Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Monthly meetings
The Columbia Writers Alliance conducts monthly writer support meetings on the 2nd Monday of each month at the Richland Library on Assembly Street in Columbia, SC
What You Need To Know About Black History Literary Event
Annually we have Black History Programs, consisted of speakers, readings, music, and dance recitals. Our next program is scheduled for February 2023.
Snap Play Write -
Tennis Literary Challenge - A summer program for at risk teens to learn the basics of tennis basics. Photographs were taken of different poses as they learned, they later wrote about their experience.
2014 Hanna House Christmas Toy Drive
A toy and clothe drive for the Hanna House Homeless shelter children.
SC Christian Writers Showcase
A program of promoting inspirational authors and writers and the arts. Present were speakers, choirs, and literary vendors
Comparisons of Single vs Interdisciplinary Art Forms in Underserved Youth
The present study will be a partnership between the Arts Institute, the Department of Psychology and a community based non-profit organization (Columbia Writers Alliance and DIVA International) to evaluate the impact of engaging in multifaceted art forms on increasing positive life trajectories in underserved youth who currently attend their community program. This project will specifically compare a single art form (creative writing) in collaboration with the Columbia Writers Alliance versus interdisciplinary art forms (art, dance, music) on improving life satisfaction (emotional, physical, social, and ability to succeed) in low-income minority youth.
United Way, Partners in Compassion Institute
Capacity building for Nonprofit organization
A Poetic Noel: Lifting Our Voices to The Emanuel Nine
A formal fundraiser to raise money for 2017 Writers conference, benefiting youth in the Midlands, with keynote speaker Mrs. Jennifer Pinckney, wife of slain Pastor and Senator Clementa Pinckney. Donations were given to help support his foundation as well.
Celebrating Our Heritage: Reading, Writing & Recording Our History
Program in honor of Black History Month, stressing the importance of and merging of the arts, literacy, history, and music.
Putting it into Words: Lifting Our Voices, visions, and Values
Part of set of annual literary programs benefiting the youth, educators, and community. This was a 2 day event featuring special guest author, Ms. Sharon Draper. Students were allowed to attend free. The public library also participated in making this event a huge success.
Where we work
External reviews

Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of children who have the ability to understand and comprehend communication
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Ethnic and racial groups, Families, Widows and widowers, Parents
Related Program
Monthly meetings
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
COVID - We gave to foodbank - Prepared to get back with the youth this year of 2022 which we have and are doing. We are in the midst of sponsoring a scholarship competition for 12th grade seniors.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn 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?
We aim to push forward the aspiring writer to dream big, believe in the vision, write the work and accomplish being a published author. We are reaching higher to go bigger and help more people realize their ambitions and abilities to tell a story and be published--even through self publishing as well as the traditional route. We want each writer we meet to own their story, tell it their way, learn how to write correctly, how to read projecting the voice of the characters, to engage the listener, speak to crowds, have a book signing, take the whole journey. We want writers to reach and obtain the top ring, be a best selling author, but work for it. At the same time, we want them to understand that it's not all in being on the best seller's list to sell their books, but sell an inspiration to help others to want to write, to follow you on a journey, or to just say this book made me feel good.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
To have more conferences, have retreats, and bring in keynote speakers. Rent a space so we can have 2 meetings per month instead of one. Hire instructors to help engage in the arts that will inspire children and others to write about the experience. We want to explore photo voice where kids and adults literally take a camera, take a photo of something of interest and write about it.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Our budget is not even $1000. What we have done in the past we accomplished through small grants. We have experienced leaders and teachers, writers and published authors that help through volunteer work or by assessing the members with a small fee. We still keep to our goals but with support we can do a lot more.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
So far we have exposed many first time authors to large writing venues
- (i.e, The SC Writers Conference; program now closed).
- Partnered with the University of SC's Department of Psychology, Arts Institute, Art and Dance school in a project entitled, "Comparison of Single versus Interdisciplinary Art Forms in Undeserved Youth", a 5 month project with 20 at risk girls.
- Partnered with School District 1 and the City of Columbia to hold a "Stuff a Bus" Back to School Rally for homeless children
- Had 2 successful Statewide Writers Conferences
- Had a success SC Christian Writers Showcase
- Supported homeless shelters with literary workshops and Christmas givings to the children
- Annually have a Black History Program (very diversified) promoting well being and togetherness among the community.
- Members of the SCANPO
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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Who are the people you serve with your mission?
Workshop participants Board members
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Paper surveys,
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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 strengthen relationships with the people we serve,
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What significant change resulted from feedback?
Within the Board, we have decided to have fewer meetings as we've had over the pandemic and go back to quarterly meetings (still Zooming) and only when necessary phone conference calls if necessary. Monthly core writers (non-board writers) meetings. We changed from 2nd Mondays to every other Saturdays at 12pm. These meetings are to assist with in-progress writings of books, editing, and readings. Now that COVID is easing up, published authors are participating more in organized festivals supporting literary organizations.
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
The people we serve, Our board,
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How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship?
We've been limited to many people, funders, and things because we don't have funding. Since the pandemic we lost a lot of our financial support. we're still here but struggling.
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don’t have the right technology to collect and aggregate feedback efficiently, 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
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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.
COLUMBIA WRITERS ALLIANCE
Board of directorsas of 11/04/2022
Jerlean Noble
Columbia Writers Alliance
Term: 2009 -
Ida Thompson
Cathine Scott
Columbia Writers Alliance
Jerlean Noble
Columbia Writers Alliance
Ida Thompson
Columbia Writers Alliance
Mikell Snooks
Everlasting Gospel Kingdom Ministries
Viola Sanders
Vii's Services, Inc
Rochester Baker
Columbia Writers Alliance
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? No -
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? No -
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? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 08/09/2019GuideStar 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 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 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.