Scroll Top
Powering Nonprofit Success Through Participatory Processes:

Did you know that organizations prioritizing participatory processes and deliberately decreasing barriers see a significant increase in program effectiveness? This Fall, I’m excited to delve into how this framework powers real-world success through our three-part webinar series, Insights for Impact!

On September 18th, Dr. Inderjit Vicky Basra, President and CEO of the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center, and Jessica Raymond, former Chief of Staff of the YWCA, joined Sharity Global Expert Anne Miskey to offer real-world examples of ways participatory processes elevated their organizations’ mission and impact. Dr. Basra emphasized the importance of including direct and indirect experts in decision-making conversations. She noted, “…layered communication makes the change.” When those in the community who experience the challenges your organization strives to address work alongside those with academic or professional experience in key areas, your organization can begin to affect systemic change. Jessica added, “When we talk about advocating for people and engaging their voices…here is the mic! You sit at this table, you tell me what you need from us, you make the decision…”

Key takeaways from the conversation included:

  • Write equity into your policies and procedures.
  • Avoid “tokenizing” the community you serve. Ensure that if you ask something of your community members, such as asking them to share their stories, you are developing and strengthening a mutually beneficial relationship with them.
  • Identify ways your organization may connect direct experts, those with lived experience, with donors, elected officials, and other community leaders and influencers.
  • Engaging all voices allows you to review and evaluate the impact of your programming with an open mind and heart.
  • Give credit to all the experts helping you execute your mission. Whenever possible, compensate and recognize direct experts, those with lived experiences, for their work on behalf of your organization, just as you would an indirect expert with academic or professional experience. 

Dr. Basra summed up the importance of engaging all voices when she described the success her organization has had with connecting survivor mentors with the recently rescued. “[Survivor’s] concepts around hope look very different because they’re sitting across from somebody, that at some point, was in the same space that they are in…Their survivor-mentor becomes a beacon of hope!” Anne added, “The little ways you can connect your donors in real ways to people” will bring about transformation.

Watch The Full Video Now

Carol Wick, CEO, Sharity
Last week:

    DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DATA: Domestic violence arguably has the nation’s worst data collection of any crime. What’s worse in Florida, FDLE’s failure to meet the deadlines of a 2018 law — promising to make “Florida’s criminal justice system the most transparent in the nation” — means the public has no more access to data now than when the law passed. That’s data — during COVID-19’s silent pandemic of domestic violence — that could help service providers ultimately save more lives. It shouldn’t have to take spousal killings or breaking news involving former campaign managers to inform Floridians about the latest trends in domestic violence.
  1. Looking ahead: RBG AND GENDER EQUITY: Ruth Bader Ginsburg wasn’t just a hero to women; she fought for gender equity for all. She also left the door open for men to become major allies for women’s rights and stopping violence against women. Feminism is about what you fight for irrespective of gender. So don’t be fooled by those who say, “How can Trump’s nominee be anti-woman? She’s a woman!” Make it clear that women aren’t like socks that you can rotate in when one goes missing in the wash! Barrett’s nomination is nothing short of President Trump, Sen. McConnell, and others burning down RBG’s legacy and decades of progress toward equality.