Congratulating our Power 3 Cohort Graduates!
The diverse group of CNY based non-profit organizations have spent the past year working with specially trained consultants to grow their strength and implement a work plan tailored to their specific needs.
On Wednesday September 18th, the four organizations who participated in the POWER 3 program officially graduated. The diverse group of CNY based non-profit organizations have spent the past year working with specially trained consultants to grow their strength and implement a work plan tailored to their specific needs. Each participating organization also received a small grant to be used for their own growth and development.
The goal of the 12 month program was to allow for the concentrated capacity building of these selected nonprofits during the early part of their development. POWER began in 2015 and is organized by the Gifford Foundation every other year.
Firefighters of Color United in Syracuse, (F.O.C.U.S.), is one of four organizations who participated in this year’s POWER cohort.
The POWER 3 graduates are:
- Firefighters of Color United in Syracuse: F.O.C.U.S. works to increase the number of minority firefighters and firefighters in leadership positions in the City of Syracuse while fostering fire related community stewardship work.
- North Side Learning Center: The mission of North Side Learning Center is to aid in adult and youth literacy development, and to be instrumental in teaching self-sufficiency and self-actualization to newcomers in our community.
- PGR Foundation: The mission of the PGR Foundation is to truly build life-long relationships with our mentees, introduce them to professionals, businesses, community support services, educational programs, as well as involve them in rewarding community service volunteer experiences.
- Purpose Farm: Purpose Farm serves youth ages 6-18 years old that have been through or are struggling with difficult life challenges such as abuse, trauma, neglect, loss, anxiety, behavioral Issues, or may live in a high-risk environment.
“We are so proud of these organizations and appreciative of their hard work and dedication over the last year,” says Sheena Solomon, Executive Director of the Foundation. “Internal organizational capacity building is hard work and these groups have done an amazing job. From learning best practices in volunteer management and governance, to diversifying funding streams our POWER 3 groups have made great strides in their growth.”
POWER was designed using concepts developed by organizational consultant Dr. Susan Kenny Stevens and found in her book Nonprofit Lifecycles: Stage Based Wisdom for Nonprofit Capacity. This “meet them where they are” method is known as the “Lifecycle Approach” to capacity building. Consultant Maria Fibiger of Three Dog Consulting served as project leader, training and overseeing four local consultants.
Purpose Farm serves youth ages 6-18 years old that have been through or are struggling with difficult life challenges such as abuse, trauma, neglect, loss, anxiety, behavioral Issues, or may live in a high-risk environment.
The mission of the PGR Foundation is to truly build life-long relationships with our mentees, introduce them to professionals, businesses, community support services, educational programs, as well as involve them in rewarding community service volunteer experiences.
The mission of North Side Learning Center is to aid in adult and youth literacy development, and to be instrumental in teaching self-sufficiency and self-actualization to newcomers in our community.
