YWCA Strategic Plan 2021 - 2024

Approved by the Board of Directors , February 15, 2021

YWCA Strategic Plan 2021 - 2024

GOAL ONE: To build a solid infrastructure to support and maintain a high functioning organization.

Objective 1: Restructure the board processes and procedures to ensure effective board governance practices. Resource: Board Source www.boardsource.org

Strategies Responsible Person(s)

Completion Date

Deliverables/Status Completed Yes/No

Updates delete / New Completion Date

1. Provide instruction and access to resource links and repositories containing materials important for conducting business. ● Google/Outlook calendar ● Google Drive ● Website Resources ● Dropbox Access (Financials)

Staff September 2021

All board members have comfort level and use appropriate platforms; The resources links should be included in meeting invites from the YWCA; YWCA meeting invites should be the standard for meetings.

2. Create board meeting agendas and allow board members to review, comment and provide agenda items. ▪ Use consent agenda process

(Robert Rules of Order unnecessary)

▪ Begin meetings with a positive board success

Board Chair May 2021 Agenda format and process

2 November 21, 2016/The INS Group YWCA Lower Cape Fear

3. Revise structure of Board meeting minutes to include a standard format that outlines specific/clear action steps and deadlines for completion.

Board Chair May 2021 Monthly meeting minutes reflecting new format

4. Review and revise board committee descriptions as needed. ▪ Create work plans for each

committee. ▪ Recruit non-board members

(including meet to the committee) Note: Committees will serve as training ground for potential board members (women).

Board Chair May 2021 Active committees

5. Agree on accountability practices to ensure board participation and attendance at events, programs and committee meetings. ▪ Create a method to ensure check-

ins and reporting ▪ Create buddy system

Full Board May 2021 Written and implemented practices Clear accountability and with defined recoil

6. Rotate an MVP award monthly to award board member’s successes

Governance Committee

January 2024 Written guidelines and process

Goal One, Contd.

Objective 1: Restructure the board processes and procedures to ensure effective board governance practices. Resource: Board Source www.boardsource.org


Completion Date


Updates delete / New Completion

Date

7. Review, maintain and update policies and procedures that include both board and staff roles, i.e. procedures regarding financial transactions (discounted daycare, accepting cash payments.

Executive Committee and Staff Finance Committee

On-going annual

Written policies updated


Objective 2: To establish a formal board member recruitment and orientation process by December 2021 to ensure board diversity.


Completion Date

Deliverable/Status

Completed Yes/No


1. Create and implement a formal interview process for board recruitment

Board Chair, Governance Committee, CEO and approved by the full Board

June 2021 Interviews w/ board candidates Identify and Board skills needed and new candidate’s skill set

2. Create a comprehensive board packet including: ▪ the timeline of history,

accomplishments, minutes, ▪ conflict of interest, whistleblower

policy, solicitation license policies

CEO May 2021 Comprehensive board packet

3. Implement an annual board, staff, and partnership recognition process where board members are celebrated for accomplishments related to board recruitment, fundraising and program/event participation.

Board Development Committee

Ongoing Documented process

4. Conduct an annual assessment of the board of directors to identify gaps (using a matrix spreadsheet) in representation (diversity) and recruit new members accordingly.


August 2021 Matrix and system for board assessment

8. Conduct formal board training on roles and responsibilities, financial management and fundraising.

▪ Blue Avocado, QENO, webinars, YWCA USA resources

Full Board Cindy Morton

January 2022

Orientation completed; Approval of updated Financial Policies and Procedures; Board/CEO trainings


5. Continue to keep the 1914 Society Committee updated with non-board members, community stakeholders who have fundraising expertise (influence and affluence) and other expertise to serve on committees.


Ongoing Rotate membership annually

6. Provide a comprehensive board orientation to include the review of crisis management processes, site visits, and staff presentations at board meetings.

Board Chair Ongoing Year-round board orientation steps

Goal One, Contd.

Objective 3: Ensure the appropriate organizational structure and create human resources practices to help retain staff.


Completion Date



Date

1. Establish a human resource work group to establish compensation structure based on best practices in nonprofit management.

