N Central Massachusetts Community Wealth Workshop Series

Program Overview

Schedule

Participating Organizations

Contact Us

Program Overview

The N Central Massachusetts Community Wealth Workshop Series wrapped up on September 17th with business plan presentations by participating organizations. The Workshop Series is a 6-month business planning process that helps high-performing nonprofit organizations develop and grow social enterprises. Nonprofits selected to participate are engaged in a rigorous business planning process and gain access to tools, frameworks and business experts to help them launch a new business or expand an existing business. Workshop Series participants build social enterprises while honing business skills, empowering them to have a lasting impact on their nonprofit organizations. 

The goal of the Workshop Series is for all participants to complete a business plan and launch or grow a viable business. The revenue generated from the business provides the nonprofit organization with more independence in creating programs and services to fulfill its mission.

The Workshop Series consists of monthly peer learning sessions and customized consulting phone check-ins.

Peer Learning Workshops

The Workshop Series kicks-off with a two day workshop and five subsequent one-day workshops focused on key business topics that contribute to the development of a successful earned income venture. Topics covered include: market research, financial analysis, competitive analysis, pricing and capitalization. In addition, each session features a notable business expert who serves as a guest speaker, sharing his/her personal stories and success and challenges. These workshops are conducted once a month during a six-month timeframe.

Customized Consulting Phone Check-Ins

The CWV consultant team offers three one-on-one phone check-ins with each of the six to eight participating organizations to assist the teams in applying the concepts learned during the peer learning workshops to their own ventures and organizations.

To assist N Central Massachusetts nonprofits develop and grow social enterprises, the United Way of North Central Massachusetts and Mount Wachusett Community College have partnered with Community Wealth Ventures to launch the N Central Massachusetts Community Wealth Workshop Series.  

Benefits of Participation

Workshop Series participants receive business planning and venture development assistance, which result in a focused business plan to guide the growth of the venture. Other benefits include:  

• Access to experts in the fields of social enterprise and business development;

• A proven methodology for planning and launching a social enterprise, along with assessment tools and research support; and

• In-depth monthly interaction and collaboration with peer nonprofit organizations.
   

Schedule
 

Participating Organizations

Cornerstone Performing Arts Center
www.christianartsfitchburg.com

The Cornerstone Performing Arts Center is a multi-denominational, non-profit Christian organization dedicated to inspiring, educating, and entertaining through theatre, dance, and music.

Venture: Earned income from theatre productions.

House of Peace and Education (HOPE)
www.hopegardner.org

The House of Peace and Education is a nonprofit interfaith organization committed to counteracting violence and promoting peace. In a safe, welcoming, and nurturing environment, HOPE offers academic support, leadership development, empowering relationships, and spiritual values to people in need, especially to women and children at risk.

Venture: Expansion of Pals, the early childhood segment of their HOPE for Kids program to include fully-paying and subsidized children. Pals will focus on the socio-behavioral support of Grade K-2 children and will provide support to parents through HOPE’s integrated parenting program.

Multi-Service Center
www.multiservicecenter.org

The Multi-Service Center exists to identify and serve the unmet needs of the North Central Massachusetts community by building purposeful relationships and emphasizing wellness and prevention.

Venture: Expansion of their existing Summer Scene and Winter Scene youth theater programs.

The Bridge of Central Massachusetts, Inc.
www.thebridgecm.org

The Bridge is a vital leader in providing comprehensive human services in collaboration with multitalented and diversely challenged individuals and their families. Building on more than 30 years of experience, they advocate for individuals to become full partners in the experience of lifelong learning, meaningful relationships, productive work, and community living. This mission translates into a strong corporate ethic; The obligation to provide treatments that have been proven to work – Evidence-Based Practices.

Venture: Consultation and training services in Evidence-Based Practices – treatments. 

Young Entrepreneurs Society, Inc.
www.yes-inc.org

The mission of the Young Entrepreneurs Society, Inc. is to help young people ages 13-21 in the rural North Quabbin and greater Franklin County regions unlock their potential through entrepreneurship, job readiness, finance, and technology.

Venture: Expansion of its existing venture, the YES BizCenter / Teen Cyber Café, which offers full service copying, document finishing, faxing, notary services, office supplies, FedEx and UPS shipping, bulk mailing, and non-library-based wireless and wired public high-speed internet access.

Contact Us

Nicole Hanrahan
202.478.6566