Strategic Guidance. Stronger Nonprofits.
In This Issue
Compass Launches In Chicago
Project Leader Applications
Project Launch Event
Compass Announces the 2016-17 Clients
Join Our List
2016-17 Clients
Greater Philadelphia

Broad Street Ministry

Center for Literacy

Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance

La Comunidad Hispana

Maternity Care Coalition

Mercy Neighborhood Ministries of Philadelphia

Mighty Writers

Nationalities Service Center

PathWays PA

Philadelphia Assistive Technology Foundation

Women Against Abuse
 
Greater Washington

Alliance Franรงaise

Byte Back

City First Enterprises

City Year Washington, DC

Cornerstone Montgomery

DC Youth Orchestra Program

Easter Seals Serving DC|MD|VA

GALA Hispanic Theatre

Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia

Green Acres School

Green Door

Homeless Children's Playtime Project 

Identity

Jubilee JumpStart

KID Museum

Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington

Lab School of Washington

Life Pieces to Masterpieces

Madison House Autism Foundation

Montgomery Community Television 

Next Step Public Charter School

President Lincoln's Cottage 

Seabury Resources for Aging

Skyland Workforce Center 

Stepping Stones Shelter 

Sunflower Bakery 

Volunteer Fairfax 

Workhouse Arts Foundation 
Vol. 13, No. 3
September 2016
F ROM THE PRESIDENT

KNOWING WHEN TO GET IN 
 
When I was a young schoolgirl in Texas, my favorite thing to do at recess was jump rope. I wasn't interested in jumping by myself. I liked it best when two people held opposite ends of a long rope. They would start turning the rope, and girls would line up to get into the moving rope without tripping or stopping the movement. I was particularly good at getting into the turning rope. This took some skill, because you had to wait to sync your movements with the rope and then make your move going in.

Interestingly, I'm reminded of this experience almost every day. I live near a traffic circle, so every morning I have to wait until I can get into the flow of traffic. Sometimes I'm behind a driver who is nervous about the circle. When this happens, the person waits until there are no cars in sight before making a move. The more experienced of us know how to get in while other cars are already in the circle. It's about finding the moment when you can naturally fit into the movement already happening. There is a certain satisfaction from actively engaging and moving on to all that the day holds.

The same principle applies when we are recruiting volunteers at Compass. We have just announced 11 incredible nonprofit clients for 2016-17 (see list below). Now we are looking for volunteers to staff each team. Like the people at my traffic circle, some people wait to volunteer until everything else in their life is perfectly clear. Sometimes that doesn't happen, and so these people never have the experience of working closely with a local nonprofit to help that nonprofit have more impact with the people they serve. Others find a way to make Compass a part of lives that are already moving at a pretty good clip.  In return, they experience the satisfaction of working closely as part of a team of business professionals all focused on helping a local nonprofit and the people who depend on its services.

Compass matches talented and skilled people who are good at one thing (business strategy and consulting) with talented and skilled people who are good at something else (whatever their nonprofit does). Then we watch the wonderful things that happen as a result. We find business professionals - MBAs, consultants, lawyers, and more - and match them with nonprofit leaders. Together, they share a goal of making the world, their city, or even a small piece of their community stronger and more successful for everyone. This is the magic of Compass. The match.

I learned on the playground years ago that the only way to keep moving forward is to get in. I encourage you to consider jumping into an extremely meaningful experience as a Compass volunteer. Even if your life isn't completely clear, you'll be amazed at how Compass seamlessly fits in.
 
Warmly,
 
Suzanne

COMPASS LAUNCHES IN CHICAGO
After a year of meetings and exploratory discussions, Compass is excited to launch our pro bono consulting program in Chicago. We are equally excited to announce that Julie Walther is joining Compass Chicago as Executive Director. Julie most recently served as the Chief Program Officer at Center on Halsted, and previously served as the Senior Program Officer for The Brinson Foundation and Girl's Best Friend Foundation.
 
Compass plans to run initial projects in Chicago from January - May 2017, and has begun establishing an Advisory Board to work closely with Julie on the launch and ongoing sustainability. Several former Greater Washington volunteers who had moved to Chicago are already involved. We will be announcing the initial projects later this year. In the meantime, please reach out to Compass' President, Suzanne Laporte at slaporte@compassdc.org , with any connections or suggestions for Chicago. 

GREATER PHILADELPHIA PROJECT LEADER APPLICATIONS - DUE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

Compass is seeking MBA graduates from top business schools to lead pro bono consulting projects for the amazing nonprofits listed below. If you want to have a personal impact on the broader community, Compass offers a substantive, intellectual experience addressing the unique challenges facing a particular nonprofit.  

