STRATEGIC FOCUS #3 – CAPACITY

 

Building internal capacity to promote sustainability.

Better to Speak cannot continue to engage our community in the way this strategy envisions if we don’t have the necessary internal capacity and infrastructure. To give this idea and platform a shot at having true long-term impact, we must give it proper investment – including financial, investments in people-power, as well as the space, time and dedicated processes that give us room to do the work.

GOALS

 

Plan to grow sustainably by increasing our monthly income – from our merch store, communications services and grassroots donations – while identifying and pursuing long-term funding and grants.

Expand our internal team to test strategies for organizational growth and recruit young Black leaders and professionals to manage and lead programs across departments.

TACTICS

  • The Dream Team Pilot Program

    The pilot program for our internal team will include – as of March 2022 – the following roles:

    Content + Community Manager, Marketing + Outreach Strategist, and Programs + Operations Assistant.

    Learn more

  • Defining + Diversifying Income Stream

    Our goal is to get a clear understanding of our true operating budget now that we are running all offerings at once, and then set our monthly income goals and pursue additional funding with that in mind.

    Learn more

  • Cooperative Membership Program

    In addition to our current service subsidization model, we also plan to explore how the cooperative membership program we are exploring can also potentially offer a source of income (ie. membership dues).

    learn more

GET INVOLVED

 

Here’s how you can support our capacity goals in 2022:

  • Make a one-time or monthly donation to support Better to Speak! This money will go towards paying contributing writers, supporting our team and maintaining our operations.

  • While we don’t currently have the financial capacity to pay our team members outside of the Content + Community Manager (as supported by our grant), we are open and willing to barter communications/marketing and journalism support in exchange for support in these areas: Operations (finances and systems), grassroots organizing and advocacy, special projects.

    All roles will require at most 4-6 hours of your time each week.

  • Please contact Kési (kesi@bettertospeak.org) if you know of funding sources for applicants that meet any or all of the following criteria:

    • Black, youth and/or women-led ventures

    • Social enterprises

    • Media organizations and initiatives

    • Political, grassroots advocacy, social justice organizations and initiatives

    • Emerging cooperative organizations and initiatives

    Please note that Better to Speak, LLC. is not a 501(c)(3), nor do we have a fiscal sponsor.