Community Inroads

Skills based volunteer consulting: our professional-level volunteer consulting program matches the internal operating needs of the lawrence and haverhill nonprofits with the technical and business skills of individuals in the business communities. All volunteer engagements are project based and short-term in nature, with a clearly defined scope of work. The money our pro bono consulting services save our nonprofits can be directly channeled to provide shelter and food for the homeless, affordable homes to low-income residents, education and leadership programs for youth, vocational and esol services, and the creation of safe beautiful neighborhoods.

Local workshops on nonprofit management are conducted by subject matter experts. Grant resource center provides free access to the foundation center grant research databases in partnership with northern essex Community college.

Center of excellence in board governance and leadership: our volunteers help build engaged boards and executives who understand their responsibilities as leaders of the nonprofit. This program focuses on 3 services: 1. Cultural inclusion program for nonprofit boards (in our 12th year of operations) prepares local professionals of color (also known as recruits) to be leaders on nonprofit boards by providing 12 hours of training on board governance by subject matter experts, 9 hours of facilitated dialogue on cultural inclusion by paid diversity consultants to promote welcoming inclusive boards, the matching of recruits with participating nonprofit boards, and the monitoring of all board placements to help ensure successful experiences for both recruits and nonprofits. The cultural inclusion program was honored with a gateway cities innovation award by mass Inc. In highlighting "strategies to increase diversity and equity in civic leadership". 2. Board tune up (btu) also known as healthy board development which works with individual boards to strengthen their effectiveness as a governing body. It includes facilitation of a roles to goals process, strategic plans, customized board training, board retreats, and coaching for executive directors and board chairs. 3. Executive director, cfo, development and board chair roundtables as well as small sector groups provide venues for nonprofit executives to learn and network with one another on relevant issues.