The Patterson Foundation Strengthens Nonprofits With Strategic Decision-Making Consulting Sessions

February 5, 2021 – Sarasota

The Patterson Foundation has selected six regional nonprofit organizations to receive five weeks of 1:1 consulting through their participation in Advancing Mission Thrivability. This opportunity educates nonprofits on strategic approaches to making mission-focused, economically informed decisions for their programs, products and services.

For months, the COVID-19 pandemic has put considerable strain on nonprofits. In addition to having to make difficult decisions regarding operations, staffing, service delivery, financial management and more that ultimately impact the communities they serve, nonprofits also have to manage a new environment that changes almost daily. Advancing Mission Thrivability is an opportunity from The Patterson Foundation that strengthens nonprofits by sharing mission-centric, economically informed approaches to decision-making that will guide them in increasing their effectiveness at this time while becoming an even greater asset to the communities they serve. 

“With the pandemic continuing to introduce and compound challenges for our vital nonprofit community, Advancing Mission Thrivability is needed more than ever in today’s resource-challenged world,” said Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation. “Through this opportunity, The Patterson Foundation helps organizations in our communities learn ways to make sound operational and financial decisions that are aligned with their missions. This additional consulting opportunity will further strengthen their impact across our region.”

Dozens of regional nonprofit organizations have participated in online learning sessions through Advancing Mission Thrivability. These courses were presented by No Margin, No Mission — a national consulting practice and social enterprise. During each session, nonprofits learned how to strengthen their organizations by making decisions aligned with their mission focus and economic considerations.

Following the completion of four online sessions, participating organizations committed to embracing this decision-making approach had the opportunity to apply for an additional learning opportunity. The Patterson Foundation is re-engaging No Margin, No Mission to provide 1:1 consulting to six of these nonprofits over five weeks, in which they will examine decisions for their own specific programs.

The organizations participating in this extended consulting opportunity include: 

• Charlotte County Homeless Coalition
• Charlotte Players, Inc.
• Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program
• National Alliance on Mental Illness of Sarasota and Manatee Counties
• Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, Inc.
• Peace River Wildlife Center

All organizations with a profile on The Giving Partner are eligible to participate in Advancing Mission Thrivability. Formed by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, The Giving Partner is a database that connects prospective donors with more than 700 nonprofits in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties. The directory serves as a trusted resource for grantmakers and other donors to inform their giving.

Advancing Mission Thrivability is part of The Patterson Foundation’s NGO Thrivability initiative. This initiative connects nonprofits with expertise and resources to learn concepts like strategic decision-making while adopting and implementing entrepreneurial principles to generate enough revenue to support and eventually grow their operations.

To learn more about Advancing Mission Thrivability, visit www.thepattersonfoundation.org.