Resources+-+Case+Studies+-+The+Lumpkin+Family+Foundation—goodWorksConnect.org

// Overview: //
goodWorksConnect.org is a nonprofit network catalyzed by The Lumpkin Family Foundation that’s helping the Illinois nonprofit community connect with colleagues, share information, and learn from each other.

The genesis of goodWorksConnect goes “back to 2004 when The Lumpkin Family Foundation founded its Nonprofit Excellence Program (NEP) in response to the relative absence of affordable and appropriate professional and organizational development services in Central Illinois. Since that time, more and more of these services are being provided by other intermediaries in the region, putting the NEP in a unique position. To connect the good work of these intermediaries and leverage the networks of nonprofits they support in their local areas, work began in 2008 to nurture a nonprofit network and create a nonprofit virtual center— goodWorksConnect.org" ( gWc Evaluation RFP Feb 2011).

goodWorksConnect.org launched in August 2009. Initial funding provided by The Lumpkin Family Foundation supported the building of the site and site content development. From the beginning, goodWorksConnect has been intentionally designed to distribute action and control—moving away from the typical hub and spoke model of many nonprofit resource centers. The focus has been on building a network, with the online space serving as scaffolding for network connections and resource sharing.

//What they’re doing://

 * // Weaving the network // . Lumpkin Family Foundation Program Officer, Annie Hernandez, spends 50% of her time managing and weaving the goodWorksConnect network. In addition she is supported by two half time interims, also staffed out of the foundation.
 * // Supporting in-person and online opportunities for connection // . In addition to supporting the creation and ongoing maintenance of the goodWorksConnect website, The Lumpkin Family Foundation provides support to community foundations that manage monthly in-person community convenings. They have also engaged the Donors’ Forum, the local regional association for grantmakers, to coordinate larger convenings and multi-county trainings.
 * // Providing access to microgrants // . goodWorksConnect is a channel through with Illinois nonprofit leaders can access microgrants. Participation in goodWorksConnect is a requirement for receiving a grant or participating in grant review.

//Results://

 * goodWorksConnect has impressive results to share. Here are a few highlights:
 * // The network has grown tremendously // . While the effort initially targeted a 16-county rural region in East Central Illinois, it has expanded to the nonprofit community throughout Illinois. Membership has grown to nearly 1,000.
 * // There is strong interest in expanding the network // . Donors Forum is piloting an expansion of goodWorksConnect services in central Illinois. Interest has also been expressed in making the services available statewide.

//Lessons Learned://

 * // Schedule online engagement // . It has been difficult for people to continue conversations begun in-person in the online forums. Scheduled online community discussions have been an effective technique for maintaining the conversation.
 * // Let the focus be on the network // . There is no right way to do this. Try experiments and see what works. The foundation or the coordinator doesn’t have to have all the answers. Just ask the network.
 * // Network weaving and coordination is time consuming // . With 1.5 staff people (Annie at 50% plus two half time interns), and community foundations with Lumpkin’s support managing the community convenings, the network continues to struggle with capacity constraints.
 * // Location is important // . Convening diverse nonprofit people in their ‘backyard’ has led to increased offerings and interaction in professional development in the region.
 * // Communicating often // . A weekly reminder of network activities is circulated to all members and a monthly overview is sent to the additional 1,000 people in the mailing list. This has driven interaction by the reminder in the inbox.
 * In 2011, goodWorksConnect will go through an evaluation and sustainability consultancy as well as focus on increased online member engagement and content generation.

//Questions Addressed://

 * // How to cultivate leadership in networks? //
 * // What role should the funder play, when? //
 * // How to nurture sustainable networks? //

//Sources://

 * gWc Theory of Change
 * gWc 2010 Report on Activities
 * gWc Evaluation RFP Feb 2011
 * Conversation with Annie Hernandez, February 2011