Joan @ SCSDB

South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind (SCSDB) continues to be a vital educational and resource center in Spartanburg County and around the state. As SCSDB continues to build on the organizational capacity already developed through strategic planning and accountability, we look to the future. SCSDB is committed to remain a viable service through the changing times, landscape, and population of the county. Therefore, SCSDB is using the Mary Black Foundation grant to hire a consultant to conduct market research. The consultant will survey the community in the investigation of key questions relating to how we can best serve the families and agencies of Spartanburg regarding the education of sensory impaired students. The results of this research will be communicated to the community and will be used in further strategic planning and accountability.

Purpose of Habitat Capacity Building Grant

Although Habitat for Humanity of Spartanburg has been around for 20 years, we are at a critical crossroad in 2007. Our long time Executive Director retired 12/31/06 and David Ellis began in that position on 1/1/07. I have been on the board for three years but this is my first year as Board President.

This grant will be used for board training to the end that we are able to increase our impact in Spartanburg and develop an organization that operates effectively and efficiently and is able to sustain itself for the long haul as the players change in the years to come.

We participated in the recent training sessions with Allison Black Cornelius and want to proceed in the direction she outlined. We plan to hold a one day board retreat in May and follow up in the fall.

In 1986, I killed a nonprofit organization...

That is how the feature article begins in the Institute for Conservation Leadership's latest newsletter. The article and newsletter focus on a huge capacity issue - Leadership. Find the full newsletter here.

Grant Info

The Walker Foundation's grant will focus on creating "community councils" to allow and encourage more people to be involved with the Foundation and the SC School for the Deaf and the Blind. This format will be replicated across the state to build statewide involvement in the Foundation and the school. We are developing a website for better communication. Anyone have experience with secure areas on websites for our Board members and community council members? We are also looking at a blog - so this is great experience too! Thanks MBF! I'll be very interested to see how this works.

Finally, we are looking for folks with experience with focus groups - designing the questions, selecting the participants and getting impartial feedback from the gatherings. Any suggestions out there? Is any one else working on a similar project and might be interested in sharing an expert?