• Editor’s note: This is the first of a short series of articles about nonprofit groups working together to overcome challenging economic times. LIHU‘E — Instead of being “victims of the economic storm,” three of the island’s nonprofit organizations —
• Editor’s note: This is the first of a short series of articles about nonprofit groups working together to overcome challenging economic times.
LIHU‘E — Instead of being “victims of the economic storm,” three of the island’s nonprofit organizations — Malama Pono, Kaua‘i Hospice and the Young Women’s Christian Association of Kaua‘i — “went to the next level” two years ago by combining their efforts, said Malama Pono Executive Director D.Q. Jackson during a Kaua‘i Planning and Action Alliance workshop last week.
“We still wanted to be sitting in our chairs in 2011,” said Kaua‘i Hospice Executive Director Lori Miller.
Thanks to their collaboration, they received a combined total of $42,500 in “additional funding” they otherwise would not have been granted had they not joined forces, Jackson said.
“There’s a truckload of money out there,” he said, adding that if there is team effort to “cover a broader range” of services, contributors are more likely to chip in and the organizations are better equipped to help the community.
By paving a new path, they discovered many bonds between their services, including a close connection between HIV and family violence which filled an “enormous puka” for those in need, Jackson said.
“We can do so much more together,” said YWCA of Kaua‘i Executive Director Renae Hamilton, who helps woman who are victims of abuse. “We can pull ideas together and pull staff together.”
The best thing about it is that the “full intellectual resources” of each group are available at no cost, Jackson said.
“We look for ways to more broadly address needs during a time of economic difficulty,” he said, adding that opportunities “impossible” for individual organizations to develop are attainable for the group together.
The union — which reconvenes for regular monthly lunches — has positioned the organizations to “withstand the economic downturn,” Miller said.
Kaua‘i Hospice has not had to reduce staff, but has found the need to increase employees, she added.
A fusion of efforts also garnered an “explosion of creativity,” Miller said.
One idea they are currently in the “process of accomplishing” is “common succession planning.” Meaning, if an emergency situation were to occur with one of the executive directions of the organizations, another one would be able to support the staff, Jackson said Wednesday.
An additional effort they are in the process of tackling is reducing the “stigma” associated with each organization’s mission. The campaign they created — “Let’s Talk About It” — allows people to become more comfortable with discussing topics like death, diseases spread by sexual contact and racism.
In fact, after money began to trickle in a year ago on the strength of their cohesive endeavors, some 500 public service announcements have been broadcasted to raise awareness and invite those in need to partake in services.
Though there has been a “natural synergistic energy” between the nonprofits thus far, they’ve “barely scratched the service” of developing new ideas regarding how their organizations can continue to merge, Miller said.
“You’re going to create it as you go,” she said, offering advice to other nonprofits seeking to follow in their footsteps at the KPAA “Workshops to Enhance Skills in Kaua‘i Nonprofits” last week.
For more information visit malama-pono.org, kauaihospice.org or ywcakauai.org.
• Coco Zickos, business and environmental writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or czickos@kauaipubco.com.
