7principles.thecne.org7 Principles | 7 Actionable Principles for a Strong Social Sector

7 PRINCIPLES 1. Create Strategic Budgets 2. Manage Financial Position 3. Build Relationships 4. Prioritize Equity 5. Develop Leaders 6. Collaborate with Communities 7. Evaluate Impact TOOLSRESOURCES DOWNLOAD MATERIALS CONNECTLEARN Select Page 7 Actionable Principles for a Strong Social Sector Inspired by the opportunity to strengthen local nonprofits and relationships between nonprofit organizations and their funders, CNE unites local wisdom and experience with national frameworks and leading practices in these 7 Actionable Principles for a Strong Social Sector: 1 We Create Strategic Budgets that Fully Fund Our Work. Learn More 2 We Sustain Our Organization by Effectively Managing Our Financial Position. Learn More 3 We Grow Financial Support by Building Mutual Trust and Accountability. Learn More 4 We Prioritize Equity with Learning, Skill-Building, and Action. Learn More 5 We Develop Leaders Across our Organization Who Model Our Mission and Values. Learn More 6 We Effect Positive Change by Collaborating with and Adapting to the Needs of Our Communities. Learn More 7 We Define and Achieve Success by Clarifying, Measuring, and Evaluating the Results of Our Work. Learn More WATCH THE 7 PRINCIPLES INTRO VIDEO Introduction 2020 In 2020, CNE conducted a side-by-side comparison of the local discussion themes with leading frameworks for nonprofit health, effectiveness, and impact, including: The Nonprofit Manifesto: 10 Commitments for Stronger Nonprofits, Prosper Strategies The Performance Imperative: A Framework for Social-Sector Excellence: 7 Pillars of High Performance, Leap of Reason Ambassadors Community Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice, Independent Sector The Nonprofit Effectiveness Framework: 6 Critical Elements to Nonprofit Work, Mission Capital 2021 In 2021, CNE published this 7 Actionable Principles for a Strong Social Sector guide and this companion website. In addition, CNE will support the social sector with a series of learning exchanges, tools, and workshops designed around the principles. 2022 CNE partnered with the Walton Family Foundation to develop a grantee conference centered on the 7 Actionable Principles. CNE will continue to support nonprofits and funders to build organizational and community health and resilience through the 7 Actionable Principles. 2018-2019 In 2018 and 2019, CNE convened a series of ten discussion sessions with leaders of local nonprofits, individual donors, and representatives of corporate and institutional funders across Central Virginia. The discussion sessions focused on identifying benchmarks of nonprofit health that are supported by national evidence and that resonate locally. While financial health was a primary focus of the discussions, it was widely acknowledged that financial health is only one aspect of a healthy and strong nonprofit. 2020 In 2020, CNE conducted a side-by-side comparison of the local discussion themes with leading frameworks for nonprofit health, effectiveness, and impact, including: The Nonprofit Manifesto: 10 Commitments for Stronger Nonprofits, Prosper Strategies The Performance Imperative: A Framework for Social-Sector Excellence: 7 Pillars of High Performance, Leap of Reason Ambassadors Community Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice, Independent Sector The Nonprofit Effectiveness Framework: 6 Critical Elements to Nonprofit Work, Mission Capital 2021 In 2021, CNE published this 7 Actionable Principles for a Strong Social Sector guide and this companion website. In addition, CNE will support the social sector with a series of learning exchanges, tools, and workshops designed around the principles. 2022 CNE partnered with the Walton Family Foundation to develop a grantee conference centered on the 7 Actionable Principles. CNE will continue to support nonprofits and funders to build organizational and community health and resilience through the 7 Actionable Principles. 2018-2019 In 2018 and 2019, CNE convened a series of ten discussion sessions with leaders of local nonprofits, individual donors, and representatives of corporate and institutional funders across Central Virginia. The discussion sessions focused on identifying benchmarks of nonprofit health that are supported by national evidence and that resonate locally. While financial health was a primary focus of the discussions, it was widely acknowledged that financial health is only one aspect of a healthy and strong nonprofit. At a recent grantee conference, CNE led the learning for 80 organizations spanning multiple sectors. With the added challenge of varying capacity levels, CNE designed engaging programming that allowed participants to examine and elevate their role in the community, while finding new ways to collaborate. Their thoughtful approach and content delivery renewed enthusiasm for tackling the issues facing our rapidly growing community.” ~ The Walton Family Foundation (CNE 7AP consulting client) Created from 10 discussion sessions + 67 community members + 4 national frameworks USE THESE PRINCIPLES, RESOURCES, AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS TO: Explore for self-reflection and/or discussion (among peers or at staff or board meetings) Orient board and staff Share with your funders and the nonprofits you support to strengthen your community Assess the health of your organization and/or funding process THE PRINCIPLE IS FIRM, THE PATH IS FLEXIBLE. These principles offer a common language around key and proven practices, informed by the community, that enable the social sector to be more effective, make better use of resources, and increase community impact. Some of the concepts and resources may already be a matter of course for your organization, others may be new or even uncomfortable; we encourage an open reflection on and imagination for new ways of thinking and working. Every nonprofit and funder is encouraged to interact and use these principles based on their own circumstances and positioning. The principles are built on values of curiosity, inclusivity, and trial and error—not perfection. They are meant to be deliberate and ongoing, to push forward imaginative ideas, and to create better community solutions together. PERMISSION TO LEARN AND GROW While principles can be helpful reference points on the path to nonprofit health, to many they suggest a final destination, and they don’t give nonprofits and their funders permission to learn and grow, to deepen understanding, or, importantly, to fail. Failure, and the lessons and adaptation that come from it, are a requirement in healthy organizations. COMMUNITY CONTEXT In the midst of this work, the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many others (https://sayevery.name/) shone an undeniable light on racial injustice and police brutality, sparking demands for and new promise of a nationwide racial reckoning. Our long overdue grappling with the systems of racial oppression that have created inequities in every aspect of life requires that we acknowledge, learn about, and address equity issues in every aspect of our individual, organizational, community, and systems work. CNE is mindful of the critical importance of and the changes required to center justice and equity in the work of nonprofits and funders. A commitment to equity is one of the seven stand-alone principles and is reflected in each of the other principles; we further encourage the ongoing intention, attention, and change needed to make equity and justice not just a goal, but a reality. We acknowledge too that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused community upheaval forcing dramatic changes to our lives, our communities, and our work. These changes have sparked renewed significance in the question: How do we build a community where everyone in it can thrive? A healthy social sector that adheres to tested, community-driven, and still relevant principles of good practice is critical to this work. WATCH THE 7 PRINCIPLES INTRO VIDEO Stay...