expertise, money, and other resources to improve people’s lives Getting focused is essential for delivering meaningful results with limited resources Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  10. Focus Area What Does “Getting Focused” Look Like? Investments of time, relationships, technology, expertise, money, other resources Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  11. Focus Area Specific direct-service and/or community change strategies for improving lives What Does “Getting Focused” Look Like? Investments of time, relationships, technology, expertise, money, other resources Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  12. Focus Area Next level; more specific Next level; still more specific Next level; even more specific Specific direct-service and/or community change strategies for improving lives What Does “Getting Focused” Look Like? Investments of time, relationships, technology, expertise, money, other resources Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  13. Priority Area Goal Objective Strategy United Way of Santa Fe CountyLevels of Focus Investments of time, relationships, technology, expertise, money, other resources Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  14. Focus Area Impact Initiative Strategy Project United Way of the Midlands (Omaha)Levels of Focus Investments of time, relationships, technology, expertise, money, other resources Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  15. Focus Area Vision Target Issue Objective Strategy United Way of AmericaLevels of Focus Investments of time, relationships, technology, expertise, money, other resources Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  16. Getting Focused e.g. Focus Area: Healthy Children Vision: Our community’s children are physically and mentally healthy Target issue: Dental health of preschool children • Objectives: • Ensure that children establish good dental health habits early • Promote regular dental check-ups and needed treatment beginning at age 1 Specific Strategies: • ??? Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  17. Increase parents’ knowledge of child dental health • Amend state Medicaid guidelines to cover children’s dental care Efforts to influence community changes that: • Incorporate information on children’s dental health care in parenting programs • Promote dental health education activities in child care centers Prevention & development services that: Basic human-needs & crisis services that: • Provide evaluation and referrals for emergency dental care for children in homeless shelters Specific Direct-service and Community- change Strategies e.g. Breakthrough opportunities to advance community change efforts • Influence a media campaign on children’s issues to spotlight child dental health Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  18. Influence media campaign Specific Strategies Mapped on Community Investment Triangle e.g. • Increase parents’ knowledge of child dental health • Amend state Medicaid guidelines to cover children’s dental care • Incorporate child dental health care infor-mation in parenting programs • Promote dental health ed in child care centers • Provide evaluations and referrals for emergency dental care for children in homeless shelters Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  19. Topics Getting focused: Why do it? What are the benefits? What does “getting focused” look like? How one United Way got focused Making decisions about your focus Other lessons learned Related resources Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  20. Priority Area Goal Objective Strategy United Way of Santa Fe CountyLevels of Focus Investments of time, relationships, technology, expertise, money, other resources Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  21. Getting Focused in Santa Fe CountyHow and How Long –Level 1: Priority Areas • Who Did What: • Staff researched & provided options. Included research into other UWs, survey of donors, discussion of options, selection of draft • Community Investment Committee (CIC) proposed • Staff & CIC identified & recruited experts for Work Groups (agency & nonprofit staff and other community members with expertise in each priority area). • Work Groups & Board approved proposed priority areas • How Long It Took: • Approximately 5 months (not including board approval) Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  22. United Way of Santa Fe CountyFour Priority Areas • Helping Kids Succeed • Improving Health & Healing • Increasing Self-sufficiency • Unifying Our Diverse Community Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  23. Getting Focused in Santa Fe CountyHow and How Long–Level 2: Goals • Who Did What: • Staff provided options • CIC recommended • Work Groups reviewed, approved • Board approved • How Long It Took: • Once priority areas determined, draft in about 1 month • Finalized in 2 more months (not including board approval) Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  24. Getting Focused in Santa Fe County A Goal Within a Priority Area Priority Area: Increasing Self-sufficiency Goal: Individuals and families have opportunities to maintain independence and improve their quality of life Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  25. Getting Focused in Santa Fe CountyHow and How Long –Level 3: Objectives • Who Did What: • Staff synthesized Work Group input, drafted objectives • CIC recommended • Work Groups vetted • Board approved • How Long It Took: • Approximately 3 months, not including board approval (1 month overlap with finalizing goals) Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  26. Getting Focused in Santa Fe County Objectives for a Goal Priority Area: Increasing Self-sufficiency • Goal: • Individuals and families have opportunities to maintain independence and improve their quality of life • Objective: • Increase economic opportunities and financial security for families and individuals by focusing on financial skills, housing