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Common Connection

Volume 4, Number 2: June 11, 2009

"The best part of this experience was getting some exposure to the nonprofit sector. It's been really interesting -- I've worked in corporate high tech for so long, this project influenced me quite a bit.... With the nonprofit, the financial focus is still there but they are really concerned about providing services to their users. They don't have the same types of resources, so you have to be more creative."

-- Endeca Volunteer for CAVU Foundation

This issue of Common Connection is dedicated to our nonprofit clients. Addressing diverse causes ranging from homelessness and health to education and the environment, our clients tackle the issues fundamental to strengthening our local communities. We see every day the enthusiasm, determination and commitment these individuals bring to their organizations and we applaud them for their efforts!

In This Issue:

  • Telling Totals
  • Q&A with Tara Finnegan of Generations Incorporated
  • New and Newsworthy
  • Fond Farewells
  • Job Postings
  • Viewpoints
  • Make a Secure Online Contribution


    • Sponsor an Engagement: Did you know that you can sponsor an engagement or even a portion of our work with a high-potential nonprofit? In doing so, you will return seven dollars to the community for every dollar you invest. For inquiries, contact Sameen Saeed at or 617-868-0150.

    Telling Totals


    Common Impact has conducted over 250 engagements with nonprofits in Boston, New York City, and Richmond, VA. Ninety-seven percent of our nonprofit clients say their corporate volunteer teams provide high quality services!

    Local Heroes!


    We recently sat down with our good friend and former client -- Tara Finnegan of Generations Incorporated to learn more about the work she's doing and what her experience with us was like for her organization.

    Q&A with Tara Finnegan of Generations Incorporated
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    Common Impact: Hi Tara, could you tell our readers about the mission of Generation Incorporated?

    Tara: Generations Incorporated creates strong, mutually beneficial relationships between active older adults and children. Our programs promote children's literacy by inspiring intergenerational relationships which improve children's reading skills. But we're about more than just reading -- we build strong mentoring relationships and produce significant results.

    Common Impact: Could you talk about the programs you have in place for children and older adults? Are there any other programs like yours in Boston?

    Tara: We partner with elementary schools and after school programs in Boston and Revere to bring literacy and mentoring programs to the students who need them most. Our flagship program, Reading Coaches, joins trained older adults with children who are reading below grade level in twice weekly mentoring sessions focused on reading comprehension.

    Generations Incorporated is the sole non-profit organization in Greater Boston that can scientifically demonstrate our literacy impact on elementary school students. We are the only organization to exclusively recruit, train, and manage older adult volunteers, bringing the national award-winning Experience Corps program to Massachusetts.

    Common Impact: As Director of Resource Development, what brings you to work every day?

    Tara: For me, our programs just make sense. Older adults have the time, talent, and experience to share. Children must learn to read by the fourth grade in order to be successful in school. Pairing the two groups together achieves results for both populations.

    Common Impact: Could you talk a little bit about your Common Impact marketing engagement?

    Tara: We first started with a planning engagement the result from which was a set of marketing messages for our key constituents with Karen at Common Impact. She's great! We then decided the first step in implementing our plan would be to create a communications guide -- so that we all communicate the work of the organization clearly, concisely, and with impact. Our communication guide project utilized the skills of three talented folks from Fidelity Investments -- Cheryl Pereira, Denise O'Brien, and Abby De Molina. It was an amazing project. We paired the three of them with three of our staff and set to writing the guide. After many, many revisions, we now have a document to give to all staff and volunteers that makes it easy for them to communicate what we do.

    Common Impact: How has the work of the volunteers impacted your organization and the constituents you serve?

    Tara: Well I think it's safe to say that the impact on our organization is huge. The process got us to think about how we really want to talk about the work we do. It really helped us get specific language that we're using now all the time in grants, conversations, and marketing materials.

    Common Impact: Summer is thankfully upon us and so are barbeques! If Common Impact were a condiment, what would we be? Your options are 1) ketchup 2) barbeque sauce 3) salsa.

    Tara: Salsa. Sometimes sweet, sometimes spicy, but a perfect match for almost anything. And one of my favorites!

    New and Newsworthy


    Happenings Around Town

    Common Impact will be appearing soon at the following conference:

    2009 National Conference on Volunteering and Service
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    This year's theme -- "Civic. Energy. Generation." -- reflects the tremendous excitement in our nation today as people of all ages and backgrounds unify in a powerful movement to bring about social change.

