YCF connects youth leaders with Management Advisory Services
On December 15, 2009, YCF convened an orientation session at the Wellesley Community Centre for the leaders of our funded initiatives, their trustee organizations and partners to meet with volunteer consultants from Management Advisory Services (MAS). 34 young leaders and adult allies from 24 YCF-funded initiatives joined four MAS consultants for a Q&A session and workshop facilitated by a MAS volunteer.
MAS is a charitable organization that provides free business consulting services to non-profit organizations. Approximately 70 consultants volunteer with MAS, each with a primary area of expertise. They have experience in all areas of business – from strategic planning, governance, and organizational design to marketing and communications, facilitation, finance and human resources. MAS has worked with close to 600 non-profits since it was established in 1993.
The group had an engaging discussion about the challenges they are currently facing in their respective initiatives. As a collective they identified a number of common issues, from creating sustainable governance structures and succession planning to reaching target audiences and developing partnerships.
The group spent time on each concept, discussing how they define terms like “sustainability” and “partnerships.” Of particular importance to the group was making the distinction between financial sustainability and sustainability of impact, or the assurance that the initial vision, concepts, ideas and culture of the initiative remain embedded in the initiative no matter who leads it in the future.
Several common themes emerged as the group discussed their challenges. The issue of time restrictions was discussed at length – all of the legacy initiatives are developing new organizational structures that require time and patience. While they are informed by existing models, these structures are being created through ongoing, grassroots work and thus must be flexible enough to be revisited and changed if they aren’t working.
One participant referred to this work as “creating evolutionary change,” and that it can’t be done effectively in a short amount of time. Three years may not be long enough. Instead of trying to fit into the timeframe, the initiatives may do best to realistically assess what they can accomplish within this time, and then decide where they fit within the larger process of affecting change in the community. We’ve already played a crucial role – moving from contemplation into action, from concept to development – but we are not necessarily the ones who will see the work to completion.
Several YCF-funded legacy initiatives, such as Nia and Educational Attainment West, have already begun working with MAS consultants, and many in attendance expressed interest in recruiting their services in the future to assist them with various elements of their initiatives’ development.
Thank you to all those initiatives/partners who participated:
Nia
SECE
The S.P.O.T.
Young and Potential Fathers
Girls Addicted to Basketball
Friends In Trouble
Youth LEAPS
Power In Numbers
Flemo City Media
Youth In Power
East Metro Youth Services
Glendower Demanding Change
East Scarborough Boys and Girls Club
S’Lam Youth Hub
Creating Leaders in Chester Le
BYCAV
Involve Youth
Dorset Park Youth Council
CanTYD
Schools Without Borders
Nia Upgrade
Centennial College HYPE Program
Young Women’s Initiative
Redemption Reintegration Services (RRS)
Malvern Public Library (The S.P.O.T. trustee)
WoodGreen Community Services (FLW trustee)
City of Toronto
For more information about MAS and their services, please contact Lisa Cunningham, Program Coordinator, 416-963-5792 or info@masadvise.ca.