Nuts and bolts
"So how does it really work?" It's a hard question because each partnership is tailored to the partners' needs at that moment and evolves over the life of the partnership. We'll dare to describe a few basics below:
Who
We work directly with the Executive Director and, over the course of our partnership, across the senior management team of each partner. We also regularly communicate with the partner's Board Chair and members of the board, both members who are designated as Common Good Ventures liaisons and members who are key for the work we are doing with staff.
The Common Good Ventures Team includes:
Staff
Barbara Irish our Managing Director, oversees all long-term Partner and Affiliate Partner [our partners] relationships, ensures continuity and keeps us all on track to reach our goals. We take a team approach so that we can deploy the most useful combination of experience, functional expertise, subject matter knowledge and fit throughout the relationship with each partner. Everyone on the Program Team is up to speed on the mission, programs, opportunities, challenges and current situation of each partner so that they can easily and fluidly contribute even as one staff member emerges as the "Lead" for each partner at different points in the relationship.
Our Program Staff are generalists who each have particular strengths and experience that we draw upon as needed with each partner. We have specialized expertise in supporting collaborations and community based networks from our Network Officer.
- Carole Martin, Collaborations and Networks Director
- Kristin Majeska, President
- Anne Verrill, Business Advisor Director
Business Advisors
Wherever it makes sense, we also bring in volunteer Business Advisors who have specific skill that compliment and augment our work with a partner.
Contract Resource People
We are also in touch with excellent subject matter experts and regularly use our network to help our partners identify and manage consultants.
What
We both help our partners think through big strategic issues and hone in on high value operations and organizational opportunities to improve their results. We're not afraid to get into the nitty-gritty if that's what it takes for a partner to be able to really execute on their mission. Here are a few examples of what we work on with our partners:
- Developing a strategy to better cover then entire state through increasing strategic partnerships with other organizations
- Creating a Dashboard to help staff and board leaders monitor and improve performance on key measures
- Ensuring that key staff have their right skills, clear mandates and support to do their job
- Analyzing the opportunities to better share best practices and resources across like organizations that serve different communities in Maine
- Reorganizing structure to recruit and manage XXX volunteers
- Creating and beginning to implement a feasible plan to add $XM in government, corporate and individual giving for program expansion
- Identifying potential cost savings, quality improvements and ability to serve more clients through site consolidation and outsourcing
Where
Common Good Ventures are headquartered from Machias to York and serve communities across the entire state. We spend lots of time on the road so we can spend time at our partners' offices and program sites, where the majority of our meetings are held.
Why
It's all about significant sustainable impact. 100% of our work is towards the very tangible goal of addressing the social challenges that affect the quality of Mainer's lives and the health of Maine's economy.
When
Common Good Ventures staff meet in person every one to two weeks with each partner for a mix of work sessions, high level check-ins and one-on-one coaching that may include the Executive Director, Managers, board members or the full staff. We also talk during the week and are constantly in touch by email.
Susan Steele - Portland Education PartnerThe [Springboard] format was excellent. It really does allow a lot of ideas to surface and doesn’t waste time.
