About Us
Vision Statement
Goldensword Economic Development Corporation seeks to empower low- and moderate-income people and underserved populations to manage and improve the quality of their lives. The organization addresses these needs through the preservation of affordable housing, providing homeownership education, foreclosure prevention, and improving economic opportunities through small business technical assistance and fostering community leadership.
Goldensword Economic Development Corporation (GEDC) vision is to remedy social and economic disparities and to bridge socio-economic voids existing in urban & rural America. GEDC is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation, GEDC will work to impact the lives of individuals and families residing in historically underserved communities through the implementation of programs established under the umbrella of its core initiatives.
Organization Development Directions
Community Engagement
Members, constituents and other key stakeholders will be actively engaged in community engagement activities and other meaningful roles within Goldensword Economic Development’s programs and organization. This engagement is in alignment with Goldensword Economic Development’s mission to empower residents to assume leadership roles and improve the quality of their lives.
Communication and interaction with Goldensword Economic Development’s constituents and community members will be increased.
A new Community Engagement Committee will be created that develops a community engagement strategy. The committee will coordinate, and help implement one to two initiatives and activities each year. These may include organizing tenant meetings focused on building improvements or neighborhood beautification, participating in local hearings or other advocacy work, helping to determine new housing development and open space needs, and planning Community Summits or other similar forums.
Goldensword Economic Development will provide leadership training for members, constituents, and other community residents and tenants to help them better engage in the work of Goldensword Economic Development.
Fundraising
Goldensword Economic Development Corporation Special Events will be designed to increase its visibility and fund development capacity. Planning shall be held in late 2019 for the 2020 events.
All Board members will be trained in individual donor fundraising skills and be engaged in individual donor fundraising (e.g., such as, suggesting potential donors, meeting with potential donors, organizing events).
A Resource Development Director responsible for fundraising will be hired in year three of the strategic plan (starting part time if necessary).
All Board members will make a financial contribution each year to Goldensword Economic Development Corporation thereby ensuring 100% participation.
Unrestricted operating income will have increased by at least 10% each year for five years.
Governance
The Goldensword Economic Development board will:
Be an inclusive board that discusses issues of diversity, cultural competency and power issues and is reflective of its program and resident diversity.
Have increased its engagement in individual donor fundraising.
Be actively engaged in advocacy and community engagement strategy and implementation.
Have strengthened committees, clear goals, and effective committee leadership.
Meet at least once a year off-site to review and revise the strategic plan and set board goals for the year.
Assess its own performance on a yearly basis.
Strategic Communications, Marketing, Technology
Goldensword Economic Development Corporation will have a more active social media presence and increased visibility in the community and region. There will be a strategic communications plan that includes increased social media, a quarterly newsletter and other media visibility. It will also have software/technology that will aid the organization in managing its fund development activities, increase Board and committee collaborative work, and more effectively engage constituents and stakeholders.
STRATEGIC PLAN AS MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNANCE TOOL: PLAN FOR UPDATING
This strategic plan will be a “living document” that is flexible and continually revised depending upon external and internal changes, new needs, and unforeseen developments. It is intended to be a working management tool, which Goldensword Economic Development staff will use on a consistent basis, to assist in program development, implementation, and outcome measurement. Goldensword Economic Development Board of Directors also will use this plan as a guide for implementing governance strategies, for which the Board is responsible as outlined in the plan. In addition, the plan will help the Board in their oversight and evaluation of overall programmatic and organizational strategic directions as described. Finally, this strategic plan will serve as a guiding map as it moves into its next phase of empowering low- and moderate-income populations to improve the quality of their lives and assume leadership roles in their communities.
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