▪ Assess salaries and salary ranges (critical to budgeting process)

Governance/HR CEO and CFO

January 2022

Compensation structure

2. Develop an emergency and long-term succession plan. ▪ Provide professional development and leadership

opportunities for all staff to help ensure proper succession. Resource: NC Center For Nonprofits – for toolkits, templates.

Board and Staff

May 2021 Succession Plan

3. Identify and prioritize staffing needs; increase staff – revise current positions as needed; establish a budget for staffing and determine timeline for hiring and prepare for the proper transitioning to new employees (personnel policies, executive director evaluation process).

Resource: NC Center for Nonprofits’ Salary Survey

Staff/Board On-going Review Annually

Staffing budget


4.Develop a system for recruiting volunteers to serve as facilitators and enhance volunteer training methodology

Staff/Board July 221 10 – 15 volunteers

per outreach

program

GOAL TWO: To build a solid infrastructure to support and maintain quality, effective programs and services. This goal focuses on the alignment of programming with the YWCA mission and the expansion of current programming and creation of new programming. Programming aligns with the YWCA’s 4 Pillars: 1) Racial Justice and Civil Rights, 2) Empowerment and Economic Advancement, 3) Youth Development and 4) Health and Safety.

A. HEALTH AND SAFETY

Objective 1A: To continue to build effective AQUATICS programming through renovations and program development.

Responsible Person(s)

Completion Date

Deliverable/Status Completed Yes/No


Date

1.Conduct a facility assessment of the pool, parking and physical plant and determine coast.

Board and Staff

2022 Assessment results and budget

2. Develop a plan for diversifying participants (race/ethnicity) via lessons, water safety and other.

Board and Staff

January 2022

Written plan

3.Develop additional funding streams via aquatics programming:

▪ Ensure pool use 1-3 p.m. ▪ Offer swim lessons, water swim lessons water

safety ▪ Offer a senior’s night out (once per quarter) ▪ Partner with home schoolers, rehabilitation

businesses, sports medicine businesses, lane rentals, offer services to childcare centers, nonprofits and other businesses

Board and Staff

On-going 2-3 new funding streams

Objective 2A: To build current Flow Motion program through collaboration and partnerships.


Completion Date

Deliverable/Status Completion Yes/No


Date


1. Develop a strategy for increasing diversity among participants; determine what may keep folks away, i.e. fear of water, etc.

Staff

January 2022

3-5 new partnerships

2. Partner with Zimmer Cancer Center (assist with outreach, funding and sharing/providing information).

Staff December 2021

Results from Partnership with Center

3. Establish partnerships with Med North, She Rocks, Going Beyond the Pink and Women of Hope

Board and Staff

December 2021

5 established partnerships

4. Continue to solicit Cape Fear Memorial Foundation for funding.

Board and Staff

On-going Secured funding

B. Youth Development

Objective 1B: To build on the current Early Education program to ensure increased capacity and sustainability.


Completion Date

Deliverables/Status

Completed Yes/No


1. Develop a quality assurance/procedures manual with consistent in-service training and follow up. ▪ Quality assurance checklist must

align with program goals

Staff 2022 Written assurance procedures

2. Develop a strategy for retaining staff. Staff 2022 Written strategy


Completion Date



3. Hire diverse and licensed staff with proper education in order to qualify for increasing the number of participants. Include Spanish-speaking staff (UNC/Cape Fear Community College).

Note: A full-day program requires full-time staff to manage growth and increase in revenue

Staff On-going Hired staff


4. Draft work plans (template/tools that include action steps and timelines related to program implementation.

Staff Fall 2021 Work plan

5. Develop a comprehensive evaluation methodology that includes the gathering of baseline data via tests and assessments. ▪ Develop a mid-semester

narrative/evaluation

Staff Spring 2022

Written evaluation methods

6. Develop an emergency succession plan for lead staff.

Staff and Board

Fall 2021 Written plan

7. Develop a plan for increasing physical capacity to serve more children. (Includes main campus feasibility). ▪ Conduct a facility assessment of the

pool, parking and physical plant and determine cost.

