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Invitation to Join in the Design Process for a New Nonprofit Resource Center

United Way of Rhode Island is partnering with local nonprofit leaders to design a new nonprofit resource hub to build the capacity of nonprofits across the state.  While the effort is designed to be inclusive and accessible for all social impact organizations, United Way is committed to centering the voices and priorities of small, mid-size and BIPOC-led nonprofits.  

We are hoping that this process will help us to lift up existing capacity building resources, address obstacles that nonprofits have to accessing support, and develop new initiatives that can strengthen nonprofit organizations and empower and equip the staff who work in the sector. 

There will be three phases of the design process, guided by a Design Team made up of 11 local nonprofit leaders (list below) and facilitated by Community Wealth Partners, a consulting firm with extensive experience in this type of work: 

• Stage 1 — Landscape Mapping and Needs Assessment 
• Stage 2 — Visioning 
• Stage 3 — Business Model Development 

Deb Linnell, a local consultant, with extensive experience in nonprofit capacity building, will build on statewide input by researching both traditional and innovative national capacity building models through the summer. 

There will be open opportunities for input at each stage, through public Input Sessions, surveys and an online portal.  We would like to have stakeholders (nonprofit staff, Board members, volunteers, participants, policymakers, etc.) from across the state participate in the design process to ensure that your concerns, needs and innovative ideas are incorporated. 

Online Portal for Ideas and Questions

Share your ideas, input, questions and concerns with the Design Team through the online portal, at any stage of the process.  They want to hear from you!

Stage 1 – Landscape Mapping and Needs Assessment 

The first stage in the process will be to understand the current capacity building resources in Rhode Island, and those outside of the state that provide services to RI nonprofits, so please share your experience and insights on current resources, their accessibility and value through this survey.

The Design Team has been meeting with nonprofit leaders to learn more about the the needs and challenges facing the sector, and wants to hear from you!  

The Stage 1 Public Input Session will be held virtually on May 24, at 8:30am.  Please register here.
 

Stage 2 – Visioning 

The second phase, starting at the end of May, will be focused on envisioning strategies and offerings that can address some of the needs articulated in the first phase, as well as opportunities to address some of the structural inequities in the sector.  

There will be five public visioning sessions — all the sessions will be structured similarly, so you can choose the one that best fits your schedule. 

Here are the dates of the visioning sessions.  Click to register on the session you prefer: 

• May 31, 1-2:30 pm 

• June 6, 2:30-4 pm 

• June 9, 9-10:30 am 

• June 13, 2-3:30 pm 

• June 14, 12-1:30 pm 

The visioning phase will conclude with a public Input Session in July (date TBD). 

Business Model Development 

It is important that the offerings and impact of this initiative will provide capacity building support in an enduring way, so the third phase will be the development of a sustainable business model. There will be another public Input Session in August to assist the Design Team and Community Wealth in the development of a sustainable business model for the center (date TBD). 

We know that for this effort to be successful, we need to have engagement and ideas from across the state, across the sector, and from diverse stakeholders, so please join us! 

Thank you so much for all you do to make our communities stronger and more equitable! 

Updates 

If you would like to receive updates about the design process, please email nancy.wolanski@unitedwayri.org to be added to the mailing list. 

Questions, Concerns or Ideas? 

If you have questions about the Input or Visioning Sessions, the overall design process, or have ideas or concerns to share, please reach out to any members of the Design Team (below) or email Lori Bartczak at lbartczak@communitywealth.com. There will soon be a portal on the United Way website for nonprofit leaders to submit ideas and questions. 

* Design Team Members 

• Tarshire Battle – Roots 2 Empower 
• Rikki Davis – RIOT RI 
• Anthony Garcia – Segue Institute 
• Roberto Gonzalez – SteamBox 
• Anthony Hubbard – YouthBuild 
• Rakia Islam – Refugee Dream Center 
• Niko Merritt – Sankofa Community Connection 
• James Monteiro – Campus Reentry Program 
• Tina Pederson — RAMP 
• JoAnn Schofield – Mentor RI 
• Kristen Williams – Riverzedge Arts