Employment Connection

1. Clients exit services with skills and supports needed to achieve self-sufficiency.
2. Total review in 2017 will exceed 2013 revenue to sustain and expand the services available for clients int he St. Louis community. Building debt will be retired by 2017 and cash reserves will increase through the board-designated investment portfolio.
3. Secure a diverse group of volunteers that contribute their time, talent, and treasures.
4. Leverage collective impact to effectively utilize community resources that more efficiently provide unique services and develop a more holistic approach to service delivery.
5. Increase knowledge and visibility of agency impact on a local and national level to enhance support for the mission.

Priority 1: Build Stronger Agency Programs

Priority 2: Create Sustainable Revenue Sources

Priority 3: Support Strong Board and Recruit Other Volunteers

Priority 4: Develop Community Partnerships

Priority 5: Increase Marketing/Branding

Employment Connection has the capacity to:

 Continue to expand relationships with employers friendly to agency mission
 Expand services (employment and housing) to individuals in the target population
 Continued assessment of client needs for supportive services
 Further development of hard skills training programs
 Expand and explore social enterprise opportunities
 Expand housing services including tax credits and grant opportunities
 Full utilization of building resources
 Additional research into skill sets and needs for development activities (grant writing, fundraising, major gifts, social enterprise, etc.)
 Develop funding partnerships to strengthen collective impact of joint services to support mission
 Maintain and expand relationships with the United Way of Greater St. Louis, the St. Louis Mental Health Board, and other key funding partners
 Recruitment of additional motivated and involved Board and committee members
 Maintain diversity among the Board
 Focus on development of Board members with experience in areas like marketing, technology, and social media
 Continue to recruit individuals with ability to influence community/business/employers to support agency mission
 Maintain and expand volunteer support
 Utilize United Way of Greater St. Louis professional development and training programs
 Continue Olin United Way Board Fellows Program
 Increase partnership opportunities to promote collective impact
 Maintain and expand relationships with college and university internship programs
 Maintain and expand relationships with volunteer services organizations (i.e., AARP,
IVC, St. Louis Internship Program, etc.)
 Maintain and expand relationships with businesses for professional volunteer service
 Maintain agency volunteer certification through United Way of Greater St. Louis
 Evaluate market position and target audience
 Explore print, social media, and technological opportunities
 Assess need for marketing plan based upon evaluation

Have accomplished:
Expand services (employment and housing) to individuals in the target population
Continued assessment of client needs for supportive services
Improve client assessment and evaluation process
Expand housing services including tax credits and grant opportunities
Maintain and expand relationships with the United Way of Greater St. Louis, the St. Louis Mental Health Board, and other key funding partners
Utilize United Way of Greater St. Louis professional
Maintain agency volunteer certification through United Way of Greater St. Louis
Evaluate market position and target audience
Explore print, social media, and technological opportunities
Assess need for marketing plan based upon evaluation


Needs more work or is an ongoing priority:
Continue to expand relationships with employers friendly to agency mission
Further development of hard skills training programs
Expand and explore social enterprise opportunities
Additional research into skill sets and needs for development activities (grant writing, fundraising, major gifts, social enterprise, etc.)
Full utilization of building resources
Develop funding partnerships to strengthen collective impact of joint services to support mission
Recruitment of additional motivated and involved Board and committee members
Focus on development of Board members with experience in areas like marketing, technology, and social media
Continue to recruit individuals with ability to influence community/business/employers to support agency mission
Maintain and expand volunteer support
Increase partnership opportunities to promote collective impact
Maintain and expand relationships with college and university internship programs
Maintain and expand relationships with volunteer services organizations (i.e., AARP,
IVC, St. Louis Internship Program, etc.)
Maintain and expand relationships with businesses for professional volunteer service