Our Vision
Our vision is that organizations of all sizes have the help they need to work sustainably and effectively towards making the world a better place.
Our MissionOur mission is to bring together organizations, consultants, and funders in the greater Madison area to build capacity for social justice, social change, advocacy, and community building work.
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Our Model
We believe in maximizing the impact of every bit of human and financial capital invested in social justice, social change, advocacy and community building work. (We call growth toward this goal “capacity building,” and we call the consultants, trainers, coaches, practitioners and others committed to helping individuals and organizations build capacity “capacity-building providers.”)
We believe that connecting the right people with the right resources at the right time can make the right difference. Specifically, we believe that skilled, respectful, and appropriate support from capacity building providers can strengthen individuals and organizations.
Therefore, we believe in an integrated approach to capacity building in which:
We believe this unique holistic approach to capacity building is an essential component of a vital, resilient, sustainable and effective network of people and organizations committed to making the world a better place.
We believe that connecting the right people with the right resources at the right time can make the right difference. Specifically, we believe that skilled, respectful, and appropriate support from capacity building providers can strengthen individuals and organizations.
Therefore, we believe in an integrated approach to capacity building in which:
- Capacity building seekers understand their strengths and have the knowledge and resources they need to identify and engage the right support to effect the change they seek;
- Capacity building providers recognize their strengths and areas for improvement, learn from one another and from capacity building seekers, and are reliably effective in their work with those seeking support; and
- Organizational leaders, donors and funders value capacity building as a crucial catalyst and the most high-leverage place to invest for long-term impact.
We believe this unique holistic approach to capacity building is an essential component of a vital, resilient, sustainable and effective network of people and organizations committed to making the world a better place.
Our Method: Organizing
We aspire to change the system by which the people working to make our community better get the help they deserve, to make their work as sustainable and as effective as possible.
We believe that changing how a system works happens by changing how its components relate to one another.
Using tried and true methods of community organizing, we are building and deepening relationships among consultants, among organizations, and between consultants and organizations:
We believe that changing how a system works happens by changing how its components relate to one another.
Using tried and true methods of community organizing, we are building and deepening relationships among consultants, among organizations, and between consultants and organizations:
- One-to-one conversations that build knowledge and trust
- Small-group gatherings to share information and learn together
- Facilitation of referrals, exchanges, and collaboration
How will we know we’re making a difference?
Ultimately we want to know: Can we improve the way people and organizations connect with each other to boost capacity for making the world a better place? We say we can.
We’ll know we’re on the right track if participants are benefiting from our central tenet — that cultivating relationships and facilitating reflection contribute to increased effectiveness, sustainability and joy in our work.
We expect that participants will
We’ll know we’re on the right track if participants are benefiting from our central tenet — that cultivating relationships and facilitating reflection contribute to increased effectiveness, sustainability and joy in our work.
We expect that participants will
- Learn more about each others’ backgrounds, skills and motivations
- Expand their list of trusted sources of help and collaboration
- Listen beyond urgency and competition to reflect with curiosity, learn together, and move forward more effectively
- Experience a view of “effectiveness” that includes true excellence, even elegance
- Improve the quality, sustainability and joyfulness of work for social transformation
Where are we headed?CORE is an emerging entity. As with any "work in progress," we can't be sure where we'll end up. That's part of the fun!
One vision of where we'd like to head is depicted at the right. With Round 2 of our match-making program, CORE is already moving towards creating an "enduring portfolio" of consultants. We are also building more relationships with funders who care about capacity building, with the idea that we might help with "match-making" in this arena as well. Perhaps one day soon, organizations will be able to apply at any time for assistance with any or all of the following:
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