Staff and Board

2024 Written plan

8. Develop a strategy to increase the diversity of students. Department of Social Services can be a referral source to ensure diversity of students. (and Bradley Creek)

▪ conduct outreach to the Latino community

▪ offer translation of application and policy for parents

▪ offer vouchers to attract and generate income

▪ offer opportunity for program participants who need childcare to enroll in Tot Spot

Board January 2022

Written strategy 20% increase in diversity

9. Complete revisions to the curriculum that will focus on: ● growth and learning through play

(creative/arts) ● ready for school/social skills (less

academic/socialization)

Staff Spring 2022 Revised curriculum


● educational preparedness that is not based on the same standards for every child to meet.

10. Draft written program expectations for parents.

Staff Fall 2021 Written expectations

11. Add diversity training and incorporate better referral systems.

Staff/Board January 2022

Implemented diversity training

Objective 2B: To build current AFTERSCHOOL enrichment program.


Completion Date

Completion Date Completed Yes/No


1. Provide spots for program participants interested in afterschool programming.

Staff 2022 Program participant enrollment

2. Purchased vehicle to address transportation needs.

Staff/Board 2022 Vehicle

3. Implement an evaluation methodology that assesses/determines classroom usage; includes baseline and ongoing data collection and measurement; assesses enrichment program; aligns with State licensing criteria.

Staff 2022 Evaluation methods

4. Ensure the diversity of students and increase level or referrals and use of other resources for participants.

Staff/Board 2022 20% diversity increase

5. Continue to incorporate What’s Wrong with Different in afterschool program.

Staff on-going WWWD incorporated

Objective 3B: To build current SUMMER Youth program.


Completion Date

Deliverable/Status

Completion Yes/No


1. Develop and implement effective enrollment coordination.

Staff May 2021 Effective coordination


2. Assess capacity needs and restructure staffing to ensure the appropriate number of staff.

Staff May 2021 Appropriate staffing

Objective 4B: To build on current TEEN Programming and increase offerings to teens.


Completion Date

Deliverable/Status

Completed Yes/No


1. Identify key team (3-4 members) that includes teachers, board members current and former, and current facilitators to develop a comprehensive and structured teen program that includes anti-gang programming.

▪ Cape Fear Community/Brunswick Community Colleges to assist.

Staff/Board December 2021

Teen Programming Team

2. Establish partnerships with:

▪ GLOW Academy (all girls schools – middle to high school)

▪ GRITS – Teen girl empowerment program

▪ Young Moguls – teen male empowerment program

▪ UNCW Entrepreneurial School

▪ CIS Brunswick County

Staff/Board January 2022 Established partnership with 4 partners

Yes/partial

3. Conduct staff training related to gang influence

▪ Provide cultural competency training and /recognition of gang activity

Staff December 2023

Trained staff on gang violence

4. Establish youth leadership opportunities through the creation of a Junior Board.


Establishment of an operating Junior Board

5. Establish a youth training program to train youth to become counselors (fee based – training – grant funded).

Staff December 2024

Quarterly youth training opportunities


6. Offer lifeguard classes and summer camp internships.

Staff On-going # of young lifeguards and interns

C. Empowerment & Economic Advancement

Objective 1C: To build current NEW CHOICES program.


Completion Date

Deliverable/Status

Completion Yes/No


1. Develop a work plan and timeline needed.

Staff December 2022

Written work plan

2. Establish partnerships with board members as mentors.

Board December 2022

Board members

3. Increase participation and diversity of participants by: ▪ Collaborating with Department of

Social Services ▪ Providing a kiosk at downtown site ▪ Offering a stronger referral system of

resources to address various needs

▪ Address transportation and program location in order to draw diverse group of participants

Staff December 2022

20% increase in diversity

4. Continue to include case management and follow up to address retention.

Staff On-going Documented case management and follow-up

5. Continue partnerships with local community college and university/college departments that focus on retention.

Staff/Board On-going 2 partnerships with colleges universities

6. Create a strategy for recruiting interns/volunteers.

December 2017

X number of volunteers

Yes Fall 2019

7. Incorporate a “graduation” or completion component of the program – What is the finish point?

Staff/Board On- Going Quarterly/annual graduation celebration/event


o add graduation ceremonies (graduation from the program)

Objective 2C: To build current GIRL CIRCLE program.


