Board Planning

This weekend, Reach's Board of Directors will meet to discuss the organization's plan for future growth. While not a formal strategic planning session, this will be the board's first opportunity to develop a shared vision for the future.

First, the board will receive an update based on the following outline:

Fundraising Report (Fiscal Year To Date, as of January 27, 2011):

Individual Donors: $63,899.98

Foundations: $40,000.00

Corporations: $21,456.00

Special Events: $ 4,952.85

Total Collected: $130,308.83

Foundation Pledges: $ 5,000.00

Individual Pledges: $16,000.00

Total Pledges: $ 21,000.00

Total Raised: $151,308.83

Fundraising Update:

• Additional $32,500 challenge grant from the Snave Foundation – expected December 2011.
• Continued conversation with ARPC re: dinner to build corporate donor base.
• 3 funding opportunities pending:
• Crowell & Moring Foundation: $10,000 – Decision Expected in April
• George Preston Marshall Foundation: $5,000 - $10,000 – Due in March
• Echoing Green: $60,000 over two years – Finalist Decision in March

Program Update:

• Currently serving 42 students at Hyde Leadership.
• Learning from a number of challenges:
• Teacher Turnover
• Collection of Personal Information
• Student Attrition
• Scheduling Conflicts
• Early conversations with Eastern Senior High and Cesar Chavez re: possible expansion opportunities.
• Very popular and successful Books for Break campaign.
• Pending application for FairChance DC.
• Speaking engagement at NYU School of Social Work – February 26^th.

After going through a program update, we'll look at the growth strategies of four highly-successful nonprofit organizations: Life Pieces to Masterpieces, Urban Alliance, Higher Achievement Program, and Breakthrough Collaborative. By looking at the choices made by these more established organizations, we can explore the strengths and weaknesses of each organization's growth strategy before determining our best way forward.

It's because of the wonderful support from so many of you that we can have a discussion about the best strategy for growth - a discussion that is not driven entirely by financial considerations.

Thanks, as always, for reading.

Mark