For United Ways
New Directions Board and Staff Retreat
Our New Directions Board and Staff Retreat keeps your United Way relevant, sustainable, and impactful
We have facilitated our New Directions Board and Staff Retreat for over 50 United Ways just like yours, who are finding it harder than ever to be a United Way.
Instead of focusing on how to do more of what you are doing now, our retreat explores three different models for operating your United Way. We will show you how each model works, provide examples of other United Ways using each model, and allow you to ask questions and discuss how each model might work for your United Way.
Because every United Way is different, our customized retreat will allow your board and staff to address your issues and concerns while exploring new directions for moving forward. We give your board and staff the information and inspiration to identify the best direction to keep your United Way relevant, sustainable, and impactful for years to come.
Choose our New Directions Board and Staff Retreat when you need to:
Stop treading water and take big steps forward
Many United Ways are struggling just to keep afloat. Our retreat will change the future of your United Way by helping you change your direction. This retreat will help you identify new directions for growing your impact, resources, and community awareness.
Get your board and staff on the same page
We invite all of your board and staff members to share their thoughts about how to move forward in the same direction. As your board and staff listen carefully and act upon what they have shared, it will foster a stronger relationship between your board and staff.
Evaluate how to best impact your community
Over time, United Ways tend to add more activities to their work, which become challenging to sustain with limited staff and resources. We will explore how your United Way can focus your goals, actions, investments, and outcomes to create the greatest impact.
Hold your New Directions Board and Staff Retreat within 4 months
When you choose our New Directions Board and Staff Retreat, you are choosing a proven process that identifies multiple directions that can move your United Way forward. We will facilitate a conversation with your board and staff to choose the best direction for your United Way to remain relevant, sustainable, and impactful.
What our clients say about us
“Thank you for a great day of thought-provoking conversation! I had high expectations for the day, and y’all exceeded them!”
GEORGE McCANLESS, PRESIDENT & CEO, UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL GEORGIA (RETIRED)
“I really appreciated the entire retreat experience, particularly because it provided some compelling directions that we don’t get from United Way Worldwide. Perspectives’ information is realistic, pragmatic, and grounded in real-world experience and research.”
UNITED WAY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
100% of United Ways that have attended our New Directions Board and Staff Retreat said it was a conversation they should have had years ago
“Working with Perspectives has been one of the best decisions I've ever made. We have completely transformed the way we work and our relationships in the community.”
JULIE MALLARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UNITED WAY OF DELTA COUNTY
Providing guidance for your retreat
We know you are wondering …
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It takes approximately four months to complete our New Directions Board and Staff Retreat. Sometimes it may take a little longer if you choose to avoid holding the retreat during the summer months or the holiday season. We encourage all United Ways to select a date and time that maximizes attendance at the retreat, even if it delays holding the retreat.
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While board members are responsible for setting the mission and vision of your United Way, it is essential for any discussion about the future direction of your United Way to include your staff members. Staff members are able to share their real-world experience with board members, which is essential for informing their decisions. Because both board and staff members are at the retreat, no official action is taken during a retreat. Board members typically officially ratify decisions from the retreat at a board meeting following the retreat.
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At the beginning of our process, we will ask you to provide a variety of information about your United Way. Our two-page list of requested information includes five-year historical data on campaign, resource development, funded programs, and partner agencies. We will also ask for specific documents like annual reports, RFPs for program funding, and campaign brochures. Finally, we will ask for narratives of accomplishments and significant events that have impacted your United Way over the past five years. United Ways typically take several weeks to collect and provide this information.
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The cost of a retreat depends on several factors including; the size of your United Way, the number of board and staff members you have, and how far your United Way is from our office. New Directions Board and Staff Retreats start at $5,500.
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If you have questions about our New Directions Board and Staff Retreat, how it works, or how it will benefit your United Way, contact us at (269) 657-5400, info@focusedperspectives.com, or schedule a conversation here.
Why hold a New Directions Board and Staff Retreat? Because you realize what you have always done isn’t as effective as it used to be.
It is easy to identify what isn’t working as well as it used to, but what you need to know is how to do things differently and what direction makes the most sense for your United Way and your community.
Our New Directions Board and Staff Retreat is not just another retreat. It is a proven process that explains the three types of United Ways, how they work, and their advantages and disadvantages.
An investment that pays off. Our New Directions Board and Staff Retreat will allow your board and staff to determine the best direction for your United Way to move forward and remain relevant, sustainable, and impactful for years to come.
Learn More
Learn more about planning your board and staff retreat with this helpful white paper:
Perspectives Consulting Group, Inc. is an independent consulting firm and is not affiliated with, nor sponsored by, United Way Worldwide.