ENTERPRISES

Volunteers of America - One of the nation’s largest social services agencies engaged  CWV to refine and improve the marketing strategy for its $10 million vehicle donation program.  An analysis of past donors provided new clarity on the organization’s donors, and allowed CWV to create a targeted marketing plan focused on high-potential car donors and bottom line results.  Volunteers of America is currently implementing several of CWV’s recommendations and expects revenue to double in the next three years.  CWV is also working with Volunteers of America to evaluate and improve its presence in the used clothing and thrift store marketplace.

The Prichard Committee – CWV worked with this education advocacy organization to identify opportunities based on its existing assets.  After extensive feasibility assessments of potential opportunities, CWV helped the Committee to develop and launch a consulting business that leveraged its expertise in establishing parent training institutes focused around school involvement.  As a result of CWV’s work and recommendations, the Committee developed a partnership with a for-profit communications firm and launched the Center for Parent Leadership in mid-2002.  The consulting unit currently generates over $400,000 annually. 

Rochester Rehabilitation Center – As part of the Yale-Goldman Sachs Partnership on Nonprofit Ventures business plan competition, CWV worked with Rochester Rehabilitation Center to clarify the business objectives and strategies for Parrett Paper, a business that produces and markets unique, die-cut greeting cards.  CWV helped Rochester Rehabilitation Center to improve its business plan and develop an investor pitch for the business, which was selected as a grand prize winner in the competition and awarded $100,000.

Life’sWork of Western Pennsylvania – CWV worked with this sheltered workshop in Pittsburgh, PA to help it develop a business plan to transform its traditional workshop into a complete business solutions operation.  With this business plan, Life’sWork was able to secure a grant to launch the entrepreneurial new venture.  CWV then worked with the organization to recruit and hire a Chief Operating Officer to lead the venture.  Currently Life'sWork has raised a venture fund to support its entrepreneurial activities and is launching a Ben & Jerry's PartnerShop.  Additionally, CWV worked with Life'sWork to develop a business plan for a new thrift store operation.

Welfare to Work Partnership – CWV worked with the Partnership to evaluate potential business opportunities that would leverage the organization’s expertise on welfare-to-work issues.   With CWV’s help, the Partnership launched its Business Interface, Inc, a new subsidiary that offers recruitment and retention services for businesses looking to hire new entry-level staff and to reduce entry-level staff turnover.  The Partnership staff has already entered into pilot project relationships with two major clients – a large national discount grocery chain and a dominant national home improvement supply company – to test and refine their products and services.

Davis Memorial Goodwill Industries - CWV worked with the Washington, DC affiliate of this international nonprofit that delivers employment and training services to people with special needs to evaluate its ability to generate community wealth.  Davis Memorial Goodwill Industries had a large government contracting custodial service practice and an under-producing commercial practice, Best Kept Buildings.  CWV worked with the organization to assess existing capacity of this commercial entity, evaluate its market growth potential and create business and implementation plans to support the growth objectives.  As a result, this client has signed a new six-figure contract with a commercial property.  

Share Our Strength – CWV worked with this national anti-hunger organization to develop and launch a high-end catering business targeting private corporations in the Washington DC metro area.  CWV conducted in-depth market research to identify key market trends and competitors and assisted Share Our Strength in developing the staffing and business model for the catering venture.  Share Our Strength’s network of 8,000+ chefs proved to be a valuable asset in launching this catering business.  Following the recommendation in the business plan developed by CWV, SOS generated over $400,000 in revenues from high-end corporate catering contracts in the first year. 

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Bay Schools Project - CWV worked with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to assess the school reform marketplace and to determine the potential for generating revenues from the sale and delivery of an innovative program that uses education about the Chesapeake Bay as the framework for the curriculum for elementary, middle school and high school students.  The program had been funded by third party donations and is now undergoing a transition to capture a large percentage of its costs from direct payment for services.  As a result, the program sustainability and capacity for expansion has increased dramatically.

Center in the Woods – CWV worked with this eldercare facility in Southwestern Pennsylvania to secure a professional publishing contract for two manuals the Center developed to assist staff in providing creative, interactive, and dignified activities for elderly adults, including individuals with dementia.  Under this contract, the Center receives a 12 percent royalty from the sale of every manual.  CWV also worked with the Center to assess the feasibility of several other venture opportunities, including renting its attractive building as a banquet hall during off-hours and expanding its adult day care program to satellite sites in neighboring counties.  Both of these ventures are currently being implemented. 

Sitar Center - CWV worked with this local community arts center for children in Washington, DC to develop a fee schedule for its arts classes.  Until now, the organization has offered all of its classes free of charge.  However, it is moving in Fall 2003 into a newly renovated and much larger facility and is interested in developing a fee schedule that would allow it to collect modest tuition fees based on family income levels.  CWV researched how other arts organizations in the DC area charge for their classes and surveyed Sitar Center parents to gauge their willingness and ability to pay for their children's classes at the Center.

