Career Opportunities For Women and People of Color Working As Social Change Agency Advisors
A social change agency can benefit from strategic planning, conflict resolution skills, and non-lethal strategies. A trustworthy consultant. A credible expert has the educational background, expertise, and connections necessary to navigate the complexities of social change agencies and nonprofits. Strategic planning and conflict resolution training can be provided to the staff of a change agency in an affordable manner that benefits all stakeholders. Thought leadership training for its staff members should also be provided.
A nonprofit needs to develop a public relations program. A social change agency that is a credible and trusted advisor can help to strengthen the relationship between a nonprofit and its community. When an organization takes on a client as a client, the organization should work with the local media to create a favorable public image. The expert in a change agency helping a nonprofit develop a public relations program will have the background to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the organization's community partners and local media.
The professional in a change agency helping nonprofits understand their strengths and weaknesses will also have the resources to strengthen nonprofits and public relations programs in the local community. The trusted advisor will build relationships that lead to long-term sustainability for a nonprofit world. As the trusted advisor develops relationships and engages in effective public relations, a nonprofit may obtain funding or find other ways to increase its budgets. Other benefits for the nonprofit world from the expert include increasing its capacity for effective governance and financial management. The trusted advisor will help to establish an environment of collaborative teamwork and communication.
A strategic plan developed by the strategic planning committee of a nonprofit will provide a blueprint for its future success. Effective and efficient strategic plans provide measurable outcomes that are agreed upon by many stakeholders. The plan will set short and long-term goals, provide for resource allocation, identify methods for achieving those goals, create a structure for monitoring and measuring progress, develop roles and responsibilities, and identify ways to ensure transparency in the process of executing the plan. A social change agency that is able to demonstrate in its strategic planning documents how it plans to achieve its goals can begin to build its network of partnerships with other organizations and government agencies that will support and promote its mission and vision.
Effective public relations and strategic planning programs build influence and recognition for a nonprofit. In essence, they build awareness and support for the organization. Various types of public relations and thought leadership training can be implemented for nonprofits to build influence. These types of training can be applied for nonprofits with low-budget needs, which may be especially important for new nonprofits emerging today.
A successful social change agency has a powerful vision and purpose that it must achieve through its work. This vision and purpose drive its work. It must be clearly defined and detailed on paper, on the web site, and in its strategic planning documents. These documents must include both a mission statement and a description of what the nonprofit hopes to achieve in its endeavors.
A professional, trusted advisor can be a very valuable resource for nonprofit organizations. There are several professional consultants in the nonprofit world. Some are at the Krieger Institute, founded by Krieger herself. Other professional consultants are available through the International Association of Social Change. When choosing an advisor, consider the kind of advising skills and knowledge they bring to the table, the kind of people they deal with, their past experiences as clients, and their potentials for the future work of the nonprofit organizations they serve.
A professional consultant who is skilled at engaging people and building coalitions to address the many complex issues that face our society can be an extremely valuable asset in the quest to make social change happen. She can help the nonprofit and charitable groups to achieve its long-term and short-term missions, while building coalitions that maximize its effectiveness. The impact of this strategy on individual and community lives cannot be measured in dollars and cents. It has enriched the lives of thousands around the world. This strategy needs to be supported by leaders who are committed to building a just and equitable society for all.