CLIENTS
Building On is best understood by the company we keep and how we matter to them. Here are some recent Building On projects:
Jodi with (l to r) Right Turn Board member Ralph Jaccodine, comedian Lenny Clarke, Right Turn Board Chair Keith Garde, Right Turn Founder Woody Giessmann
FUNDRAISING + INTERIM LEADERSHIP
PROJECT: Fundraising and Interim Leadership to turn around a fundraising decline, during a Foundation leadership transition. The Foundation had been utilizing their cash reserve to support the school, rather than raising the dollars needed. Building On was charged with raising $685,000 in just under six months.
Outcome: Initial analysis conducted by Building On led to a recommendation to increase the dollars to be raised to $920,000, substantially reducing reliance on a dwindling cash reserve. In under 6 months, this increased goal was exceeded by $117,000. Ultimately $1,037,000 was raised, exceeding the amount Building On was contracted to raise by more than 50%.
STRATEGIC PLANNING + MESSAGING
PROJECT: Strategic Plan
Building On was engaged to work with the Essex County Community Foundation CEO, COO and the Board Strategic Planning Task Force to engage the Board, Advisory Council, other leadership volunteers, Fund Holders, Major Donors, Grantees and all Nonprofit Leaders in the region to assess their experiences with, perceptions of and recommended next directions for the Foundation.
Outcomes: Utilizing highly engaging design thinking exercises, Building On planned and facilitated retreats, extended meetings, focus groups, and individual meetings. Designed and disseminated live audience and online surveys. Ultimately connected with 1300 key contacts. Collated and analyzed extensive data to provide perception information for rebranding and priority recommendations for strategic directions.
Worked with CEO, COO and Board/Board Strategic Planning Task Force to outline priorities for strategic plan and draft language for internal plan.
PROJECT: Messaging
Jodi Wilinsky Hill was brought onto the Clean Green Music Machine start up team to head up messaging and partnerships, and background work to support fundraising.
Worked with team and designer to develop external engagement deck; secured site for rehearsals (Everett Mills, Lawrence, MA) and first tour (Lawrence MA Public Schools); supported 501(c)(3) approval process.
The Project: Building On was engaged to advise/assist the new CEO and the senior leadership team in driving culture change and growth at MHPI Inc. and their sister organization RSSI Inc. (Home Care). This project initially focused on: Strategic Planning, New Program Development, Board Engagement, Fundraising
Outcomes: A clear, measurable 3 year Strategic Plan was completed; Jodi Wilinsky Hill recommended and advised on merger of MHPI Inc and RSSI Inc, which became Mainstay; Jodi Wilinsky Hill also coordinated and advised on rebrand and new website, setting the stage for organization growth.
Engaged to work with the Board Executive Committee and the School Management Team to develop the agenda for and run a high value Board retreat focused on: Board engagement; Strategic Plan priorities; Strategic Plan Implementation; and Headmaster transition.
Outcome: 89% of retreat attendees reported that the retreat met or exceeded their expectations and that the retreat resulted in them being more informed, more engaged and ready to roll up their sleeves to accomplish the work ahead
“The work Saturday was some of the productive, focused work we have done.” – Board member
PROJECT: Survey regional employer hiring challenges and practices; and catalogue regional workforce training: determine strategy, questions, format, distribution and collection of employer survey; map existing regional workforce training; support convening employers by industry; and articulate existing and potential solutions for hiring challenges.
OUTCOME: Final Report.
PROJECT/PROGRAM DESIGN + GRANTWRITING
PROJECT: Professional Development Plan and Grant Funding for Staff Training: support the development of a coordinated, cross site, cross-department staff development plan, in line with Year Up’s new strategic plan. Pursue workforce training grant funding in multiple states to support this training.
OUTCOMES: Pending
PROJECT: Massachusetts Department of Labor Direct Access Program Grant: Plan, conduct survey research and write a competitive grant application to increase Imajine That’s market reach and revenue by providing professional development education and training to small businesses throughout Massachusetts -.
PROJECT: Strategic Staff Training Plan and Massachusetts Workforce Training Grant: develop a staff training plan to address key business goals and challenges, and prepare and submit a successful application for a Massachusetts Department of Labor Workforce Training Fund grant.
OUTCOME: Grant funded at $248,665 (maximum available funding is $250,000)
PROJECT: Develop the relationships and structure the MOAs for employer partners for an early childhood education workforce training grant project: support Lawrence Community Work’s move into the Workforce Development space by identifying an RFP from the Massachusetts Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, building the requisite employer training and hiring partnerships, and advising on grant production.
OUTCOME: Six partners engaged. Grant funded for $190,000, the highest amount amongst the 14 grants awarded.
PROJECT: Strategic Staff Training Plan and California Workforce Training Grant: advise on and develop an organization wide staff training plan, tied to business growth; and write and steward an application to the California Employment Training Panel for a state workforce training grant.
OUTCOME: The grant was funded at $49,764 (maximum funding available $50,000).
PROJECT: New website: hired by BR Creative to do full scale assessment of services provided by NEKCA; design website navigation and website page layouts; and produce website content, serving multiple constituencies and promoting this important anti-poverty organization. Coordinated with NEKCA leadership and web designer.
OUTCOME: A new website for NEKCA
RESEARCH/WRITING
PROJECT: Three Case Studies in support of MassInc’s new publication: An Action Guide to Workforce Development Transformation in Massachusetts. Plan studies, conduct videotaped key informant interviews, do background research, develop “story” and write three case studies.
OUTCOME: Three case studies and videos published
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