Thriving Nonprofit Workforce Initiative

Thrive Alliance is committed to strengthening the nonprofit sector, and thereby improving the quality of life in San Mateo County. One of the greatest challenges facing our local nonprofit community is the ability to recruit and retain a thriving workforce.

Thrive and Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits (SVCN) released the joint 2023 Regional Nonprofit Report for San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, which highlights workforce development as an "existential threat" to nonprofits, given recruitment and retention challenges exacerbated by conditions in our region, such as the affordable housing crisis.

In response, Thrive launched the Thriving Nonprofit Workforce Initiative with the support of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to develop innovative solutions to some of these challenges. The Initiative is also guided by a cross-sector Steering Committee composed of nonprofit leaders, workforce development specialists, creatives, academics, and more.

Thriving Nonprofit Workforce Initiative Goals:

• Raise visibility of workforce development challenges faced by local nonprofits and generate commitment from stakeholders to address

• Generate and implement practical and creative recruitment solutions tailored to our community

• Support nonprofits in the recruitment and retention of a paid and volunteer workforce

NOTE: This series is focused on nonprofits, not on broader workforce development or individual employment.

This initiative, hosted at the CZI Community Space, includes events that bring nonprofits, stakeholders, and the workforce together, in addition to essential human resource trainings, as part of the HR Learning Series.

Learning Community

Thrive is excited to launch a Nonprofit Learning Community designed to strengthen the capacity of San Mateo County small to mid-sized nonprofits (annual budget size up to $5 million) in recruitment and retention by providing tailored training, practical resources, and facilitated connections. Thrive recognizes the unique challenges nonprofits, especially those with limited HR capacity, face in building and maintaining a thriving workforce.

Through the Learning Community, we will work closely with selected organizations to:

• Share strategies and tools that increase staff satisfaction, reduce turnover, and foster an inclusive and respectful workplace culture.

• Offer tailored guidance and templates for effective staff and board recruitment, including diversifying candidate pools and streamlining onboarding processes.

• Facilitate opportunities for staff and board recruitment through dynamic community events.

Thrive will also gather data and best practices from the Learning Community, which will be shared more broadly to demonstrate impact and support the local nonprofit community.

If your organization has an annual budget under $5 million and would benefit from the support provided by this Learning Community, we encourage you to apply. Please fill out our online application by 6pm PST on December 16, 2024 to be considered.

Onboard

Thrive OnBoard 2024 was a huge success hosted by Thrive Alliance, The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley. This event is the ultimate event for those looking to join a nonprofit board. Onboard features insightful workshops, networking opportunities, and amazing nonprofits. This interactive event allows nonprofit organizations and potential board members to connect and enjoy mini-educational sessions and sustained connections. This program is being offered as part of the Thriving Nonprofit Workforce Initiative, guided by our TNWI Steering Committee.

Past HR Learning Series Events:

• How to Be a Dream Manager to Build a Strong Organizational Culture

• Optimizing Benefits for Candidate Attraction & Retention

• Creative & Equitable Recruitment 

• Community Partnerships for Candidate Pipeline Development

• Onboarding and Orientation

• LinkedIn Equitable Recruiting

Thriving Nonprofit Workforce Initiative STEERING COMMITTEE

Click on the Steering Committee member’s image to read their bio

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Community Space Pillar Programming

Thrive Alliance continues to enthusiastically be the lead for one of the three pillars for the CZI Community Space focusing on nonprofit support.

The aim of this partnership is to lead the development and management of event programming for the Community Space with the goals of supporting local arts and culture, building community and supporting non-profit leaders alongside the leaders of the other two pillars: The Redwood City Parks and Arts Foundation and Redwood City Together.

Community Space Vision

The vision for the CZI Community Space is to cultivate a sense of belonging, purpose, and vibrancy through conscientious community partnerships by:

• Building community

• Celebrating diverse local culture

• Supporting and connecting nonprofits

Since the Community Space’s post-pandemic-closure relaunch, Thrive has led a “Nonprofit Connection Series” to bring nonprofits back together joyfully, in-person, across key issue areas and learning topics. Since the Nonprofit Connection Series success, Thrive has pivoted to help nonprofits address workforce challenges through the Thriving Nonprofit Workforce Initiative.