Envisioning the Future

Part One

By Deborah Walls Foster, Chair Committee for the Future (C4F)

Introduction

One of the early actions taken by our 7th President and Chair, Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole was to appoint the Committee for the Future (C4F), as a special committee of the NCNW Executive Committee and Board.

The charge to the group was to look closely at NCNW to see what needed to change for NCNW to build on its historic legacy and be prepared to deliver on its mission to advocate for, lead and empower women of African descent along with their families and communities.

As an 85-year-old organization, some of the indications of the need to explore organizational relevance included a 2020 Membership Survey which revealed that 60% of the current membership was above the age of 55 vs. 22% of all Black women in the United States. At the time of the appointment of C4F, NCNW’s social media presence was only starting to be established.

Assumptions

The Committee for the Future began its work with a set of assumptions that included:

• There is already great work underway in the organization in many of the areas identified for change. • The interdependence of recommendations will require a high level of communication, collaboration, engagement, and accountability among key stakeholders – Executive Committee, Board

Committees, Staff, Affiliates, and Sections. • The recommendations do not consider current or future staff/ organizational capacity and resources. • The suggested changes will need short-term and long-term consideration as we understand that they cannot be made in one year. • We realize that solutions to the issues identified may take many forms.

Methodology

The Committee began its work by seeking out the opinions of key stakeholders and members: Executive Committee, past national presidents, affiliates, members, section leaders, younger women, and staff leadership using interviews, conversations, and/or survey methods. The listening and feedback phase was intended to cast the net as wide as possible, to hear as many voices as possible.

The organization’s brand, programming, and structure were all considered in the context of how to help NCNW remain relevant and to grow in the future. A special research study was conducted using existing sources that provided important data and trends regarding the Black woman as it relates to demographic, economic, health, education, philanthropic, and social indicators. The following elements were used to collect feedback and information via: 1) Interviews, 2) Surveys, 3) A Special Research Report on the State of the Black Woman and 4) Strength/Weaknesses/ Opportunities/Threats (SWOT) Analysis.

Interviews were conducted with NCNW leadership, including the current and past national presidents - Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, Ingrid Saunders Jones, and Dr. Barbara Shaw; the senior advisor to the chair, Secretary Alexis Herman, NCNW Executive Committee Members and Committee Chairs, Executive Director, Janice Mathis and other staff, representatives of our Affiliates and the general membership; section leaders; young adult women, and male members representing the Franklin Associates.

Survey results from both a recent annual Membership Survey were reviewed along with the results of a new survey created by C4F and sent to every email in the membership data base seeking input.

C4F used the responses to 1) create a SWOT analysis, 2) identify major themes and 3) frame recommendations for future actions.

A summary of major themes heard during interviews and obtained through survey results included:

• Mission relevance: Confirmation that the current mission speaks to the purpose of NCNW. • Brand awareness: Desire to see NCNW brand promoted and become more consistent. • Young adult women engagement - increasing outreach efforts to younger women • Leadership development and training – especially among section leadership • Best business and financial practices • Member relationships, structure, and services • Programs, national advocacy and action agendas. • Strategic partnerships in addition to Affiliate organizations.