The Community Investment Triangle Targeting Our Resources Part 2: Targeting Future Investments

The Community Investment Triangle -- Part 2: Targeting Future Investments 2 by investing in: Prevention & development services Basic human-needs & crisis services attitudes, networks, neighbor- hoods, organizations, systems Efforts to influence community Breakthrough opportunities Focus on community impact

The Community Investment Triangle -- Part 2: Targeting Future Investments 3 The Community Investment Triangle Targeting Our Resources Part 1: Mapping Current Investments Part 2: Targeting Future Investments Part 3: Aligning Around Strategies for Impact

The Community Investment Triangle -- Part 2: Targeting Future Investments 4 Selecting specific direct-service and community- change strategies in which to invest resources in the future Setting 3- to 5-year targets for resource investments to support the selected strategies Part 2 – Topics

The Community Investment Triangle -- Part 2: Targeting Future Investments 5 First choice Focus Area Next choice (e.g., vision statement) Next choice (e.g., target issues) Next choice (e.g., objectives) Next choice Specific direct-service and/or community change strategies for improving lives Selecting Specific Strategies......requires a series of choices to focus efforts

The Community Investment Triangle -- Part 2: Targeting Future Investments 6 Focus Area: Healthy Children Getting Focused e.g. Vision: Our community’s children are physically and mentally healthy Specific Strategies: ??? Target issue: Dental health of preschool children Objectives: Ensure that children establish good dental health habits early Promote regular dental check-ups and needed treatment beginning at age 1

The Community Investment Triangle -- Part 2: Targeting Future Investments 7 Considerations in Selecting Specific Strategies Include:  Focus of target issues, objectives, etc.  Underlying causes of priority issues  Sound theory of change for addressing underlying causes  Evidence of strategy’s effectiveness in this community or in parallel situations  Community partners, other resources available to collaborate in implementing strategies  Practical organizational considerations – timing, capacity, relationships, resources, etc.

The Community Investment Triangle -- Part 2: Targeting Future Investments 8 Focus Area: Healthy Children Getting Focused e.g. Vision: Our community’s children are physically and mentally healthy Specific Strategies: ??? Target issue: Dental health of preschool children Objectives: Ensure that children establish good dental health habits early Promote regular dental check-ups and needed treatment beginning at age 1

The Community Investment Triangle -- Part 2: Targeting Future Investments 9 Specific Direct-service and Community- change Strategies Incorporate information on children’s dental health care in parenting programs Promote dental health education activities in child care centers Prevention & development services that: Increase parents’ knowledge of child dental health Amend state Medicaid guidelines to cover children’s dental care Efforts to influence community changes that: Influence a media campaign on children’s issues to spotlight child dental health Breakthrough opportunities to advance community change efforts Provide evaluation and referrals for emergency dental care for children in homeless shelters Basic human-needs & crisis services that: e.g.

The Community Investment Triangle -- Part 2: Targeting Future Investments 10 Specific Strategies Mapped on Community Investment Triangle Provide evaluations and referrals for emergency dental care for children in homeless shelters Incorporate child dental health care infor- mation in parenting programs Promote dental health ed in child care centers Increase parents’ knowledge of child dental health Influence media campaign Amend state Medicaid guidelines to cover children’s dental care e.g.

The Community Investment Triangle -- Part 2: Targeting Future Investments 11 Selecting specific direct-service and community- change strategies in which to invest resources in the future Setting 3- to 5-year targets for resource investments to support the selected strategies Part 2 – Topics

The Community Investment Triangle -- Part 2: Targeting Future Investments 12 Setting Investment Targets for Selected Strategies 1.Decide the amount of your organization’s money and staff time that you will invest in each strategy for improving lives 2.Decide how to deal with current financial investments that are not necessary for your selected strategies 3.Make explicit decisions about how you will use materials, events, other organizational resources to support your selected strategies

The Community Investment Triangle -- Part 2: Targeting Future Investments 13 Considerations include: Amounts of money and staff time invested in current efforts that are necessary to the strategy Additional money and staff time needed to maximize the impact of those current efforts Amounts of money and staff time required to maximize the impact of new efforts Money and staff time required for other strategies in this focus area, and for other focus areas Money and staff time available and projected 1.Decide Amounts of Money and Staff Time to Invest in Each Strategy

The Community Investment Triangle -- Part 2: Targeting Future Investments targeted $XXXX $XXX $XX $X Vital Neighborhoods e.g actual $0 $XXX $XX Financial Targets for a Focus Area Mapped on Community Investment Triangle

The Community Investment Triangle -- Part 2: Targeting Future Investments 15 2.Deal with Current Financial Investments Not Necessary for Selected Strategies Options include: If appropriate, explore re-focusing of recipient’s efforts to support a selected strategy Discontinue investment at end of current commitment Implement planned phase-out of investment If appropriate, help locate alternative support Make an exception, based on explicit criteria established in advance (e.g., it supports a vital organizational priority; ending the investment would irreparably damage a vital relationship)

The Community Investment Triangle -- Part 2: Targeting Future Investments 16 3.Decide How to Use Materials, Events, etc. to Support Selected Strategies Materials e.g.: Events e.g.:  Annual report  Day of Caring  Newsletters/e-newsletters  Campaign kick-off  Fact sheets, brochures  Campaign celebration  Website  Recognition dinner  Ads & PSAs  Leadership breakfasts  Volunteer talking points  Board meetings  Pledge cards  Partner meetings  Investment thank-you’s  Volunteer trainings  etc.

The Community Investment Triangle -- Part 2: Targeting Future Investments 17 In Deciding How to Use These Resources, Think About:  What do you want to be known for?  For what specific strategies are you seeking to mobilize resources? What kinds of resources?  What shifts are you making between direct-service and community-change strategies?  What pressing community issue can you show progress in addressing? What population or community conditions have changed?  What breakthrough opportunities have you taken advantage of?  What do your target audiences care most about?

The Community Investment Triangle -- Part 2: Targeting Future Investments 18 e.g. Targets for Use of Materials Mapped on Community Investment Triangle Emphasis on direct-service strategies Emphasis on community-change strategies 65% 35% Targeted 20% 80% Current Materials for Major Investors

The Community Investment Triangle -- Part 2: Targeting Future Investments 19 Communicating United Way’s New Strategies in Materials, Events, etc. Do materials and events emphasize:  Raising money, or improving lives?  Donating to United Way, or investing in specific strategies for improving lives?  Success in raising money, or success in changing community conditions?  Only money, or also investments of expertise, leadership, etc?  United Way’s thermometer, or dollars and other resources leveraged for the community?  Which organizations receive dollars, or how lives are improved as a result?  Mostly support for direct services, or also investments in lasting community change?  Only United Way actions, or also roles of diverse partners?

The Community Investment Triangle -- Part 2: Targeting Future Investments 20 The Community Investment Triangle Targeting Our Resources Part 2: Targeting Future Investments  Selecting specific direct-service and community- change strategies in which to invest resources in the future  Setting 3- to 5-year targets for resource investments to support those strategies

The Community Investment Triangle -- Part 2: Targeting Future Investments 21 Related Resources on United Way Online Connecting Program Outcome Measurement to Community Impact (keyword: POM-CI) Getting Focused to Make Tough Choices (keyword: GetFocused) Hometown Literacy Partnership Experience (keyword: Hometown) Making the Most of Your Community Impact Initiatives (keyword: UsingInitiatives) Redefining Agency Relationships for Community Impact (keyword: RedefineAgency)

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