Completion Date

Deliverable/Status

Completion Yes/No


1. Identify best practices for the program. Staff July 2021 List of best practices

2. Establish new partnerships to increase capacity.

Staff/Board July 2021 4 new partnerships

3. Identify and engage group of teens to help with program planning.

Staff July 2021 Teen work group

4. Conduct an analysis of the staff and volunteers needed to run the program and outline of expectations.

Staff Dec. 2022 # of staff needed and written expectations

5. Train staff on program coordination and implementation.

Staff Dec. 2021 Trained staff

6. Offer training to Board members. Staff/Board Jan, 2022 Trained board members

7. Offer program to girls in current programming.

Staff Dec. 2022 Enrollment of X# of girls

8. Partner with local middle schools or CIS in the Lower Cape Fear.

Staff Dec. 2022 Partnership with specific expectations

9. Offer train- the- trainers sessions twice a year.

Staff/Board Dec. 2022 Training offered 2X

Objective 3C: To build current GRANDPARENTS SUPPORT NETWORK.


Completion Date

Deliverable/Status

Completed Yes/No


1. Assess and improve program management.

▪ Determine strategy for maintaining a solid group of mentors.

Staff December 2021

Assessment and effective implementation


2. Improve the strategy for engaging teens in the program.

Staff December 2021

X# of teens

3. Continue to connect with groups with built in volunteer base to help with the recruitment of mentors.

Staff on-going Partnership with 2 groups

4. Continue to recruit younger mentors (45 and under) for the high school and middle school students.

Staff On-going X3 of young mentors

5. Develop respite activities for

grandparents throughout the year.

Staff March 2022 4 Activities during the year

6. Expand GSN to Pender and Brunswick

Counties

Staff August 2022 Programs in Pender and Brunswick with 5 or more participants

Goal Two, Contd.

Objective 4C: To build current WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT EVENT. (March)


Completion Date

Deliverable/Status

Completion Yes/No


1. Seek nominations, funding, ticket sales from board and volunteers.

Board On-going X nominations X amount of funds X # of ticket sales

2. Create work plan and long-term vision of the event ▪ Incorporate a strategy/theme to

include men empowering women to increase the involvement of men

▪ Have more systematic way of identifying speakers/presenters

Board/Staff on-going Work plan

D. RACIAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS

Objective 1D: To build current WHAT’S WRONG WITH DIFFERENT program.



Completion Date

Deliverable/Status

Completion Yes/No


1. Implement the program in the 3-county area; target audience 3rd grade.

Staff January 2023

Presence in 3-county areas

2. Modify presentation of the program to reach preschoolers, high schoolers and adults.

Staff On-going Content for 3 new audiences

3. Secure additional corporate sponsors (i.e. Cellular) to increase program reach.

Staff/Board Jan. 2022

4 new sponsors

4. Train board to become facilitators. Board/Staff Jan. 2022 4 trainings

5. Develop and implement a strategy for recruiting a more diverse group of facilitators are needed.

Staff/Board Jan. 2022 a minimum of 5 volunteers per county

6. Offer cultural competency training for the board, staff, and volunteers. ▪ Research the training provided by

the National YWCA and/or seek their recommendations for referrals

Staff/Board Fall 2022 2 trainings conducted all staff receive certificate of completion Girls Circle/Boys Circle Curriculum

7. Identify corporations

will be charged for training; colleges/university incorporate training in curriculum/staff development

Staff/Board April 2022 4 corporation

Objective 2D: To build current STANDING AGAINST RACISM EVENT. (April)

Strategies Responsible Person(s) Completion Date


Updates delete / New

Completion Date

1. Conduct an assessment of the event/re-evaluate.

Staff/Board January 2022 Assessment analysis results/action steps

Objective 3D: To build current WEEK WITHOUT VIOLENCE EVENT. (October)



Completion Date

Deliverable/Status

Completion Yes/No


1. Develop an event timeline and follow up strategy.

Staff/Board Fall 2021 Timeline and specific steps to follow up with participants

2. Conduct an event assessment/critique. Staff/Board Fall 2021 Critique/next steps

Objective 4D: To develop the appropriate ADVOCACY program.


