How Does It All Add Up?
As business people, we tend to think in very quantitative terms. We search for a "bottom line" that's positive, and preferably a big number. Of course Common Good Ventures helps nonprofits grow and increase their financial sustainability - no group can do its best work if it's living hand-to-mouth. We also help each of our partners develop and track measurable indicators of their performance - typically measures of both effectiveness and efficiency.
But the real questions we ask ourselves are, "So what?" "How do all of our collective efforts really add up?" "What's the measurable impact on Maine?" Those are not simple equations. We're working on three levels to get results:
- Helping our Partners and Affiliate Partners meet their organizations' goals.
- Guiding collaborations and networks of nonprofit, for-profit and government actors to identify and meet shared goals.
- Identifying and supporting high leverage opportunities to meet Common Good Ventures' sector level goals for youth and seniors.
Anna Simms Bartel, Springboard PanelistI love this process[Springboard]; I think it is very useful and offers a smart, helpful approach…Thanks so much for including me!
