Page 76 - FGLN SC Onboarding Binder 2021

Three additional steps completed the process:
1. The Steering Committee generated a list of external stakeholders who would be interviewed to assess the current successes and challenges of the network, and to consider future needs and opportunities.
2. TheSteeringCommitteeestablishedasub-grouptocreateapollthatwould be sent to all network members to similarly get a sense of their views of the current successes and challenges of the network, and to consider future needs and opportunities.
3. A smaller planning group called the Strategic Planning Committee was created. This group was given the freedom to do the more detailed work on the plan, with an expectation that product of their work would come to the larger group for final input.
Engaging the Stakeholders & Funders
At the recommendation of the Steering Committee, several key funders of the network were contacted in September and October, 2018, and were asked the following questions:
1. Why did you make the original decision to support the Literacy Network?
2. How does the Network align with the mission and value proposition of your
own organization?
3. What are the greatest strengths you see the FGLN offering the community?
4. What opportunities do you think the Network should take advantage of
going forward?
5. How satisfied are you with the return on your investment?
6. How likely are you to continue support?
7. What would cause you to decrease or to stop funding the Network?
The funders contacted included the C.S. Mott Foundation, The Ruth Mott Foundation, The Hagerman Foundation and the Community Foundation of Flint. Detailed responses to the questions are included in Appendix 3 of this report, but it is worth summarizing key points here:
 All the funders agreed that the network was performing a valuable role for the community, and that their investment has been an effective means of achieving broader input than they would have managed with the support of smaller scale programs alone.
 They all agreed that the network is at a critical stage now, one in which it needs to provide data-based proof of the impact of its efforts, shifting from awareness to action, and from planning to execution.
 They all agreed that there is a need for greater clarity of purpose and focus, and an opportunity for better communication about both the intent and the successes of the network.
Flint & Genesee Literacy Network Strategic Plan 2019-2022
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