At Foster Village Charlotte (FVC), the commitment to providing a supportive space for children and foster families goes beyond the ordinary. FVC facilitates connections, offers educational and emotional support, and equips caregivers with essential advocacy tools. In the past year alone, FVC made a significant impact by assisting 668 caregivers and supporting 803 children through initiatives like welcome packs, training programs, support groups, and advocating for the NC Foster Parent Bill of Rights.
Having triumphed with a grand prize-winning pitch at SEED20 in 2019, FVC directed the $20,000 award toward establishing a physical space for families to gather and receive services in 2020. Recognizing the need for evolution beyond a founder-led structure, Co-Founders and Co-Directors, Becky Santoro and Traci Prillaman, sought to redefine and strengthen board roles. This led to the formation of a Spark Team in January 2022, comprising dedicated SVP Partners: Bob Barnhart, Amy Gregor, and Bill Martin.
From the initial meeting, the Spark Team collaborated with FVC to outline a success plan, encompassing vital elements:
- Redefining Board Roles
- Establishing Committee Structures
- Developing a Board Recruitment Plan
- Redrafting the Agency’s Strategic Plan and Implementation Plan
- Linking Procedures to FVC’s Mission and Vision
As the project kicked off, the team conducted the “14 Attributes of a Healthy Nonprofit” assessment to gauge FVC’s organizational health and structure. Simultaneously, they surveyed board members to create a roles and responsibility matrix, identifying skill set gaps within the board. By February, the team delved into reviewing and reimagining FVC’s strategic plan, marking the 15th meeting and over 40 invested volunteer hours by SVP Partners by the end of March.
Becky Santoro expressed her satisfaction, saying, “We had roles and responsibilities fully laid out using the RACI model [a Six Sigma tool categorizing roles as Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed]. We had a plan of focus for each committee, a revamped meeting structure, streamlined leadership structure, and we were able to plan and execute our first board retreat.”
Bill Martin echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the team’s aim to create a relief valve for directors and a template for the organization to transcend founder-centric care. The results speak volumes, with FVC successfully launching their board recruitment plan, welcoming two new board members, and initiating a board chair succession plan as their founding chair prepares for a transition in the near future.
FVC is poised for transformative growth, and this Spark Team journey exemplifies the collaborative spirit that propels nonprofits toward sustainability and success. #SparkTeams #FosterVillageCharlotte #SVPCharlotte #SEED20
