CCG Publications

Community Consulting Group Publications

The publications below were written by Community Consulting Group consultants. They can serve as guides to developing mission statements, dealing with cutbacks, forming alliances, and creating community forums.

Topics include:

Fieldstone Alliance Nonprofit Guide to Crafting Effective Mission and Vision Statements

Fieldstone Alliance Nonprofit Guide to Crafting Effective Mission and Vision Statements

Emil Angelica

Organizations without clearly defined and agreed-to mission and vision statements frequently find themselves adrift at sea, in real financial trouble, and unable to make an ongoing positive impact on the community. An effective mission and vision statement can help an organization unify services and create a consistent approach to new program development. It is critical that the leaders of the organization take the time to address its mission and vision statements and communicate them to the staff, volunteers, customers, community, and other stakeholders.

This workbook will help you develop (or revise) mission and vision statements with orderly, easy-to-follow steps. This engaging guide will help:

  • Build ownership for the mission and vision statements among board and staff
  • Create a common understanding of organizational goals
  • Understand how mission and vision statements differ and how to use both for greatest benefit
  • Develop a mission statement that captures exactly what the organization does
  • Create a vision statement based on stakeholders’ ideas and the organization’s history, capacity for growth, and fundraising potential

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Coping with Cutbacks:  The Nonprofit Guide to Success When Times are Tight

Coping with Cutbacks:  The Nonprofit Guide to Success When Times are Tight

Emil Angelica & Vince Hyman

It's a familiar refrain, "How do we get more money to keep our nonprofit in business?" Yet, the authors of Coping with Cutbacks say for long-term success you should really be asking, "How do we involve other segments of the community in our work?"

Many nonprofits face problems of decreased funding.  This guide will provide ways to:

  • Cut costs, manage payables, modify staffing, and change services
  • Increase revenues, manage money differently, increase fund raising, expand services, and improve productivity
  • Change the way your organization works, including its mission, culture, and structure
  • Involve more people in solving your problem, including other nonprofits, businesses, the community, and the government

In addition this guide will:

  • Provide four problem solving approaches
  • Provide guidance in where to look for new ideas to solve community problems and ways to involve people from businesses, government, congregations, and civic groups
  • Identify proven strategies used by other nonprofit organizations

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Fieldstone Alliance Nonprofit Guide to Forming Alliances: Working Together to Achieve Mutual Goals

Fieldstone Alliance Nonprofit Guide to Forming Alliances: Working Together to Achieve Mutual Goals

Linda Hoskins & Emil Angelica

Leaders in the nonprofit sector are facing ever-increasing pressure to work with others. Funders, government officials, and nonprofit leaders often encourage individuals, programs, and organizations to form alliances, seeing it as a promising response to increasing demand and diminishing resources.

We advocate taking a broad view of these relationships, one that recognizes there are a number of ways that organizations can profitably work together. In this field guide, we advise potential partners to:

  • Identify the wide range of ways that organizations can work together from low-intensity cooperation to highly complex collaboration.
  • Decide which alliance is best for each organization's particular circumstances and needs.
  • Develop an alliance that truly benefits all involved through the use of tools including worksheets, conversation starters, and innovative ideas.
  • Strengthen an existing alliance by using a framework of discussion questions to assist alliance partners in producing better and more consistent results.

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