UCB Strategic Impact Plan, 2018-2021

Strategic Impact Plan

2018-2021 People-powered

Tech-enabled

to Reward Community

Dear Friends, I am excited to share Union Capital Boston’s Strategic Impact Plan for the next three years.

Four years ago, a group of community members, advisors, and I embarked on a new journey to develop methods that spark social capital. Since then, we have partnered with community organizations, leaders, advisors, and funders to create something unique and disruptive: a model that values the time people spend building community.

Beginning with 25 people and now numbering over 1,200, UCB members have organized their power to create both individual and collective opportunity from finding a new job to creating parent support groups to starting food pantries. As you’ll read, members have improved their employment prospects, earned over $450,000 in rewards, and built a community of support to organize for collective improvement. Members are now the driving force behind our proposed growth towards 2021 and beyond.

If the next three years are anything like the first four, our network can make Boston a city of vibrant communities with real opportunities. Our plan is to first build on our solidified model in Boston and then explore replicating regionally and nationally to strengthen communities across the country.

We invite you to join our network, share your resources, and support our efforts to transform our collective social capital into greater opportunities for all of us in Boston and beyond!

I am grateful for your partnership in the work,

Eric Leslie Founder/Lead Organizer

Our Model UCB’s unique mobile loyalty rewards program connects community members to hundreds of resources and sparks their engagement.

Using this spark, UCB Network Leaders activate community membersat partner organizations and at bi-weekly UCB Network nights in order to build relationships, share resources, and work on collective challenges.

These combined tools of efficient technology and placebased relational networking increases civic engagement, employment, and community connectivity.

UCB activates civic engagement

& communities become more resilient Recent Research links Civic Health to Economic Outcomes: • • • • •

Attending Meetings Helping Neighbors Registering to Vote Volunteering Voting

Civic Engagement

• • • • •

UCB Model aligns with research

Building relationships Peer-to-peer Communication Cooperation Solidarity Care for Neighbors

Social Cohesion/ Network Building

Economic Resilience Unemployment

UCB INPUTS UCB OUTPUTS ANTICIPATED COMMUNITY RESULTS

Inputs & Outputs as identified in Civic Health and the Economy: Making the Connection NCOC, 2013

Our Outcomes 1,200 UCB members 456,000 hours volunteered $450,000 rewards earned 46% increase in employment Members have led voter registration efforts secured safety upgrades in public housing founded service organizations run for City Council

a compelling invitation to engage Members say the UCB Network creates

“It helps me financially because the more I participate in the community, the more I get back.�

61.4% Motivation 17.1% Confidence 10% Enjoyment 5.75% Responsibility 5.75% New Skills

In 12 months, members spent over 246,000 hours building community

Members Employment after 3 months with UCB

32%

46% Employment Rate

Unemployment Rate

where one has not existed before “I have deeper relationships with members, a sense of comraderie through community.”

“I value being able to find people and resources in my community and having kids activities that are affordable and close by.”

Our 2021 Vision Engage 3,000 UCB Members to drive individual opportunities, including increased employment Host 200 Network Nights per year to deepen connections in five Boston communities Partner with over 25 cross-sector non-profit organizations to share resources and increase impact of each organization’s mission Support civic engagement efforts to improve Boston communities by registering voters and providing community organizing resources Solidify the impact of this innovative model demonstrating a new approach for sustainable and scalable community improvement, owned and driven by community members and leaders

Be a partner in UCB’s success

Our growth depends on you

UCB can expand and replicate Revenues Partner Fees 18% Individuals 20%

Grants 55%

Corporate 7%

Expenses Rewards 30%

Boston East Boston

Salaries 39%

Events 7% Network Leaders 7%

Operations 7%

Technology/ App 7%

Dudley Jackson Sq. Grove Hall Mattapan

Our 3-year strategic growth plan maps a path to 3,000 members, connecting to 10% of the city’s families with low incomes Potential Community Impact

“UCB is outstanding in uniting community personally and politically.”

“I enjoy being a member of the UCB family. Great people. Awesome events, many resources. Become a member, you’ll love it.”

“I woke up to my potential.”

“I spend more time with my children and volunteering as well as meeting new people”

1542 Columbus Ave • Roxbury, Massachusetts 02119 unioncapitalboston.org unioncapitalboston UCBoston UCBoston