Hub ONE is a venture in partnership, on purpose
It’s led by 4 nonprofit organizations dedicated to reducing intergenerational poverty in Kalamazoo County.
Hub ONE partners serve thousands of people in our region. We first came together in recognition that there are serious structural barriers to doing our best work. Together, we knew we could break down some of those barriers and do more good. In 2018, we formalized our venture as Hub ONE to collaborate on strategy and service, and measure progress toward a shared vision.
- With each other.
- With the funding community.
- And with families facing steep challenges.
Hub ONE partners serve thousands of people in our region. We first came together in recognition that there are serious structural barriers to doing our best work. Together, we knew we could break down some of those barriers and do more good. In 2018, we formalized our venture as Hub ONE to collaborate on strategy and service, and measure progress toward a shared vision.
When four nonprofit agencies came together with a local funder to transform how they serve people and solve problems, the trust-based philanthropy approach was key. Here’s their story of bringing the model to life and what the experience has taught them.
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The Hub ONE venture began over coffee – casual, regular conversations among the CEOs of four nonprofit agencies: Big Brothers Big Sisters, Prevention Works, Urban Alliance, and Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo. While their missions and models varied, all focused on outcomes for reducing and alleviating poverty across the region. And all were painfully aware of a frustrating dynamic: For their thousands of mutual clients, getting help was often confusing, complicated, and overwhelming. Meanwhile as nonprofits set up to serve people in need, these organizations worked under extreme pressure, with low pay, and high turnover. “To create change, we recognized that we would have to change ourselves and the sector in which we work,” said Danielle Sielatycki, CEO of Prevention Works. “We were excited about the possibilities but also understood the difficulty of challenging some of the conventions nonprofit organizations typically work within and forming a partnership with a funder willing to help us move this work forward.”
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“We recognized that we would have to change ourselves and the sector in which we work.” Danielle Sielatycki, Prevention Works |
