Community-based organizations are often the backbone of healthy, thriving communities. They know their neighbors, understand the challenges families face, and work every day to connect people with the resources and opportunities they need.
But doing meaningful work doesn’t always mean having the resources to grow it.
For many smaller organizations, limited funding, staffing, and access to professional development can make it difficult to expand their reach. That’s where the Eastern North Carolina Community-Based Organization (CBO) Capacity Building Cohort comes in.
Funded by Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust and BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina Foundation, Care Share Health Alliance and MDC were able to bring together community-based organizations (CBOs) across Eastern North Carolina. The CBOs spent several months building skills, strengthening relationships, and developing strategies to sustain their work for years to come.
Every organization entered the cohort at a different stage of growth with different needs. For Bobbi Meredith of New Home Owners Organization (NHOO), participating in the cohort came at an important time of transition.
“We knew that we had a mission, and we knew that we already had a vision, but we also knew that we needed the right tools and relationships and the structure to grow our vision and our mission,” Meredith shared.
Teaching CBOs the Art of the Pivot
After years of operating in one direction, NHOO needed to pivot quickly when the Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) program was defunded. The cohort offered an opportunity to think more intentionally about how to navigate that change while staying grounded in its mission.
“We literally had to pivot on a dime and needed a little bit more direction in how to make that seamless as possible. The cohort helped us think through this pivot,” Bobbi explained.
That experience reflects a central goal of the partnership: meeting organizations where they are and helping them build on the work they’re already doing.
Communications is Key
Rather than offering a single training and sending participants on their way, Care Share and MDC created multiple opportunities for organizations to learn, connect, and receive individualized support.
The first training participants took part in was a two-day, in-person ROAR training with DG McGee. This training focused on strategic and board development. Participants received individualized coaching with Merald Holloway of MDC, giving organizational leaders space to talk through challenges, explore opportunities, and put new ideas into practice. The second leaning opportunity was the CBO Capacity Convening which was held in Durham. The convening brought CBOs together to strengthen their funding readiness and sustainability. They also received communications training from McCabe Message Partners.
For Joyce Booth, Executive Director of Alpha Life Enrichment Center, the experience reinforced the importance of being able to clearly communicate her organization’s work.
“The meetings really helped me figure out how I communicate with who we are, where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going. I also learned how powerful communication and storytelling is when trying to diversify funding,” Booth said.
That shift in perspective is especially important for smaller organizations working to attract new partners and funders. Having a strong program is one thing. Being able to communicate its value and impact is another.
“Communication matters. Just because we’ve been around for a long time doesn’t mean people fully understand who we are, what we offer, or how they can support our work. How we tell our story, share the stories of our community members, and communicate our impact makes a difference,” Booth said. “Developing a strong communications and marketing strategy has given me more confidence when meeting new people and sharing what our organization has to offer. I didn’t really know how to do that before, but the cohort connected us with the right people, and that has helped tremendously.”
Connecting with Funders
Additionally, at the convening participants had access to a Grits & Grants workshop facilitated by Bridgett Luckey with Straightway Consulting and an opportunity connect directly with funders through a panel discussion and conversations with staff from, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, BlueCross and BlueShield of NC Foundation, North Carolina Community Foundation, and the Camber Foundation.
For Bobbi Meredith, the opportunity to speak directly with funders was particularly meaningful.
“We’re the small guys. We’re not the big boys out here,” Bobbi explained. “So, for them to take the time out to actually come and speak with us, get to know who we are, what our passions were, and to help us build from that was phenomenal for me.”
