Hub ONE Announces Survey Results Exploring Devastating Impact of COVID-19 on Southwest Michigan Nonprofits
| hubone_covid19_info_may-15-2020.pdf |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2020
Hub ONE announced survey results today of more than one hundred Southwest Michigan nonprofits on how their organizations are impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The survey, conducted in April by Hub ONE, an organization collaborative between Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan, Prevention Works, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo and Urban Alliance, outlines the current pressures and concerns about the future of nonprofits in our community.
“In light of the uncertainty and disruption facing regional nonprofits, Hub ONE is hopeful that our unique model of collaboration and commitment to maximizing both service delivery and how resources are utilized can help inspire further innovation in the nonprofit sector,” shares Danielle Sielatycki, CEO of Prevention Works. “Given what we are learning about the dramatic shift in our nonprofit landscape, it is especially important that we find new ways to come together and manage the unique pressures of the current crisis as well as competition for scarce funding and resources moving forward.”
Southwest Michigan nonprofits are presented with extraordinary challenges as they work toward meeting increased demand for services from vulnerable populations, transition to remote work, create new virtual service delivery platforms, and grapple with diminished opportunities for fundraising and an uncertain future.
Overwhelmingly, nonprofits across the region report the need for flexible funding to meet emergent needs and access to additional funding to address the immediate and long-term impacts of decreased budgets.
Survey highlights include:
Matt Lynn, CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo, summarizes the acute situation faced by nonprofits in the region - “The pressures nonprofits are experiencing are very real. COVID-19 has significantly impacted the ability of nonprofits to provide critical services to our community and threatens their ability to meet unanticipated increases in demand for services created by the pandemic. The current situation, combined with an uncertain future, cancelled fundraising events, and the historical reliance of nonprofit agencies operating within exceptionally lean budgets, will impact the most vulnerable in our society in ways we have not yet been able to imagine.”
The Hub ONE survey results, detailed here, offer a comprehensive picture of local nonprofits and provides a summary of common barriers reflected across the region. The responses collected reflect the feedback of organizations of various sizes who provide a diverse array of social services including health, education, arts, human services, and education.
“Every aspect of our community is feeling the impact of COVID-19 in truly devastating ways. We are hopeful that greater awareness for those being hit the hardest, along with increased dialogue and access to shared knowledge and resources will propel us forward and allow us to lead through the crisis,” said Luke Kujacznski, CEO of Urban Alliance.
Download the complete report here for additional information about the impact of the pandemic on nonprofit programming, funding concerns, long-term instability, and the local workforce. Understanding the changing nature of the nonprofit landscape during the crisis provides insight as to how funders, community leaders and government can help nonprofits go beyond the changes and challenges facing them as they work to continue servicing the needs of Southwest Michigan communities.
“The findings of the survey are a helpful tool to inform Hub ONE partner organizations and other nonprofit leaders as we all work together to continue fulfill our missions and ensure the strength of our community for generations to come,” said Amy Kuchta, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan.
May 15, 2020
Hub ONE announced survey results today of more than one hundred Southwest Michigan nonprofits on how their organizations are impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The survey, conducted in April by Hub ONE, an organization collaborative between Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan, Prevention Works, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo and Urban Alliance, outlines the current pressures and concerns about the future of nonprofits in our community.
“In light of the uncertainty and disruption facing regional nonprofits, Hub ONE is hopeful that our unique model of collaboration and commitment to maximizing both service delivery and how resources are utilized can help inspire further innovation in the nonprofit sector,” shares Danielle Sielatycki, CEO of Prevention Works. “Given what we are learning about the dramatic shift in our nonprofit landscape, it is especially important that we find new ways to come together and manage the unique pressures of the current crisis as well as competition for scarce funding and resources moving forward.”
Southwest Michigan nonprofits are presented with extraordinary challenges as they work toward meeting increased demand for services from vulnerable populations, transition to remote work, create new virtual service delivery platforms, and grapple with diminished opportunities for fundraising and an uncertain future.
Overwhelmingly, nonprofits across the region report the need for flexible funding to meet emergent needs and access to additional funding to address the immediate and long-term impacts of decreased budgets.