options, employment and job opportunities, and functional literacy Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  27. Getting Focused in Santa Fe CountyHow and How Long –Level 4: Strategies • Who Did What: • Staff synthesized Work Group input, drafted strategies • CIC recommended • Work Groups vetted • Board approved • How Long It Took: • Approximately 2 months Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  28. Promote innovative approaches such as IDAs to help families become self-sufficient • Develop partnerships between nonprofits and educational institutions that lead to careers in small business and nonprofit management Efforts to influence community changes that: Breakthrough opportunities to advance community change efforts • Increase the development of affordable housing • Provide outreach and education leading to financial literacy and security for low-income, at-risk populations • Provide people in the hospitality industry with skills needed to advance their careers Prevention & development services that: Basic human-needs & crisis services that: • No strategies identified for investment Getting Focused in Santa Fe County Direct-service and Community-change Strategies for One Objective Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  29. Topics Getting focused: Why do it? What are the benefits? What does “getting focused” look like? How one United Way got focused Making decisions about your focus Lessons learned from the field Related resources Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  30. At Each Level of Decision-making About Your Focus: • Be clear about the topic – what you are trying to decide • Understand how it fits within the level above and provides the context for the level below • Define criteria to guide the decision • Based on the criteria, decide what specific information you need to make the decision • Think strategically about who to engage • Be prepared to amend earlier decisions Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  31. Focus Area next level next level next level Strategies In Each Level of Decision-making: Engagement Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  32. Engagement Community investors Neighborhoods Agencies • Not about engaging everyone in every decision Corporations • Not necessarily about engaging the same players in each decision Networks Faith-based groups Issue advocates Individuals Formal organizations Foundations Academia Government Labor groups Demographic groups Informal associations Systems Institutions Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  33. Strategic Engagement • The right players • At the right points in the process • In the right roles • For the right purposes Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  34. what people/organizations/interests need to be involved to provide the required . . . • knowledge • skills • relationships • population perspective • affiliations • legitimacy • support for implementation • etc. Deciding Who to Engage • Considering . . . • what you are trying to decide at this point • the information needed to apply your decision-making criteria • the realities of history, political climate, turf, influence, etc. • other important considerations Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  35. Topics Getting focused: Why do it? What are the benefits? What does “getting focused” look like? How one United Way got focused Making decisions about your focus Other lessons learned Related Resources Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  36. Other Lessons Learned • Things they’re glad they did • Lots of communication with agencies and donors along the way • Engagement of people with specific expertise through work groups to provide input and vetting at each level • Staff provided recommendations to volunteers, who actually made decisions • Regular education of board members • Not holding out for consensus on every decision Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  37. Other Lessons Learned • Best advice they can offer • Fewer (focus areas, objectives, strategies) is better • Involve all organizational functions in the process • Persevere. Unless you are ready for a long-term commitment, do not start • You can proceed at different speeds with different focus areas Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  38. Other Lessons Learned • Best advice they can offer, continued • Adapt. Be ready to change based on valid input while maintaining the core of your original plan • Expect and work with resistance from some agencies and other stakeholders • Take as much time as you need, but no more • Have courage and take (calculated) risks Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  39. Other Lessons Learned • Best advice they can offer, continued • Communicate, communicate, communicate – internally and externally • Volunteers need to know why you need to focus, how decisions will be used, how it’s being done • Funded agencies/programs, other partners, stakeholders need to know how, why, what it may mean for them Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  40. Topics Getting focused: Why do it? What are the benefits? What does “getting focused” look like? Making decisions about your focus How one United Way got focused Lessons learned from the field Related resources Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  41. on United Way Online Related Resources • The Community Investment Triangle: Targeting Our Resources (keyword: CITriangle) • Connecting Program Outcome Measurement to Community Impact (keyword: POM-CI) • Getting Focused to Make Tough Choices (keyword: GetFocused) • Redefining Agency Relationships for Community Impact (keyword: RedefineAgency) • Small Cities: Getting Focused for Greater Results webinar replay (http://uwa.breezecentral.com/p84658172/) Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

  42. Focusing on Issues and Strategies for RESULTS

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