GROW Nebraska
Helping Nebraska Entrepreneurs Reach the Global Market Place
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
GROW Nebraska is a dynamic, non-profit, service organization that helps small business owners and entrepreneurs build and expand their businesses. GROW Nebraska serves entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout Nebraska by providing education, training, marketing opportunities, technical assistance and 18 business-building services. This program is open to all entrepreneurs/small business owners with a special emphasis on under-served, low-income, and rural individuals. 58% of members are low income or disadvantaged and 72% of members are located in under-served areas. GROW Nebraska also serves developmentally/behaviorally challenged individuals through the action agencies in Nebraska and serves all types of businesses: artists, agriculture, services, businesses that provide a product, etc.
Businesses in rural and depressed areas can compete with businesses in metro locations with the training, technical assistance and marketing opportunities that GROW Nebraska provides.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Training, Technical Assistance and Marketing Opprtunities
The GROW Nebraska® Foundation helps entrepreneurs get the resources they need to live in Anywhere, NE and make a sustainable living. Since the inception of GROW Nebraska® in 1998 our vision and mission has never wavered: to create viable economic development through business training, technical assistance, promotion, and access to markets. We create impactful opportunities for small business owners and entrepreneurs to live in “Anywhere”, Nebraska and make a sustainable living.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsTotal number of organization members
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Ethnic and racial groups
Related Program
Training, Technical Assistance and Marketing Opprtunities
Type of Metric
Other - describing something else
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Currently, the organization has 430 members.
Number of staff members certified in subject area training
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Training, Technical Assistance and Marketing Opprtunities
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
There are currently 8 FTE team members.
Total dollar amount of grants awarded
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Training, Technical Assistance and Marketing Opprtunities
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of participants attending course/session/workshop
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
GROW Nebraska is a catalyst for rethinking the economic culture in Nebraska and is constantly working to create a better Nebraska. GROW Nebraska's goal is a stronger economic position for the state, livable incomes for Nebraska families, economic equality for the under-served and disadvantaged, and salvation of the rural population through gainful employment within their communities. GROW Nebraska believes healthy and growing small businesses are the foundation needed to reach that goal. Since its inception, GROW Nebraska pushed an entrepreneur-centered paradigm shift that is widely known as Economic Gardening, an economic growth strategy that offers a counterpoint to the traditional mindset that recruitment of big businesses is the only way to achieve economic development. Big businesses seldom move into rural or depressed areas, but job creation and new revenue streams are available from within...especially in an entrepreneur-centered state like Nebraska. GROW Nebraska believes Nebraska entrepreneurs can generate truly sustainable economic growth for their families, communities, regions and state when provided critical information needed to market their products and a connection with the resources they need to take their business to the next level (global and wholesale marketing, infusing their business with technology, technical assistance, one-on-one counseling and more programs offered by GROW Nebraska).
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
GROW Nebraska has 20 years' experience working with entrepreneurs and small business owners in Nebraska and an 83% member retention rate. GROW Nebraska offers technical assistance, one-on-one counseling, business and marketing education, and local, global and wholesale marketing assistance. GROW Nebraska has business-building and marketing experts on staff who work directly with entrepreneurs and small business owners; GROW Nebraska also brings in trainers, business experts and individuals experienced with wholesale access and business needs to provide additional educational and training opportunities. To expand services, GROW Nebraska partners with government agencies, colleges and universities, and economic development organizations throughout the state to deliver cutting-edge education, technical assistance and access to capital.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
GROW Nebraska has 20 years' experience working with entrepreneurs and small business owners. GROW Nebraska has created four main Internet marketing sites for members' use: eBay, Amazon, buynebraska.org and nebraskanative.org. GROW Nebraska also has successful YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Etsy and Twitter accounts where members' businesses and products are featured and sold. GROW Nebraska has business-building and marketing experts on staff and partners with government agencies, colleges and universities, and economic development organizations throughout the state to deliver cutting-edge education, technical assistance and access to capital.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
The GROW Nebraska Foundation is a driver for economic growth and job creation and has strengthened small businesses by providing the following services: Training and technical assistance One-on-one consulting Digital, mobile and e-Commerce training and assistance Business building workshops Local, global, wholesale, and export market services and trainings.
GROW Nebraska provides help to develop and improving products, labeling, packaging and branding The annual MarkeTech conference, a premier training conference where marketing and technology meet Access to additional resources and referrals. Access to networking opportunities GROW Nebraska operates a physical retail store and training center and multiple online sales platforms. GROW Nebraska is a Google Preferred Partner as well as a recipient of the Facebook Digital Promise grant which allowed the team to train over 100 entrepreneurs over 6-months in the art of social media marketing. This training has been packaged and is able to be distributed to other entrepreneurs across the state. To see case studies/success stories associated with GROW Nebraska’s efforts please visit our website at:https://grownebraska.org/blog/. GROW Nebraska had over 1000 attendees for training in 2018 and over 2000 attendees in 2019. 1722 were trained in 2020 even through the pandemic, GROW Nebraska was able to provide much needed resources to allow small businesses an opportunity to succeed. GN added a second monthly on-demand webinar to the training opportunities. The impact of these programs is best seen through the eyes of those who participate. GROW Nebraska’s mission and vision is best captured in the true success stories of business owners and entrepreneurs across the state, of which there are many. A rural Nebraska teacher started a side business to supplement their household income after her husband lost his employment. Z Harvest Gems was born and GROW Nebraska partnered to ensure that this family saw the revenue return necessary to make ends meet. A college student that started making fishing lures when he was just 10 years old, is now selling his products in Cabela’s stores. For many more success stories please visit our website: https://grownebraska.org/success-stories/.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We share the feedback we received with the people we serve, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, The people we serve tell us they find data collection burdensome, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
GROW Nebraska
Board of directorsas of 05/24/2023
Mr. Kent Grisham
Nebraska Trucking Association
Term: 2022 - 2026
Kristi Gargan
Buzz's Marine
Kevin Black
Pinnacle Bank
Rick Nelson
Nebraska Public Power
Kirsti Schack
First National Bank
Mary Hurst
Retired
A. David McIntosh
Entrepreneur
Gary Peterson
Peterson Legal Services
Richard Johnson
Adams Bank and Trust
Jessica Kraus
Lost Way Brewery
Marcia White
University of Nebraska Foundation
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 04/07/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.