THRIVE RESOURCE ROOM
Welcome to Thrive Resource Room, where you will hear about Thrive updates and learn about free and affordable community resources to help your organization!
Learn about pro bono consulting, creating a successful strategic planning process, nonprofit facility repairs, and opportunities for job seekers, small business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders, and so much more. These sessions also provide an overview of Thrive member benefits and how to get more involved in our cross-sector network
If you have services or information that you would like to share at our next Thrive Resource Room meeting, please email Nicole Nash. These sessions occur on a regular basis. We encourage you to send staff members and volunteers (especially new ones!) to one of our sessions to ensure that they are taking advantage of Thrive's resources and opportunities.
Past Meetings
January 24, 2023: Local Media, Strategic Planning, and Your Nonprofit
Launching a successful strategic planning process for your nonprofit: David Rhode, Deputy Director of PennPAC discussed the key steps and considerations that will enable your organization to carry out an effective strategic planning process. David Rhode is the Deputy Director of PennPAC, an organization that utilizes University of Pennsylvania alumni to provide pro bono consulting to the nonprofit sector.
Local media impacts: Michelle Iracheta, Editor & Reporter, Redwood City Pulse, spoke about Redwood City Pulse's mission, and how it intersects with both the nonprofit sector and the community at large. Michelle also highlighted the impact of local media on the community and how you can spotlight your organization on the Redwood City Pulse website.
July 12, 2022: Opportunities for Job Seekers & Small Business Owners/Entrepreneurs
Job seeker resources: Jennifer Cheyer, Program Manager, spoke about NOVAworks, which provides customized services to the job seekers of Silicon Valley through its job centers in Sunnyvale and San Mateo. NOVAworks staff are dedicated to providing job seekers with the necessary tools to enter or re-enter Silicon Valley’s workforce.
Entrepreneurship resources: Amanda Anthony, Program Manager, will speak about Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, which provides classes and workshops on business planning, marketing, financial management, and more, to help small business owners start and grow their businesses. With sites in South San Francisco, East Palo Alto, and Menlo Park, Renaissance also offers access to many capital, networking opportunities, and vendor opportunities.
Low-cost medical education: Michelle Barraza, SEIU Organizer, will offer information about Futuro Health, which offers resources to help you ramp up your healthcare career with a tuition-free education. Email Michell Barraza to sign up for a future student orientation and learn more about all tuition-free programs and the referral process to start your journey as a healthcare worker at a low cost.
May 10, 2022: Pro Bono Consulting
The Stanford Alumni Consulting Team (ACT): Susan Austin, Director, Alumni Consulting Team, Stanford Graduate School of Business provided details on the Stanford ACT, which offers strategic pro bono consulting through a network of Stanford Graduate School of Business alumni volunteers. Bay Area nonprofits that meet ACT's client criteria - in addition to nonprofits anywhere in the US that focus on advancing racial equity - can apply for a customized ACT project, which is delivered in two rounds a year (deadlines in January and July for projects that kick-off in March and September).
Harvard Business School Community Partners: Sally Aldridge, Executive Director, Community Partners - Harvard Business School Association of Northern California discussed how organizations can work with HBS alumni for pro bono help in areas such as strategic planning, marketing, scaling growth, revenue diversification, and business planning. This program empowers HBS alumni to make a positive social impact in their community and leverage their skills and experience to help nonprofit organizations succeed.
University of Pennsylvania's PennPAC Pro Bono Alumni Consulting: Ellen Haude, Director of PennPAC Bay Area, spoke about the local chapter of PennPAC, an organization that brings together alumni of the University of Pennsylvania from a wide variety of backgrounds to serve as pro bono consultants to nonprofits. Alumni from all Penn schools work in teams over an 8-10 week timeframe to provide actionable recommendations in areas where the client may lack bandwidth or expertise.
April 5, 2022: Facilities & Leadership
Free nonprofit facility repairs: Robert Skelton, Corporate and Community Relations Manager for Rebuilding Together Peninsula discussed nonprofit facility renovation work (landscaping, painting, etc).
Nonprofit Leadership Program: Margi Power, Co-Founder/Co-President of Leadership Council, San Mateo County shared how to engage with their Leadership CORPS Program and Emerging Leaders Program, 10-month immersive experiences which empower experienced and emerging leaders from the business, nonprofit, and government sectors with the knowledge, skills, and relationships they need to advance and deepen their leadership and community impact.
Student internship opportunity: Jewish Family and Children’s Services’ YouthFirst department is offering high school students an opportunity to help your organization meet its goals, add to their professional experience, all while paying their wages.
March 8, 2022: Building Relationships
Free fundraising tool: Anna Grace Millward, CEO of Stashrun, presented on how to utilize a free fundraising tool, built to transform how consumers align with brands to take action on the world’s most important causes.
Student employment opportunities: Eli Poblitz, Transition Specialist for the Transition Partnership Program at the San Mateo Union High School District shared about SMUHSD's new work-based learning program designed to provide up to 100 hours of exploratory paid work-based learning for special education high school students aged 16 or older across the district, at no cost to the employee.
Stanford student-employees for nonprofits: Yvette Zepeda, Program Director for the Stanford Community Service Work-Study and Student Employment program spoke about a program that connects Stanford students with local nonprofits for employment opportunities (organizations will only be responsible for 10% of student wages).
