In June, we shared an update on the Greater Cleveland Funders’ Collaborative (GCFC) and the Cuyahoga Human Services Chamber, highlighting early momentum toward a stronger, more connected nonprofit sector. Today, we’re pleased to share the next step in that work: the launch of the Community Resilience Initiative.
This collaborative effort was created to help nonprofits navigate mounting policy and funding challenges with coordinated, practical support. Built from the feedback gathered at the March “We’re In This Together” convening, the Initiative connects nonprofit leaders with tools and expertise designed to strengthen organizational resilience—both for immediate needs and long-term sustainability. Support is focused in four key areas: legal support, IT and data security, strategic communications, and financial health. The Human Services Chamber will act as the hub in a hub and spoke model of service delivery.
Introducing the Risk Intake Form
A central feature of this Initiative is a Risk Intake Form, a brief self-assessment designed to help you identify areas of vulnerability and receive tailored recommendations in five key areas:
- Data, security, & privacy
- Financial health & audit readiness
- Legal compliance & governance
- Crisis communications & public messaging
- 501(c)(3) status protection
The form takes about 15–25 minutes to complete and generates a personalized report to guide your planning. Importantly, individual responses are confidential and available only to the consulting firm Sangfroid Strategy who have agreed not to share results with funders nor use the information for any other purpose other than to create anonymized, aggregate data sets that will inform sector-wide support strategies. Please note: Only one individual from each organization should complete the Risk Intake Form. To access the Risk Intake Form, please follow this link to the Greater Cleveland Nonprofit Resilience Hub.
Demo Opportunity
We will host a live demo of the Risk Intake Form on August 25 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This session will walk you through the tool, preview sample results, and answer questions. For those unable to attend, please still register for the event as the session will be recorded and a link to the recording will be sent via email to all registrants.
If you would like to register, please click on the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6sAjdlfVTeGCX0uxeBOxRQ
Partnership with Cleveland Metro Bar Association
As part of the expert interventions emerging from the Community Resilience Initiative, the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA) is preparing to launch the Non-Profit Legal Resource Center (NPLRC). Staffed by a dedicated attorney and supported by additional CMBA staff and volunteer legal experts, the NPLRC will provide:
- Community education on key legal issues facing nonprofits
- Rapid guidance for smaller legal questions with straightforward answers
- Connections to appropriate firms or attorneys for more complex matters
- A centralized repository of legal resources to strengthen network-wide resiliency
CMBA anticipates hiring the NPLRC attorney and beginning programming by mid- to late summer, adding an important layer of legal support for nonprofits across the region.
Together, we’re building not just programs, but a stronger foundation for resilience and impact across our nonprofit community.
Human Services Chamber Steering Committee
We are also excited to learn about the continued progress of the Cuyahoga Human Services Chamber, including its newly elected Steering Committee which will guide the Chamber’s work as it continues to grow as the sector’s central hub for policy, advocacy, and shared resources. This leadership group will help ensure that interventions emerging from the Community Resilience Initiative are informed by and responsive to nonprofit experience and perspectives.
- Sherri Brandon, Chief Executive Officer, Front Steps Housing and Services, Inc.
- Colleen Cotter, Executive Director, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
- Maria Foschia, President & CEO, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry
- Yvonka Hall, Executive Director, Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition
- Daniel Lettenberger-Klein, Chief Executive Officer, Stella Maris
- Carrie Miller, Executive Director, HFLA of Northeast Ohio
- Jill Rizika, President & CEO, Towards Employment
- Margaret Sanchez, President & CEO, Esperanza, Inc.
Emily Campbell will also be serving on the committee to represent the Center for Community Solutions.
Learn more or join the Chamber!
We are so grateful for the work you do in our community every day and deeply appreciate our continuing partnership as this work evolves. In the weeks ahead, we will continue to do our part and will have additional updates on expert-led resources that we will be making available in the areas of finance, data and security, and crisis communications. Together, we’re building not just programs, but a stronger foundation for resilience and impact across our nonprofit community.