Presbyterian SeniorCare – CWV worked with this network of long-term care facilities to develop a mission-based consulting business.  Through their operation of a cutting edge dementia care residence, Presbyterian SeniorCare has developed expertise on care for residents with dementia that is needed by other long-term care organizations.  CWV helped the organization to create a consulting and training business that would share this knowledge with other facilities across the nation, fund further research on dementia care, and generate profit to support ongoing operations.

Medical and Health Research Association (MHRA) - CWV worked with this health care services provider and discovered that its IT division, while focusing on providing AIDS assistance, was actually providing a broad range of technical and computer related assistance.  CWV helped the organization formalize these activities and offer them as for-fee specialized IT consulting and training services for all area nonprofits.  As a result, Data Link has numerous revenue-generating contracts with area organizations to provide specialized IT support.

Technology Works for Good (TWFG) - CWV worked with this DC-based nonprofit start-up to evaluate its initial business strategies, develop a business plan to support the final product/service decisions, and coach/mentor the president through the business start-up process.  As a result of this collaborative effort, CWV helped refocus TWFG’s primary planning efforts on building a sustainable revenue generating strategy that supports the organization’s mission-focused objectives.  As a result, TWFG has transformed into nPower Greater DC, one of the strongest social enterprises in the DC region.

New Jersey Network - CWV worked with this state-owned public television station to develop MEDIA PRODUCTIONS, a business around the organization’s experienced film production team.  While the station had been engaged in a limited amount of fee-for-service work, CWV helped the Network to identify the true scope of its market opportunity, and developed a business plan to help it grow the business to its true potential.

Safer Foundation - CWV worked with this large Chicago-based nonprofit that provides rehabilitative services to ex-offenders.  The president initially hired CWV to research, evaluate, and recommend new venture opportunities, but the relationship grew to include organizational development, strategic planning, and merger and acquisition work.  CWV’s work helped the organization to anticipate the organizational ramifications of implementing a community wealth endeavor and positioned the organization to change accordingly.  The organization has secured over $1 million in financing and is currently considering purchasing a franchise business.

Park Avenue Club – CWV worked with this private dining club in New Jersey to develop a marketing strategy to expand membership and grow catering sales.  The Club is owned by eleven nonprofit organizations and all profits are distributed back the nonprofit owners.  CWV assisted the Club in developing a comprehensive website to promote the club’s facilities for weddings and other large catered events.  Additionally, CWV worked with the Club’s management to implement a membership and board development strategy focused on establishing the club as the place to do business in the county. 

Boys and Girls Clubs of Newark, Inc. – CWV worked with this local chapter of a national youth services organization to design a focus group business that would generate revenue by providing companies with access to do market research with youth at the clubs.  The clubs were able to incorporate this revenue-generating activity as part of a broader program to help youth understand business principles, marketing, and their own value as consumers. As a result, the client signed several revenue-generating contracts with corporations to host focus groups with club members.

PARTNERSHIPS

Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation – CWV assisted this national community development corporation in negotiating its first corporate partnership with Washington Mutual Bank, a sponsor for NeighborWorks Week.  CWV developed a full management account strategy for the organization and assisted in implementing the strategy during all phases of the negotiation process.  With CWV’s assistance, the Corporation has successfully grown the partnership which generated over $3 million in revenues and support for the organization by the second year of the relationship.  Home Depot is now the national sponsor for NeighborWorks Week.

The Prichard Committee – Thanks to CWV's work with this education advocacy organization, The Prichard Committee secured its first corporate partnership in 2003, with the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA).

Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) – CWV worked with this national financial intermediary organization to develop a comprehensive marketing strategy aimed at attracting corporate partners.  CWV interviewed key corporate donors and assessed the internal assets and structure of the organization to design a strategy specific to LISC’s market position and ability to deliver.   The organization has hired a new staff member to oversee its corporate partnerships and is implementing recommendations from the CWV plan regarding internal structure and marketing issues.  

Girls, Inc. - CWV worked with Girls Inc., a national nonprofit organization focused on inspiring all girls to be "Strong, Smart, and Bold", to assess the level of interest among athletic wear and toy manufacturers to develop a multi-year cause-related marketing campaign.  Based on the promising results of our feasibility assessment,  Girls Inc. retained CWV to develop the potential partnership leads. CWV is currently in negotiations with a major athletic wear company that recently launched a new women's division, as well as with a doll manufacturer.

Million Mom March - CWV worked with the Brady Center and Million Mom March to measure the MMM's brand equity and partnership potential.  We surveyed 25 companies around the country in various industries and product areas to gauge their familiarity with and perception of the Million Mom March, as well as their interest in a cause-related marketing partnership with MMM.  Based on the survey data, CWV provided MMM with recommendations on how to proceed with their next national event and next steps for pursuing a corporate partner.