Inspiring Our Community TX

Inspiring Our Community Interim Report

Project Overview

In early 2009, with thanks to a grant from the Frees Family Foundation and four of our individual donors and general fund resources, Inspired Legacies initiated the Inspiring Our Communities donor partner program in Houston, Texas as our first pilot program bridging donors and nonprofits. The Donor Partner program is a leadership training and community building catalyst for Greater Houston. Inspiring our Communities aims in 2010-2011 to manage teams of Donor Partners who are trained and well connected. These donors will work with leaders of color of all ages in small to medium nonprofits in Greater Houston to advance their capacities, specifically through fundraising and PR/media support. Donor Partners will be people in positions of leadership or privileged and be willing to support leaders of color in small to medium sized ($750k and below) nonprofits in the Houston area.

Through these strategic partnerships donors will be matched with organizations that have been assessed by Inspired Legacies. The organizations that are chosen will have the track record of serving the community needs. The Donor Partner will commit to raise money (a minimum of $10,000) and relationships for their partner organization. They have to be willing to make introductions and really support the leaders with care and creativity. In addition they should help leverage media and PR for the groups with whom they are paired. The goal is to not only leverage funds for participating agencies but also to advance the leader and agencies' capacity.

Progress & Activities

In an effort to impact and inspire the community, over 30 organizations have been screened for participation in the project. We began by having general conversations with organizations to understand their mission and body of work. Through these conversations we were able to ascertain whether or not the leaders were interested in and willing to committing to working with a donor partner. We also were able to get a feel for the leader's and organization's capacity as it related to being able to handle the scrutiny of being the recipient of a donor partner's funding. We found that some of the organizations were in such a dyer financial state that they were at risk of being out of business each month. Some did not have 501c3 status and many were run by volunteer support. It was imperative to get answers to more specific questions in order to assess an organization's ability to interact effectively with a donor partner. In the summer of 2010 we conducted a short assessment that allowed us to gather information on organizations' general capacity. The questions asked in the assessment were directed related to 501c3 status, mission of organization, staffing, budget, board of director's involvement, challenges, etc. The questions for the assessment were chosen specifically in response to the initial conversations that were conducted with the organizations. These questions came up in a majority of all meetings with organizations. It is apparent that assessing these areas will help to better address the issues that the leaders of color face as they are serving the community.

From June-October 2010, Houston area nonprofits headed by leaders of color are participating in 4 lunches together to build community and to discuss finances, networking, marketing and building alliances across race, class and differences.

Ten donor partners are in process of being trained simultaneously. Both groups plan to meet and an application for matches shall result in October or November for a planned year of mutual learning and support to grow our partnerships and also leverage the resourcefulness of the donor partners and these important community leaders.

The Donor Partner program guidelines are:

Donor Partners are individuals or leaders of foundations who will provide financial, PR and networking support to Houston area nonprofits they are assigned to.

Donor matching is a large part of the work of Inspired Legacies. To support this important work IL has initiated the Donor Partner Program

What kind of organizations qualify?

  1. small to medium nonprofit (budget below $750,000 preferred)
  2. must have 501c3 status
  3. must provide services in Houston area
  4. ability to commit to monthly contact with donor partner
  5. must be willing to allow IL or mentor organization to conduct site visit
  6. ability to commit to 2 initial workshops and 1 conference

Donor Partner qualifications are:

  1. interest in and commitment to partnering with others across differences to lift these nonprofit leader and their diverse organizations.
  2. people who have skillful means as fundraisers or those who can leverage media or contacts that will result in new resources for these agencies and leaders
  3. superior listening skills and coming in the spirit of inquiry
  4. experienced at some work with other grassroots leaders
  5. great communicators
  6. good at partnership and following guidelines and coaching
  7. ability to commit to 4 trainings and to work over a year with their assigned agency, leader and coaches, at least 10 hours per month.
  8. accountable for raising in their team at least $10,000 during the year of new money for the agency, through direct contacts, fundraisers or media connections.

For further information, please contact, Tracy Gary (415.377.9447) or Ruqayya Gibson through our most prompt email referral at info@inspiredlegacies.org.

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