At work in over 2,700 American cities — and now, other countries.

Most agencies struggle to maintain a constant flow of resources that sustain and advance their mission. They cannot keep pace with the increased demand for services which is forcing them to “do more, with less.” Also, people’s needs are becoming more complex and beyond the scope of most agencies.

Fortunately, new breakthroughs in networking technology and collaboration now make it easier for agencies, across a community, to work together. They can reduce duplication by as much as 91%, and they resourceful allocate their limited resources where they are most needed.

Working Together
Funding is Changing. Are You Keeping Up?

Funding is Changing. Are You Keeping Up?

In today’s community benefit landscape, collaborating with other organizations is not optional, it’s essential. It’s essential for having a maximum impact AND to securing your future funding. Simon Solutions President, Mike Simon, along with Trident United Way's Cathy Easley, look at the changing funding landscape and how tracking and measuring success and sustainability are key factors for the future of funding in the community benefit organizational future.

Learn:
  • The New Funding Logic Model
  • Measuring Input, Activities, Outputs, Outcomes and Impact
  • The importance of creating a transformational roadmap

Presenter:

Cathy Easley
Michael Simon
Simon Solutions
Michael Simon
Cathy Easley
Trident United Way
The Power of Assessments

The Power of Assessments

Could you create assessments that help you evaluate program effectiveness or gaps? What about assessments to help people see their personal progress over time? Or, what about assessments that can help you determine someone’s vulnerability? In this webinar, Krista reviews the different types of assessments CharityTracker and Oasis Insight users are utilizing, from Getting Ahead participant resources to Homeless Information Management System (HMIS) vulnerability indexes.

Learn:
  • Create assessments to evaluate program effectiveness
  • Creating assessments to help people measure their progress over time
  • Creating assessments to help people measure their progress over time

Presenter:

Krista Petty
Jason Gabriel
Simon Solutions
Jason Gabriel
Krista Petty
Simon Solutions
Assessing & Coordinating Care with the Homeless

Assessing & Coordinating Care with the Homeless

One of the most essential tools in the human services sector is a valid, reliable, and consistent tool that allows for a definitive assessment of the needs of clients. Without a proper assessment of clients, chances are very good that resources will be allocated inefficiently – perhaps through a first come, first served system or serving the squeakiest wheel first. OrgCode has developed the SPDAT (Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool). Now in its fourth year, the SPDAT is available in multiple versions and is even integrated with many HMIS programs including CharityTracker.

Learn:
  • Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (SPDAT)
  • Using data to change and improve service delivery
  • Increase housing and decrease homelessness outcomes system-wide

Presenter:

David Tweedie
David Tweedie
Equipping Volunteers for Success

Equipping Volunteers for Success

Volunteers! Our community benefit organizations and churches often depend on them to help us meet our missions and expand our impact. In this webinar, Krista will discuss best practices in working with volunteers, including: inviting people to serve & writing position descriptions; training & offering feedback; affirming & recognizing volunteers; evaluating & reflecting on experiences; and lots of downloadable resources.

Learn:
  • Best practices of volunteer management
  • How to train, affirm, and offer feedback to volunteers
  • How to evaluate with teams, recognize volunteers and the importance of reflecting on volunteer experiences

Presenter:

Krista Petty
Simon Solutions
Krista Petty
Casting a Wide Collaborative Net

Casting a Wide Collaborative Net

Bring more partners into your network to collaborate! In this webinar, we explore how United Way Director from Ada United Way and United Way of Central Arkansas developed and grew their powerful networks. We talk with Maret and James about their on-boarding and training process with agencies and churches, as well as what their role as a network administrator entails. We also look at how leaders develop in their roles as community conveners for the benefit of their city.

Learn:
  • How these networks got started
  • How community organizations, churches, schools, businesses and more collaborate to create community solutions
  • How communication flows and technology strengthens their work together

Presenter:

Maret Cahill
James Jackson
James Jackson
Maret Cahill
United Way
Creating Collaborative Solutions

Creating Collaborative Solutions

In this webinar hear principles and practices for effective collaboration from Dr. Tom Wolff. Tom is a nationally recognized consultant on coalition building and community development, with over 30 years’ experience training and consulting with individuals, organizations and communities across North America. He has published numerous resources to help communities solve their own problems. His most recent book is "The Power of Collaborative Solutions – Six Principles and Effective Tools for Building Health Communities" published by Jossey Bass-John Wiley in early 2010.

