Session Description
This workshop focused on developing a plan for building GEN operations in-country whether as a GEN Ambassador or independent GEN affiliate. Attendees applied a strategic planning framework to identify clear objectives, resource requirements, and stakeholder engagement strategies to enhance their national entrepreneurship ecosystem. This included discussions on:
Catalyzing Partnerships and Building Coalitions
How can leaders engage other institutions and build partnerships to exponentially increase impact? What has worked and what has not in seeking support from other organizations busy in their lanes in wider efforts. Engaging stakeholder institutions and leaders is critical for scaling impact in national ecosystems. This will explore proven strategies for building partnerships with universities, corporations, government agencies, and grassroots organizations to create synergistic collaborations that amplify entrepreneurship efforts. Participants will discuss barriers to engagement, effective outreach techniques, and case studies of successful coalition-building.
- Funding the Global Ecosystem in the New World Order
What are the key ingredients necessary to achieve sustainability, including impact data, compelling stories, professional brands, excellence in performance, relationships, and alignment with priorities important to governments, private and corporate philanthropy, and the ecosystems you serve? Participants will discuss what has worked and what has not in different markets.
Session Recap
(AI-generated session recap made available by Google NotebookLM)
Welcome to the session focused on building sustainable methods for growth, particularly for GEN partners and ambassadors around the world. This workshop, facilitated by Natalie Diamond, CEO and founder of Diamond Strategy Collective, and introduced by Peter Komives, Vice President for National Affiliates, delved into crucial strategies for sustainability, revenue generation, and effective fundraising. Attendees engaged in interactive exercises designed to leverage collective brain power and share insights on their organizations' unique strengths and challenges. The session emphasized the power of collaboration, clear value proposition, and compelling storytelling to secure resources and drive impact.
Outline
- Introduction by Peter Komives, VP for National Affiliates, Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN).
- Moderated by Natalie Diamond, CEO & Founder of Diamond Strategy Collective and former VP for Development at Hello Alice.
- Overview of session goals: reflect on value and challenges, share what's working, learn from each other, and make new connections.
- Icebreaker exercise: sharing name, organization, and one-word superpower.
- Table discussions on common themes and synergies found in responses.
- The three core pillars of sustainable fundraising (the "Three C's"): Clarity (value proposition), Consistency (systems/repeatability), and Case (case for support/impact).
- Workshop activity: spotlighting one organization per table and discussing their sustainability model using the Three C's framework.
- Table readouts sharing case studies, challenges, and suggested action items.
- Discussion on the critical importance of data for storytelling, impact reporting, and securing funding.
- Discussion on internal organizational challenges, such as streamlining funding conversations and data management.
- Explanation of CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems and data hygiene.
- Networking activity: attendees shared what they can offer and what they need with tablemates.
- Concluding remarks and encouragement for continued networking and connecting.
Post-it note prompts:
- What does your organization do better than anyone else?
If you had a magic wand, what's one thing you'd improve about your sustainability or fundraising?
Notable Quotes
- "This session is on sustainability and that means coming up with ideas to develop the resources we need to grow GEN in your country."
- "We're really going to focus on... how we all as GEN partners, as ambassadors, can build more sustainable methods to create revenue. How we can fundraise, how we can look at partnerships as a strategic lever for sustainable growth in the future."
"Can anyone else relate how crucial data is? Gaps in your data, how you use data and your storytelling, your impact reports, and your case studies. It's so critical."
Key Takeaways
- Sustainability requires a clear strategy: Growing GEN and securing necessary resources involves diverse approaches like revenue generation, articulating value, and telling a compelling story.
- Collaboration is key: Connecting resources within ecosystems, supporting regions affected by economic shocks through collaboration, and thinking about how to overlap frameworks with other organizations can enhance impact and avoid duplication.
- Data is essential for impact and fundraising: Using data effectively helps tell your organization's story, demonstrates impact to funders and partners, and strengthens your case for support. Identifying data gaps and utilizing resources (like data geeks or open data infrastructure) is crucial.
- Define your unique value proposition: Understanding what your organization does better than anyone else is fundamental to building a strong case for support and attracting partners and funders.
Streamline internal processes: Efficiently managing data, for instance through a CRM system, and ensuring cross-collaboration internally can prevent silos and improve consistency in outreach and fundraising efforts.
Resources Mentioned
- CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems: Tools to manage customer/contact databases. HubSpot was mentioned as a free option for organizations just starting out.
- Open data source infrastructure: Suggested as a way to make data gathering faster and more sustainable for the entire ecosystem.
- Networking tools: Scanning badges and using a conference app were noted as good ways to connect with others.
Other potential program resources: the List and the Verizon digital program for entrepreneurs were mentioned as possible resources to access for entrepreneurs.
Action Items
- Share your name, organization, and one-word superpower at your tables.
- Answer two prompts on post-it notes (what your organization do best; what would you improve about sustainability/fundraising with a magic wand) and place them in the center of the table.
- Look at the overlaps and connect themes from the post-it notes at your table.
- Select one organization per table to spotlight and workshop using the Three C's framework (Clarity, Consistency, Case for support).
- Utilize data and create a story to encourage generous funding.
- Look at creating a nonprofit arm to access funding outside of government sources.
- Leverage local colleges for data assistance.
- Link storytelling to GIS mapping.
- Link the story to solving potential partners' problems.
- Integrate collaboration frameworks with other organizations.
- Consider introducing new revenue streams like membership fees to sustain financing.
- Clarify exact activities and costs to build a stronger case for investors.
- Build long-term relationships with successful entrepreneurs for potential future funding.
- Create an open data source infrastructure.
- Improve internal data management and CRM utilization.
- Enhance cross-collaboration internally to pursue funding opportunities more effectively.
- Develop strategies for long-term sustainability that go beyond changes in political leadership.
- Focus on data hygiene and keeping CRM updated.
- Share what you can offer and what you need with your tablemates to facilitate connections.
- Use networking tools like apps, business cards, or badge scanning to connect with others.
Find others in the GEN App or exchange business cards to solidify connections.