Survey highlights include:
- More than 94% of organizations are now concerned they will not achieve their budgeted revenue for the year
- 55% have less than 12 months of adequate funding to sustain their staff and mission
- 46% of organizations have cut back on service programming
- 60% have cancelled fundraising activities
- Access to adequate technology for both nonprofits and vulnerable populations is cited as a significant obstacle
- Nonprofit leaders hope for additional emergency funding, maximum flexibility with existing funding, access to resources and more collaboration
Matt Lynn, CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo, summarizes the acute situation faced by nonprofits in the region - “The pressures nonprofits are experiencing are very real. COVID-19 has significantly impacted the ability of nonprofits to provide critical services to our community and threatens their ability to meet unanticipated increases in demand for services created by the pandemic. The current situation, combined with an uncertain future, cancelled fundraising events, and the historical reliance of nonprofit agencies operating within exceptionally lean budgets, will impact the most vulnerable in our society in ways we have not yet been able to imagine.”
The Hub ONE survey results, detailed here, offer a comprehensive picture of local nonprofits and provides a summary of common barriers reflected across the region. The responses collected reflect the feedback of organizations of various sizes who provide a diverse array of social services including health, education, arts, human services, and education.
“Every aspect of our community is feeling the impact of COVID-19 in truly devastating ways. We are hopeful that greater awareness for those being hit the hardest, along with increased dialogue and access to shared knowledge and resources will propel us forward and allow us to lead through the crisis,” said Luke Kujacznski, CEO of Urban Alliance.
Download the complete report here for additional information about the impact of the pandemic on nonprofit programming, funding concerns, long-term instability, and the local workforce. Understanding the changing nature of the nonprofit landscape during the crisis provides insight as to how funders, community leaders and government can help nonprofits go beyond the changes and challenges facing them as they work to continue servicing the needs of Southwest Michigan communities.
“The findings of the survey are a helpful tool to inform Hub ONE partner organizations and other nonprofit leaders as we all work together to continue fulfill our missions and ensure the strength of our community for generations to come,” said Amy Kuchta, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan.
New Nonprofit Collaborative Will Share Planning, Resources
| hub_one_announcement_october_2019.pdf |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2019
Four nonprofit organizations will coordinate and share core operational functions and leverage each other’s programs to better meet the needs of children and families they serve in the Kalamazoo area.
Their new collaborative, Hub ONE, has received a three-year, $8.3 million grant from the Stryker Johnston Foundation to launch the initiative. Hub ONE comprises the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kalamazoo, Prevention Works, Urban Alliance and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Each will remain an independent organization with its own identity. The work will begin immediately and will be evaluated independently.
The long-term goals of Hub ONE include:
“Our stakeholders have been clear that they want a larger share of nonprofit dollars to go toward impact,” said Danielle Sielatycki, CEO of Prevention Works. “Our intention is to move from a scarcity mindset that pervades our nonprofit sector to one of effectiveness.”
“Sharing resources,” says Luke Kujacznski, Executive Director at Urban Alliance, “gives us the opportunity to be clear about the very direct and personal work that our impacted families need. We’re looking for Hub ONE to become a proving ground for more impactful service.”
Hub ONE will not be a new, independent nonprofit organization. The specific initiatives of the collaborative will be guided by the four organizations’ chief executives in cooperation with their boards of directors, other nonprofit organizations, donors and community partners.
Human resources, information technology, professional development and accounting are among the functions being built into the infrastructure of the new collaborative.
“We need to shift our focus,” said Amy Kuchta, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters. “Bringing the true purpose of our organizations to the forefront of our daily work creates an opportunity to be more intentional about the way we serve those in need.”
The shared-service delivery model, Kuchta said, will feature a “navigational” element to locate and coordinate community services for individuals and families. “For instance, at Big Brothers Big Sisters we provide mentoring, but a young person we’re serving, or his or her family member, could very well use the tools and services of other organizations.”
That navigational approach, said Sielatycki, is at the heart of an individual-guided, family-driven planning process that drives positive outcomes.
Each of the four organizations is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit with an independent, community-based board of directors.
Prevention Works, with a 14-person staff and a Health Empowerment Team of more than 75 part-time facilitators, provides prevention programs to youth and families; collects, analyzes and reports local data on substance abuse, violence and social emotional health; and coordinates, develops and manages community networks.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kalamazoo, with a staff of 33 and three local units, is dedicated to ensuring that the youth in Kalamazoo have a safe place to go, access to quality programs and services that enhance their lives and shape their futures.
Urban Alliance works in neighborhoods with a staff of 16, helping individuals move toward self-sufficiency through the development of necessary life and employability skills and job placement assistance.
Big Brothers Big Sisters, with a staff of 24, provides one-on-one mentoring programs that support youth to achieve their full potential.
