Newsletters

Common Connection

Volume 3, Number 1: March 26, 2008

"The best part about this experience was getting to know about the Boston Learning Center folks and what they do. We got a sense of how they're interacting with the community, and that's really the payback for us, that's where we got the sense of satisfaction...It can be energizing, especially when you see what they're doing and how important to the community they are."

--Fidelity Investments Volunteer for Boston Learning Center

This issue of Common Connection is dedicated to our nonprofit clients. Addressing diverse causes ranging from homelessness, to hunger and health, to education, our clients tackle the issues fundamental to the health of our local communities. We see first-hand the passion, resolve and hard work these organizations bring to their respective missions and we salute them for their efforts!

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 200 engagements with nonprofits in Boston, New York City, and Richmond, VA. Ninety-four percent of our nonprofit clients say the work of their Common Impact corporate volunteer team significantly impacted their mission!

Local Heroes!

Q&A with Jane Money of Boston City Singers

When we heard Karen Horwitz, Common Impact Marketing Consultant, humming away in her office, we knew we had to get to the bottom of this unusual behavior! With some probing we learned about Jane Money, Artistic Director of the Boston City Singers and wanted to share with you the great work they are doing:

Karen: Hi Jane, could you tell our readers about the mission of Boston City Singers?

Jane: We believe in opportunity! We provide outstanding musical training and extensive performance opportunities to children and young people designed to inspire personal development, emphasize teamwork, celebrate diversity, and foster goodwill worldwide.

Karen: Could you talk about the programs you have in place for your talented singers? Are there any other programs like yours in Boston?

Jane: Over 90% of our singers are from the inner city -- I believe we are unique in this regards! Our staff has a real passion for serving children from the various neighborhoods of Boston. We have a network of neighborhood training choruses designed for children aged 5--12. All are in accessible locations, and rehearsals are held at times which are convenient for children who are interested in singing with us. We are also in the pilot year of programs designed specifically for middle school singers. Our Concert Chorus provides extensive training and performance opportunities for our teen members, many of whom have been with us for 6 or more years, some as many as 10!

Karen: What is the goal for these young people? Any success stories that you would like to share?

Jane: I come back to the word "opportunity!" Sometimes you see things that are truly amazing. We remember leading children across the Boston Common, turning their heads this way and that staring in amazement -- children who had never been downtown before yet live less than 3 miles away! One of our greatest thrills was taking 38 singers to New Zealand and Australia for three weeks last summer. We were true ambassadors for the City of Boston, singing in the heart of our sister city Melbourne to packed houses!

Karen: As Artistic Director, what brings you to work every day?

Jane: I realize that for children in the inner city, most of whom cannot afford a musical instrument let alone the lessons that would be necessary, their voice is an ideal instrument, and one that can bring much satisfaction. Seeing children from the inner city succeed is so important. All of our graduates have gone on to college, and many continue singing in their college choirs. Indeed, we have had several actually choose colleges based on their visit to choir rehearsals!

Karen: What has happened so far in your Common Impact engagement?

Jane: Common Impact began this project by conducting market research and collateral analysis on our current marketing efforts. The market research assessed the attributes and positioning of our organization against several similar nonprofits. This helped us identify specific attributes that make us unique compared to other nonprofits in our space. The collateral analysis helped evaluate the effectiveness of specific pieces of collateral, tailor our messaging to our different audiences and improve the design and layout of the collateral. Common Impact then helped us use this information to craft a compelling brand platform for our organization. The next step in our engagement is to enlist a volunteer team that will help us align our marketing efforts with our newly refined brand platform.

Karen: How has the work of the volunteers affected your organization and the young people you serve?

Jane: We simply wouldn't be where we are today without the many hands and hearts that helped us at all levels of the organization over the last 12 years. Our neighbors and friends have opened their homes to touring choirs, cooked dinners for us, designed all manner of publicity materials, organized many aspects of our concerts, raised funds and friends -- the list goes on and on!

Karen: And now for the toughest question in the interview: If Common Impact were an accompanist in your chorus, what instrument would we play?

Jane: We hope you would be the flute -- with clear and consistent messages!

New and Newsworthy

Common Impact Open House

Thank you for joining us in celebrating our new home in Kendall Square. We were glad you could attend and hope you found the evening enjoyable. We love to entertain -- please come see us if you have not yet had a chance to do so!

Happenings Around Town

Common Impact will be appearing soon at a conference near you.

Business Volunteer Council of Northern New Jersey
Innovations in Corporate Volunteerism: Realizing the Human Capital Potential

Corporate Community Involvement is about more than feeling good -- it’s good business.
Session Title: Skills Based Employee Volunteering
Session Leader: Lesley Edwards, VP of Partnerships, Common Impact
Other Sessions include: From Soup to Nuts: Building an Employee Volunteer Program from the Ground Up, The Importance of Social Responsibility in Recruiting and Retaining Generation Y and, Strategies for Internal EVP Communications.
When: April 18, at Hilton Woodcliff Lake in Woodcliff Lake, NJ.
Learn more: Contact Tess Tomasi 201-489-9454 Ext. 114 or

Celebrating 35 Years of Women at Dartmouth

From the pioneers of the earliest co-ed classes on up to today's iGeneration, Dartmouth women have shared their path-breaking spirit with the world in ways both extraordinary and everyday.
Panel Discussion: Spirit and Service
Panelists: Theresa Ellis '97, CEO, Common Impact; Crystal Crawford '87, JD, CEO, California Black Women's Health Project; Nancy Fisher-Allison '77, PhD, Community Volunteer, Beth Shalom Congregation.
When: May 2-4, at JW Marriott at Union Square in San Francisco, CA.
Learn more: http://alumni.dartmouth.edu/default.aspx?id=818

2008 National Conference on Volunteering and Service

Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, this year's conference theme is a call to action for a new generation of civic leaders. Now is the time to seize the growing momentum for service and unleash the power of citizens to make a better world.
Our Workshop Session: Skills-based volunteerism: Strategies to Engage Employees
Moderator: Theresa Ellis, CEO, Common Impact
Panelists: Evan Hochberg, National Director of Community Involvement; Jeanne O'Connor Greene, VP Learning and Organizational Development, State Street Corporation; Theresa Moore, Director, Operations Training and Talent Development, Genworth Financial.
When: June 1-3, 2008 at Atlanta Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, GA.
Register now: http://www.volunteeringandservicereg08.com/public/Splash.aspx
Learn more: http://www.volunteeringandservice.org/schedules/PDF/Business%20Track%20Schedule.pdf

Fond Farewells

Good Luck, Sarah!
Many thanks for your fantastic research and congratulations on clinching a summer internship at Bain & Co. We see a bright future ahead for you! Good luck at Dartmouth this semester.

Viewpoints

The Networked Nonprofit

An article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review explains how some of the world's most successful nonprofits defy management wisdom and deliberately choose to stay small, focusing less on growing themselves and more on cultivating their networks.

View the survey: http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/the_networked_nonprofit/ (subscription required)

Make a Secure Online Contribution

Donate Now through Network for Good

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