Preparing a longtime youth force for the future—and a new Exec. Dir.
Having a strategic plan in place is vital. It’s even more critical when your organization’s Founder is leaving.
To help with a transition like this, JRP recently linked Stella Murga, Founder of Pasadena’s respected Adelante Youth Alliance (AYA), with Leslie White, a specialist in project-based nonprofit and small business development. Leslie works with organizations to help them develop strong strategic and organizational objectives designed to maximize long-term success.
In 2001, in response to alarming increases in youth violence and dropouts, Stella Murga established the Pasadena Youth Center, later AYA. Today, under her guidance, with the support of over 350 volunteers, the organization offers disadvantaged youth in grades 4-12 positive development programs that educate and empower them to develop their academic, career, leadership and personal potential.
Leslie collaborated with Stella and AYA to develop a plan to strengthen its overall financial health, ensure long term viability and expand programs and community partnerships. Her comprehensive 3- to 5-year Strategic Plan and Founder Succession Plan draws from the organization’s mission/value statement to establish key goals and objectives—then establish specific to-do’s with assigned and measurable board/staff responsibilities. “Having a clear strategic plan with defined duties and timelines will help AYA move forward with its mission-related programming,” she says.
Stella gave the collaboration the highest rating. “Enabling our programs and services to achieve long-term sustainability will have a direct positive impact on our constituents,” she says.
For Leslie, this proved to be an especially memorable assignment. “Stella is an amazing ED with so much knowledge to share,” she says. “Working with her was an honor.”
Thanks to volunteer Linda Taubenreuther for writing JRP social media posts!
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