Listening and Learning: The Path to a Thriving Nonprofit Ecosystem

We know that understanding comes from talking with community members, which is why we sent out a survey to local nonprofits earlier this year. We also met in person for listening sessions in each county of our service area. Our partners shared their challenges and described ways we could best support their missions.

These listening practices are tied to two of our core values: “Learn at every turn” and “Forge connections for good.” Our values guide us along the path to a flourishing and just southwest Washington. By talking with community members about their most pressing needs and their greatest strengths, we gain insight into what people truly need to thrive and what we can do to empower them.

I’m incredibly grateful to our nonprofit community for their transparent responses to our survey questions and vulnerability in our listening sessions. Their openness and authenticity were enlightening and humbling. Their honest feedback is essential as we continue to examine how our grantmaking aligns with our communities’ needs. In this blog, you’ll learn about the themes that surfaced in each county and how we’re working to address the underlying needs through our strategic grantmaking. For additional context, review my blog on how Participatory Grantmaking Advances Inclusion & Equity.

Key Takeaways from Our Listening Sessions

As Ursula and I listened to nonprofit professionals, we heard an almost universal desire across our three-county region for deeper connections and more resources to help nonprofits better achieve their missions. Here are the themes that surfaced in our conversations:

Cowlitz County

Building Connections and Support

Desire for Deeper Engagement: Nonprofits in Cowlitz emphasized the need for more touchpoints and community engagement opportunities. They highlighted the importance of events for networking and building connections.

Equity and Collaboration: There’s a strong call for a coalition to support organizations focusing on equity and policy change, as well as a desire to improve equitable decision-making through shared learnings, equity-focused trainings and events that foster better understanding and connection.

Operational and Capacity Support: Nonprofits expressed a need for long-term operational support, professional development and assistance with core business needs such as HR, payroll, and liability insurance.

Skamania County

Addressing Displacement and Isolation

Impact of Displacement: Feedback from Skamania nonprofits highlighted how displacement and gentrification are affecting the area, with low-income families being pushed out and facing challenges such as lack of internet access and transportation.

Need for Community Space: There’s a pressing need for a community center to provide a space for youth programming and community gatherings.

Collaboration and Leadership: Skamania nonprofits expressed a desire for stronger partnerships and leadership development to address systemic issues and build a pipeline of future leaders.

Clark County

Fostering Resilience and Connection

Strategic Resilience: Nonprofits in Clark County are focusing on strategic resiliency to meet community needs post-COVID. They stressed the importance of investing in organizational resiliency and capacity building.

Data and Storytelling: There’s a need for resources to collect meaningful data and share compelling stories, helping nonprofits connect with donors and showcase their impact.

Breaking Silos: Nonprofits emphasized the need for better collaboration and resource sharing to break down silos to foster a supportive nonprofit ecosystem.

What Can We Do?

These insights allow us to look at our resources and ask ourselves, “How are we part of the solution?” We know that with targeted support, nonprofits can fortify and improve their efforts, resulting in deeper, more sustainable impact. This is one of the main ways we can meet the needs of local nonprofits. Still, there’s more we can and are committed to doing.

Here are a few ways we are responding to what we learned during our listening sessions:

Funding for Operations and Capacity Building: We are directing more of our funding toward the day-to-day operations and capacity of nonprofits.

Enhanced Engagement: We are planning community events to support nonprofits strengthen connections and find opportunities for collaboration.

Support for Equity Initiatives: We are offering support to coalitions that focus on equity and are attuned to the needs of our priority populations.

Storytelling Support: We are committed to uplifting local nonprofits by amplifying the stories of their good work through our networks.

By engaging in a continual feedback loop with our nonprofit partners, we are better positioned to make more equitable grantmaking decisions that are deeply rooted in an understanding of community need and driven by community voice. This practice is key to unlocking the bright future we all envision.