Normal operational and program funding of each of the four organizations will continue, as will their programs. “This isn’t a replacement organization. It isn’t a merger,” said Matt Lynn, Chief Professional Officer at Boys & Girls Clubs. “Hub ONE is both a practical solution to the daily challenges we face and a strategic approach to addressing larger community issues. Cooperation and communication will be key.”
For more information contact:
Luke Kujacznski
Urban Alliance
lkujacznski@uainc.org
269-348-0978
Matt Lynn
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kalamazoo
MattL@bgckzoo.org
269-209-4044
Amy Kuchta
Big Brothers Big Sisters
AmyKuchta@bbbsmi.org
269-329-9836
Danielle Sielatycki
Prevention Works
dsielatycki@prevention-works.org
269-207-7010
October 3, 2019
Four nonprofit organizations will coordinate and share core operational functions and leverage each other’s programs to better meet the needs of children and families they serve in the Kalamazoo area.
Their new collaborative, Hub ONE, has received a three-year, $8.3 million grant from the Stryker Johnston Foundation to launch the initiative. Hub ONE comprises the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kalamazoo, Prevention Works, Urban Alliance and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Each will remain an independent organization with its own identity. The work will begin immediately and will be evaluated independently.
The long-term goals of Hub ONE include:
- The creation of a shared-service delivery model to address intergenerational poverty and the unique challenges faced by individuals and families served by these organizations;
- More effective use of community resources, achieving cost reductions through shared functions and responsibilities, economies of scale and less turnover of personnel;
- Increased professional development attained through collective hiring, training and retention efforts based on best practices; and
- More comprehensive care for individuals and families achieved through a holistic approach to the delivery of services.
“Our stakeholders have been clear that they want a larger share of nonprofit dollars to go toward impact,” said Danielle Sielatycki, CEO of Prevention Works. “Our intention is to move from a scarcity mindset that pervades our nonprofit sector to one of effectiveness.”
“Sharing resources,” says Luke Kujacznski, Executive Director at Urban Alliance, “gives us the opportunity to be clear about the very direct and personal work that our impacted families need. We’re looking for Hub ONE to become a proving ground for more impactful service.”
Hub ONE will not be a new, independent nonprofit organization. The specific initiatives of the collaborative will be guided by the four organizations’ chief executives in cooperation with their boards of directors, other nonprofit organizations, donors and community partners.
Human resources, information technology, professional development and accounting are among the functions being built into the infrastructure of the new collaborative.
“We need to shift our focus,” said Amy Kuchta, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters. “Bringing the true purpose of our organizations to the forefront of our daily work creates an opportunity to be more intentional about the way we serve those in need.”
The shared-service delivery model, Kuchta said, will feature a “navigational” element to locate and coordinate community services for individuals and families. “For instance, at Big Brothers Big Sisters we provide mentoring, but a young person we’re serving, or his or her family member, could very well use the tools and services of other organizations.”
That navigational approach, said Sielatycki, is at the heart of an individual-guided, family-driven planning process that drives positive outcomes.
Each of the four organizations is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit with an independent, community-based board of directors.
Prevention Works, with a 14-person staff and a Health Empowerment Team of more than 75 part-time facilitators, provides prevention programs to youth and families; collects, analyzes and reports local data on substance abuse, violence and social emotional health; and coordinates, develops and manages community networks.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kalamazoo, with a staff of 33 and three local units, is dedicated to ensuring that the youth in Kalamazoo have a safe place to go, access to quality programs and services that enhance their lives and shape their futures.
Urban Alliance works in neighborhoods with a staff of 16, helping individuals move toward self-sufficiency through the development of necessary life and employability skills and job placement assistance.
Big Brothers Big Sisters, with a staff of 24, provides one-on-one mentoring programs that support youth to achieve their full potential.
Normal operational and program funding of each of the four organizations will continue, as will their programs. “This isn’t a replacement organization. It isn’t a merger,” said Matt Lynn, Chief Professional Officer at Boys & Girls Clubs. “Hub ONE is both a practical solution to the daily challenges we face and a strategic approach to addressing larger community issues. Cooperation and communication will be key.”
For more information contact:
Luke Kujacznski
Urban Alliance
lkujacznski@uainc.org
269-348-0978
Matt Lynn
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kalamazoo
MattL@bgckzoo.org
269-209-4044
Amy Kuchta
Big Brothers Big Sisters
AmyKuchta@bbbsmi.org
269-329-9836
Danielle Sielatycki
Prevention Works
dsielatycki@prevention-works.org
269-207-7010