Completion Date



1. Research the advocacy agendas of the national YWCA and of other YWCA organizations. ▪ How is information presented (on

website, etc.)? ▪ What are the strategies for

implementing advocacy efforts? ▪ What advocacy education strategies

are used?

Community Outreach Committee Staff

on-going Outline of national advocacy agendas and other local agenda

2. Work with local, State, National for

policy push that impact women and

marginalized communities’ rights.

Staff/Board On-going Meetings with

State, Local and

National

legislatures to

include letter

writing campaigns

3. Determine the YWCA advocacy agenda and work plan (women, families, racial profiling, ID) and with whom we collaborate.

Work Group on-going Written agenda and work plan

GOAL THREE: To implement an effective marketing and public awareness strategy to increase awareness and outreach.

Objective 1: Develop a comprehensive communications and marketing plan to include strategies related to social media, website enhancement and collateral materials.


Completion Date

Deliverable/Status

Completion Yes/No



▪

1.Establish a policy and protocol for staff when representing themselves or the YWCA publically.

▪ Make note with what the national office aligns.

Board and CEO

October 2021

Written policy and protocol

2. Establish and implement a effective marketing strategy that includes: o strategies for promoting programs

and events o development of effective collateral

materials o broadcast, print and social media

strategies o develop branding guidelines

Staff Ongoing Social media content calendar Social media metrics

Objective 2: To build current programming through Community Outreach efforts collaboration and partnerships.


Completion Date

Deliverable/Status

Completion Yes/No


1. Develop a comprehensive outreach plan to reach counties outside of New Hanover

▪ Ensure board representation of each county

▪ Develop outreach strategies for: programming, events, marketing and communications, program promotions and general promotion of the YWCA.


Written implementation plan

2. Community Outreach: Explore the following partnership and not limited to: ▪ Partnership with government entities,

i.e. DSS ▪ UNC-W (college internships)

Staff

On-going 5-10 new partnerships

No


▪ Wilmington Housing Authority (subsidies available?)

▪ Girls Leadership Academy ▪ Blue Ribbon Commission Partnership

– Youth Enrichment Zone ▪ Boys and Girls Club ▪ DREAMS ▪ K-12 School System ▪ 100 Black Men ▪ DMV Centers; Women’s Attorney

Group – Coastal ▪ Kids Making IT ▪ STEM Programming ▪ Senior Women (potential board

members, volunteers) ▪ Women and Watch Leadership

Program (WILMA Magazine)

GOAL FOUR: To ensure adequate resources, long-term sustainability and future growth. This goal focuses on the importance of diversifying the YWCA Lower Cape Fear’s funding base and creating a short and long-term plan for fundraising.

Objective 1: Develop a minimum of 3 board engagement strategies with a focus on fundraising by December 2021


Completion Date

Deliverable/Status

Completed Yes/No


1. Determine the YWCA’s financial/fundraising goal and develop short and long-term fundraising strategies.

Fund Development Committee Consultant

December 2021

Comprehensive resource development plan

2. Ensure 100% Board giving (gifts within each board member’s means).

Fund Development Committee

On-going (annually)

Annual request

3. Recruit board candidates with fundraising background. ▪ Recruit board members/non-board

members with influence/affluence,


On-going Annually

2-3 board members with fundraising expertise


strong finance background fundraising background, marketing/PR, and special events, corporate.

4. Create strategy to ensure/increase accountability among board members.

▪ establish a “buddy” (mentor) system ▪ establish a system of setting individual

and collective goals (i.e. fundraising commitment form)

▪ provide talking points for various audiences


Ongoing Written accountability plan Talking points

5. Conduct formal board training on fundraising. ▪ “unpack” fears of making “an ask” ▪ Provide implementation strategies that

align with strategic fund development plan.

Consultant/Trainer

Annually (every year or as needed)

Board training

Documents

YWCA Strategic Plan 2021 - 2024