Learn:
  • How to design community-based solutions, as opposed to agency-based only
  • How to ask outreach, asset-based questions and move from crisis orientation to prevention
  • How to move from fragmentation and duplication of effort to holistic approaches and coordination

Presenter:

Dr. Tom Wolff
Tom Wolff & Associates
Dr. Tom Wolff
Improving the Social Determinants of Health & Community Collaboration Part 1

Improving the Social Determinants of Health & Community Collaboration Part 1

Hospitals and healthcare systems are moving into the community to collaborate with other organizations and churches for the benefit of their patients and overall community health, as well as their bottom line. CHI St. Joseph Health in Bryan, Texas is one such health system doing that and they are utilizing CharityTracker technology to meet their goals. Learn from Mary Clare Carden, Hospital Chaplain and Director of Spiritual Care, how to better serve people living in poverty; improve communication and move beyond just helping people cope with poverty but to move toward genuine opportunities for them to achieve and be valued. Learn how this Charity Tracker network shares resources and information in order to reduce re-admissions and expand the allocation of resources to those who need it the most in a timely manner. Mary Clare Carden has worked in healthcare for almost 30 years, starting as a Decision Analyst in 1990 with a Masters in Public Health/Hospital Administration and an MBA. She found her true calling in ministry as a hospital chaplain in 1998, and received Masters in Theology and Biblical Studies, completing her Residency at UCLA Medical Center and Neuropsychiatric Hospital. She is currently Director of Spiritual Care for CHI St. Joseph Health in Bryan, Texas. In Part 2 of the webinar on September 25, learn about the Brazos Health Resource Center, the hub for this CharityTracker network.

Learn:
  • How to better serve people living in poverty
  • Improve communication and move beyond just helping people cope with poverty but to move toward genuine opportunities for them to achieve and be valued
  • How this Charity Tracker network shares resources and information in order to reduce re-admissions and expand the allocation of resources

Presenter:

Mary Clare Carden
CHI St. Joseph Hospital
Mary Clare Carden
2020 National Virtual Summit

2020 National Virtual Summit

For everyone seeking best practices for fighting hunger in our communities. Coming together, from across the country, are passionate and courageous caregivers who are on the “front lines” of fighting hunger in America. They came together to learn from each other, share best practices, and explore innovative approaches that make a difference in the lives of children, adults, and families.

Learn:
  • How food banks are adjusting to COVID-19 challenges
  • Innovative solutions for mobile pantries
  • How data is increasing resources and encouraging funders

Presenter:

Food Bank Experts
Multiple Food Banks
Food Bank Experts
2021 CharityTracker National Virtual Summit

2021 CharityTracker National Virtual Summit

Learn how helping agencies, from across the country, are becoming more innovative and effective in overcoming complex challenges, including COVID-19. See how charities, churches, healthcare providers, funders, and more are working together to advance a more resourceful, coordinated, and comprehensive approach to transforming people’s lives.

Learn:
  • Learn how to use simple-to-use tools to address complex COVID-19 challenges.
  • Learn how to quickly find and coordinate resources, from across your community, in real-time.
  • Learn how to develop community partnerships and cross-sector collaboration for collective impact.

Presenter:

Innovative Caregivers
Multiple Care Networks
Innovative Caregivers
Reports & Documents

Reports & Documents

Content coming soon...

Capacity-building Tools

Capacity-building Tools — 3 categories

Now it is possible!

Helping agencies, across a community, are learning how to work together more efficiently and effectively to transform the lives of individuals and families. New and exciting breakthroughs in networking and capacity-building technology are happening in over 2,000 cities in 49 states.

Charities, churches, schools, hospitals, food banks, funders, and more are learning how to align their unique strengths and collectively tackle tough community challenges with greater impact and success. Every community, across the country, now has a big opportunity to create an unprecedented model for comprehensive coordinated care that makes a real and lasting difference.

