Over 30 leaders representing various nonprofits and businesses in the Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati area attended a regional Nonprofit Organization (NPO) collaboration meeting hosted by Redwood School recently.
The meeting, organized by Redwood Board President Karen Finan and Redwood Executive Director/CEO John Francis, featured keynote speaker Marta Brockmeyer, PhD. Ms. Brockmeyer has provided nonprofit consulting services for 25 years and has supported 33 partnership projects (most mergers) and over 40 strategic plans.
Brockmeyer addressed current trends and challenges faced by NPO’s as well as how NPO’s can find opportunities for improvement through local initiatives, systems engagement, holistic care, multi-generational learning, increased collaboration, and business operations.
Meeting attendees were led by Redwood board and staff members through breakout sessions to discuss external forces affecting NPO service delivery, internal challenges regarding NPO partnerships, and how NPO board members should be evaluating future partnerships.
“Earlier this year, our Board and the Redwood Community embarked on a strategic planning process to address the next several years of growth and innovation at Redwood. Among several priority items, we found a strong interest in partnering, providing an expanded platform for our services – all within our mission and scope of serving our clients and their families”, said Karen Finan, Redwood Board President.
“We felt a responsibility to open dialogue on these issues likely of interest to other regional organizations and we’re hoping our unguarded conversations will result in the identification of partnerships, key areas where shared services might be an opportunity that will push us forward within our region. Through this focus we expect to identify ways to avoid duplication of services and opportunities to provide an innovative approach to care for those who are at the core of each of our missions”.
Redwood School provides enriching educational, therapeutic, and vocational services to children and adults with disabilities, plans to lead continuing efforts on future regional NPO collaboration.
Redwood is an accredited facility helping children and adults with disabilities. Redwood serves over 800 clients each year through their 22 comprehensive programs ranging from educational, therapeutic, and vocational services.