Gaining community buy-in for your social impact network is a critical challenge for many network leaders. Whether networks aim to recruit emerging community leadership or partner with seasoned grassroots organizers, leaders can struggle to make an impact when their target communities face conflicts to get involved. These challenges can get tougher when networks look to… Continue reading How Can My Network Effectively Engage with the Community?
In my previous blog, we discussed building and strengthening your social impact network’s theory of change. After defining the social problem, mapping interventions, and exploring assumptions, the question still lingers: What now? While a theory of change puts your network into the context of the social problem, it does not necessarily define steps to take… Continue reading Strategic Planning to Strategic Doing
Your social impact network is always at risk. Even for a seasoned network lead, the risks of guiding a collective impact model can make you shiver with uncertainty. From member disengagement to misaligned goals and competing interests to network failure, there’s a lot to ensure goes right to meet your shared mission. What if I… Continue reading Refining Your Social Problem Strategy for Your Nonprofit Network
Is Change Theory Enough? Turning Theory Toward Tenacity When nonprofits and their networks work toward the social good, one common goal tends to surface: sustainable impact — a social impact that makes a difference toward long-term social progress. Even for established nonprofits, long-term outcomes can seem distant and out of reach. Nonprofits must define the… Continue reading Is Change Theory Enough? Turning Theory Toward Tenacity
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the power of human connection has come center stage, especially for underserved and resource-limited communities. For those without access to stable housing, food, and social services, systems of connection can often open doors to community resources that ease urgent individual challenges. In the past decade, federal policy efforts… Continue reading Systems of Care Empowering Resilient Communities With Your Network Strategy
Even with passionate staff, a clear vision, and the right funding, nonprofit goals can still seem out of reach without the right leadership. With an informed and active board of directors, nonprofits can build momentum toward helping their communities. But are your leaders the right fit? In 2022, nearly 17% of U.S. nonprofits claimed that… Continue reading Is Your Nonprofit Board Falling Short?
Navigation systems are increasingly utilizing data to improve their practices. From the microcosmic measurement of client demand in each zip code to the macrocosmic measurement of whether navigation systems improve the environment around them: data can drive the growth, improvement, and success of care. Still, navigation systems are far from fully utilizing the potential of… Continue reading Referral data metrics: what they are, what exists, and why they are important
While navigation systems track a breadth of data metrics, several untracked variables remain integral to the improvement of care. We advocate for three groups of outcome measures needed to assess the efficacy of referral networks. The publication, “Mapping the Navigation Systems of Pennsylvania: Opportunities for the Future,” summarizes three metrics that would optimize network management… Continue reading The Future of Referral Data Metrics
Navigation systems are organizational arrangements designed to support individuals in locating and obtaining valuable benefits, programs, and services. These navigation systems are comprised of three core elements–human navigators, referral platforms, and intervention efforts., not all navigation systems are created equal. In this blog, we evaluate four common navigation designs and inspect the implications of each… Continue reading Navigation Systems: An introduction to the four types of navigation design
Finding and accessing help can be daunting. Individuals must figure out where to start, who to ask for help, and how to go about receiving that help. Navigation systems have recently been introduced as a solution to aid these individuals in overcoming these barriers. Navigation systems are organizational arrangements designed to support individuals in locating… Continue reading Understanding and navigating saturated referral landscapes