 

Project Leaders spend, on average, three to five hours per week on the Compass project. Project Leaders work closely with the nonprofit Executive Director and Board Chair, and manage a team of volunteer consultants to execute the work.

 

Project Leader applications are available here:

 

 Project Leader Application - Greater Philadelphia 

 

MEET THIS YEAR'S CLIENTS ON  SEPTEMBER 29
Join us for Compass' annual Project Launch! 

Thursday, September 29
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Prospect ive volunteers are invited to meet this year's clients and Project Leaders. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP via Eventbrite here.

COMPASS ANNOUNCES THE 2016-17 CLIENTS
The short descriptions that follow hardly do justice to the work of these amazing nonprofits. For more details about each client and the specific project they have requested, click here:  Client Roster , and join us at Compass' Project Launch on September 29 to meet the clients in-person.

BROAD STREET MINISTRY
Philadelphia, PA
Broad Street Ministry is a broad-minded faith community that practices radical hospitality and works for a more just world through civic engagement.  Board Development
 
CENTER FOR LITERACY
Philadelphia, PA
Through a wide range of literacy services, the Center for Literacy helps a diverse population of learners meet their needs and achieve their personal and employment-related goals. Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations
 
GREATER PHILADELPHIA CULTURAL ALLIANCE
Philadelphia, PA
The Cultural Alliance leads, strengthens and gives voice to a diverse cultural sector that is making Philadelphia a world-class region in which to live, work and play. Funding Strategy 
 
LA COMUNIDAD HISPANA
Kennett Square, PA
La Comunidad Hispana helps low-income residents stay healthy, build strong families and lead productive lives by providing high-quality, culturally welcoming services.  Funding Strategy
 
MATERNITY CARE COALITION
Philadelphia, PA
Maternity Care Coalition improves maternal and child health and well being through the collaborative efforts of individuals, families, providers, and communities. Strategic Alignment 
 
MERCY NEIGHBORHOOD MINISTRIES OF PHILADELPHIA 
Philadelphia, PA
Mercy Neighborhood Ministries responds to the needs of those who are poor in the north Philadelphia community, especially women, children and persons with special needs. Strategic Alignment
 
MIGHTY WRITERS 
Philadelphia, PA
Mighty Writers teaches Philadelphia kids to think and write with clarity, so they can achieve success at school, at work and in life. Funding Strategy 
 
NATIONALITIES SERVICE CENTER
Philadelphia, PA
Nationalities Service Center prepares and empowers immigrants and refugees in the Philadelphia region to transcend challenging circumstances. Funding Strategy
 
PATHWAYS PA
Holmes, PA
PathWays PA helps low-income women, children, teens and families achieve financial independence and family well-being.  Funding Strategy 
 
PENNSYLVANIA ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION 
King of Prussia, PA
PATF provides education and financing opportunities for people with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians, helping them to acquire assistive technology devices and services.
Funding Strategy 

WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE
Philadelphia, PA
Women Against Abuse provides quality and compassionate services in a manner that fosters self-respect and independence in persons experiencing intimate partner violence. Funding Strategy 

WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT
Compass' nonprofit clients benefit from the amazing volunteers who give their time, expertise and intellectual energy. We couldn't recruit these amazing volunteers without the support of the local business schools clubs. A huge thank you to the Partner MBA Clubs that help spread the word about Compass. 

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Columbia Business School
Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University
Duke University Fuqua School of Business 
Harvard Business School
Michigan Ross School of Business
MIT Sloan School of Management
Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management
NYU Stern School of Business
Stanford Graduate School of Business
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth
University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business
University of Virginia Darden School of Business
University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School
The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
Yale School of Management

THANKS TO OUR FOUNDATION AND CORPORATE SPONSORS
 
Accenture
 
Connelly Foundation
Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation
The Alfred and Mary Douty Foundation
Independence Foundation
MKM Foundation
The Philadelphia Foundation
 
And a special thanks to the Douty Foundation for sponsoring projects for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 project years.

INCREASE YOUR IMPACT - DONATE TO COMPASS
Every $1 donated to Compass translates to $14 of consulting services to local nonprofits. Donations from individuals, companies, and foundations make it possible for Compass to bring over 400 business professionals into more than 70 nonprofits each year. You can donate to Compass to support and expand our impact - and yours - by clicking the Donate Now button below.

Donate Now  

STAY IN TOUCH WITH COMPASS

 

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View our profile on LinkedIn Join the Compass Volunteer Network