    You can see Common Impact at two sessions:

    Session Title: Generation Now: Business Leaders for Change, Senior Executive Roundtable
    Business leaders' insight: How skills-based volunteering and pro bono can help the corporate bottom line while strengthening the non-profit sector during tough economic times.

    Moderator: Theresa Ellis, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Common Impact
    Speakers: Mark Edmunds, Deloitte; Ophelia Basgal, PG&E; Anne Schaffer, Capital One; and Anne Bronson, Accenture Foundation

    Session Title: Effectively Engaging Pro-Bono Support

    Speakers: Karen Horwitz, Vice President of Service Development, Common Impact and Matt Hines, Manager, Community Affairs, Capital One.

    When: June 22-24, 2009, at the Moscone Center - West in San Francisco, CA.

    Register now: http://www.volunteeringandservice.org/register.cfm

    Learn more: http://www.volunteeringandservice.org/

    Common Impact recently appeared at the following conferences:

    CSR Performance Summit: Opportunity in a Time of Transition, May 11-13, in New York City, NY.

    The CSR Performance Summit provided timely, practical information that CSR professionals couldn't afford to miss. Participants solidified their CSR foundation, refined communications strategies, and armed themselves with ideas to maximize their efforts, creating better, stronger programs and companies.

    Our session: Voluntarism and the Bottom Line: How Employee Volunteerism Strengthens a Company

    Speakers: Theresa Ellis, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Common Impact and Emily Talley, Senior Director, Community Relations, Capital One

    Learn more: http://www.csrperformancesummit.com/

    The Cause Marketing Forum, May 27-29, in Chicago, Ill.

    Helping businesses and nonprofits succeed together with practical information, connections and recognition.

    Our Workshop Session: Skills-Based Volunteerism: Maximizing Employee Engagement

    Panelists: Theresa Ellis, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Common Impact; Bev Dribin, VP Community Relations, Aramark; Mark Feldman, Managing Director, Cause Consulting

    Learn more: http://www.causemarketingforum.com/


    2009 Massachusetts Conference on Volunteering and Service, June 4, in Marlborough, MA.

    The 2009 Massachusetts Conference on Volunteering and Service brought together nonprofit, public, and private sector leaders and service participants throughout the Commonwealth for an inspiring day of learning, connection, and dialogue. With dynamic leadership support at the local, state, and national levels, this was an opportune time to highlight the power and possibilities of engaging volunteers of all ages to address pressing social and community needs.

    Our Workshop Session: How to Do More with Less: Leveraging Skills-Based Volunteers

    Moderator: Barry Horwitz, Founder and President, Horwitz & Company LLC

    Speakers: Danielle Holly, Manager of Employee Engagement, Common Impact; Michael Marino, Principal, Public Sector, Deloitte Consulting, LLP;
    Pamela Civins, Executive Director, Boston Partners in Education

    Learn more: http://www.mass-service.org/convening/conference/

    Fond Farewells


    We'll Miss You, Zach!
    This spring was bittersweet for Common Impact as Zach Goldstein, COO and Co-Founder of Common Impact, relocated to Portland, Oregon. While we wish him all the best as he settles closer to his family, we will deeply miss the tremendous passion and dedication he brought to Common Impact for the past seven years.

    Thank you, Eli!
    Many thanks for your fantastic research during your winter internship with us! Enjoy your summer!

    Job Postings

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    Common Impact Is Hiring
    We are seeking two talented individuals to join our team -- a full-time IT Consultant and part-time Director of Finance. Please follow the application instructions in the PDF job descriptions posted on our careers page.

    Viewpoints


    The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently featured John McGeehan, Common Impact's new Managing Director, who joined the organization in January.
    View the article: Former Financier Brings Business Skills to Charity Post

    This spring, President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy National Serve America Act to expand AmeriCorps and volunteer opportunities around the country.
    View the coverage from The Boston Globe: President signs $5.7 billion measure to boost volunteerism

    During these difficult economic times, many recent graduates and unemployed workers are embracing the call to service.
    View the article about recent grads from CNN: Amid economic downturn, recent grads turn to national service
    View the article about unemployed workers from the Boston Business Journal: Unemployed volunteers pour into nonprofits


    Make a Secure Online Contribution


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    The Small Print

    Thank you for reading the quarterly newsletter of Common Impact! We welcome your comments and contributions. Please send all inquiries to:

    Common Impact
    The Athenaeum Building
    215 First Street, Suite 25
    Cambridge, MA 02142-1236
    Phone: (617) 492-3105
    E-Mail: info@commonimpact.org