Guided Issue Focus Transformation

What is the Guided Issue Focus Transformation (GIFT)?

GIFT is an online, self-guided course full of all the same great material as in our Traditional Issue Focus Transformation and with the same destination. But instead of Perspectives leading the charge, you will be. We have crammed all of our years of information and guidance into this course, allowing your United Way to set your own pace, control your own process, and transform to an issue focus at a more affordable price.

Our GIFT course consists of eight modules, each one a rung in the ladder on your way to becoming an issue focused United Way. Each module comes with everything you need for success: an outline for the module, video tutorials, examples, worksheets, templates, and detailed instructions on how to proceed. From there, you can go to work. Each step will be implemented by your staff, board, and volunteers, with Perspectives acting as a guide along the way. And the best part? The course typically takes between 8 – 14 months to complete.

Below are the eight modules in the GIFT course:

 
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Module 1:

The first module focuses on compiling a list of potential issues that you and the rest of your United Way staff, board members, donors, and community are passionate and excited about impacting.

 
 
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Module 2:

The second module will be about collecting data from those within and outside of your organization. Hearing what your donors and community members have to say will give you a sense of the culture and needs in your community and provide you with some direction as you start to narrow down your potential issues.

 
 
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Module 3:

The third module will help guide you through your partner agency meeting. Talking to partner agencies about a shift in direction can seem daunting but it doesn’t have to be. We provide you with all the tools necessary to have a productive meeting that explains your new direction and gets your partner agencies to start thinking about how they fit into that direction.

 
 
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Module 4:

The fourth module focuses on your top campaign interviews. Getting the opinion of your top campaigns will be vital to making sure that you aren’t losing support or campaigns. With only a few phone calls you will be well on your way to an issue focus.

 
 
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Module 5:

The fifth module is when you finally get to pick your issue! You will use the information you’ve gathered over the last four modules to make your decision and start moving forward with your issue.

 
 
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Module 6:

The sixth module is all about the bold goal. You will start vetting potential goals for your issue to see which one is the best fit for your community. By the end of the module you will have decided on a bold goal to go along with your issue.

 
 
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Module 7:

The seventh module is where you will begin to come up with strategies to accomplish your bold goal. You will identify the needs of your community and begin to come up with ideas to solve those needs and move your community toward the goal.

 
 
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Module 8:

The eighth module is when you will create your three-year strategic plan. Your board and staff will work together to plan how you will roll out your issue and make sure that you are moving the needle on your bold goal.

 

Next Steps

Becoming issue focused is how you survive in this brave new world we are living in.

Contact us for more information about our Guided Issue Focus Transformation course.

Here’s what our clients have to say about working with us:

Testimonials

“Thank you for a great day of thought-provoking conversation! I know I conveyed to you that I had high expectations for the day, and y’all exceeded them!”

- George McCanless, President & CEO of United Way of Central Georgia

"The process they use is so efficient that our board members were blown away by what we've been able to accomplish in a short amount of time. It's well worth the money to bring in the experts. Had I known about Perspectives before, I would have started this process sooner."

- Shane Orr, Executive Director of United Way of Muscatine

"We are thrilled with the ‘single issue’ focus on financial stability; we got there with help from Perspectives, a great consulting firm. They not only led our board through the entire strategic planning process, but their ongoing technical assistance has been extremely helpful with all our efforts." 

- Ken Toll, President/CEO of United Way of Jackson County

"You were so right! Focusing on the issue of early childhood education has resulted in raising more money from grants and campaigns, attracting new donors, and reduced designations. Now everyone knows what our United Way does in the community." 

- Julie Capaldi, President of United Way of Pickens County

"We know of no other consulting group with the breadth of knowledge and experience that Perspectives has in working with local United Ways."

- Bill Jackson, President & CPO of United Way of Erie County (retired)

"For years, our United Way wanted to move to an issue focus but struggled with how to get there as a one-person shop. The GIFT program was exactly what we needed – step-by-step instructions, samples, and ready guidance from the Perspectives team. We are now an issue-focused United Way with a solid strategic plan, and I absolutely would not have been able to manage this on my own. Perspectives’ GIFT program changed the trajectory of our work!"

- Julie Mallard, Executive Director of United Way of Delta County