Proven Resources

Since 2006, we have worked with many experts and practitioners, who are passionately engaged in combating poverty, hunger, homelessness, and more. Their knowledge and experience have proven to be a "best practice" for collective community impact. Each column is a clickable link to their websites.

aha Process

Bridges Out of Poverty

Getting Ahead provides people in poverty with the same information found in Bridges Out of Poverty, which was developed for professionals and others in the community working to end poverty.  Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World is a book and a 45-hour workshop that helps individuals in poverty build their resources for a more prosperous life for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Phil DeVolGetting Ahead
Phil DeVol
Author / Educator
Getting Ahead Network
phil.gettingahead@gmail.com
Tru Charity

True Charity

True charity stems from compassion and cannot be legislated. Government is an institution and cannot be charitable in truth. True charity is voluntarily sourced. If charity doesn’t empower the poor, it misses the mark.Empowerment is impossible without some aspect of challenge to help a personbecome self-sufficient. Real charity is “made actual” – it makes a realdifference. Some good or service is rendered to the poor, and outcomes aremeasured to ensure that efforts are actually making a difference in theindividual and community.

James WhitfordLife Deck
James Whitford
Executive Director
True Charity Initiative
james@truecharity.us
Spark Consulting

Spark Consulting Group

We believe our leaders and organizations must be equipped with the resources, tools, and talent necessary to tackle deeply rooted problems that exist in our communities. Too many times, those entrusted to make a difference are expected to do so with extremely limited resources and insufficient support. On a mission to change the odds.  Spark Consulting Group works alongside courageous organizations that dare to combat social epidemics plaguing our community – providing expertise, technical support, and strategic leadership.  

Angie WilliamsSpark Consulting
Angie Williams
Founder / President
Spark Consulting Group
angie@sparkachangenow.com
Tom Wolff

Tom Wolff & Associates

Tom Wolff and Associates bring forty years of experience in coalition building, community development, collaborative solutions and collective impact. We can advance and support your community and agency initiatives. We have the tools and resources necessary to mobilize the power of collaborative processes in your communities. Through collaborations and coalitions, individuals, organizations and communities become empowered to impact the world around them. Our work is dedicated to bringing greater joy and a deeper sense of spirit and purpose to those seeking to create healthy communities.

Tom WolffPower of Collaborative Solutions
Tom Wolff
Author / Consultant
Tom Wolff & Associates
tom@tomwolff.com
Significant Matters

Significant Matters

Since 2005, Significant Matters has worked with individuals, businesses, city government, non-profits and especially the faith-based community both domestically and internationally to explore and develop more sustainable waysof doing good. Though we still have a long way to go, we believe it’s possibleto accelerate the learning curve in this arena through an initiative we haveentitled SATtalks, which stands for Sustainability and Transformation Talks.

Tom BassfordSaTtalks
Tom Bassford
Executive Director
Significant Matters / SATtalks
info@significantmatters.com
Good Cities

Good Cities

GoodCities specializes in coaching those who are facilitating the development of a city transformation movement. Our coaches understand the dynamics of leading citywide kingdom coalitions which seek to serve God and their city. Each coach understands the stages of transformation and the skills needed to move from one stage to the next. Our coaches are capable of teaching these skills or can bring in trainers who can. Coaching is a dynamic partnership between the coach and one being coached, helping that person/team move from where they are toward the person/team’s desired destinations. Those destinations are defined and shaped by the person/team being coached with the help of the coach to unlock the vision, build confidence, focus on goals, take practical steps and celebrate progress.

Glenn BarthGood Cities
Glenn Barth
Author / Educator
GoodCities
glenn@goodcities.net

Recommended Reading

The following is a list of books that you will find informative and encouraging. These resources will help individual organizations and communities to build capacity for collective community impact.

Power of Collaborative SolutionsCommunityWhen People Care Enough to ActCollaboration ChallengeWhen Helping HurtsToxic CharityXL R8Leap of ReasonThe Performance FactorThe Abundant CommunityBridges Out of PovertyWell-connect Community

More Good Reads