ROOTS OF DEVELOPMENT

Washington, DC   |  www.rootsofdevelopment.org

Mission

Roots of Development helps impoverished communities acquire the organizational skills and financial resources they need to manage their own development. We help build stronger, more independent communities that are capable of choosing, building, managing, and maintaining their own projects.

Our vision is for a world in which the very communities living in poverty are the ones leading the fight against it.

Ruling year info

2009

Principal Officer

Chad W. Bissonnette

Main address

1366 C Street, NE

Washington, DC 20002 USA

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EIN

80-0490699

NTEE code info

International Economic Development (Q32)

Community Improvement, Capacity Building N.E.C. (S99)

Leadership Development (W70)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Impoverished communities around the world often have little to no assistance from the government and a weak private sector. Traditionally, charities have stepped in to provide aid, and while helpful at times, they often leave populations far too dependent. Communities aren't given the opportunity to strengthen skills needed to lead and manage their own development, which jeopardizes the sustainability of these efforts. Roots of Development provides community leaders opportunities to build their organizational management capacity so they can more independently and sustainably improve quality of life in their communities. Roots provides professional workshops/trainings, exchanges with community groups, and financing for community-led efforts so local leaders have greater control over their communities' development. Our vision is a world in which the very communities living in poverty are the ones leading the fight against it—deciding their own future and managing their own development.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Capacity Building & Leadership Development

Constructing a clean water facility or opening a community business that brings revenue into an area can improve the standard of living for many, but it doesn’t mean it is sustainable. The biggest part of our work with a community is the financing and facilitation of workshops that build a community's capacity and strengthen its skill sets so that it can more effectively manage and maintain its own development activities. These workshops involve topics such as strategic planning, leadership and conflict resolution, and trainings in such matters as bookkeeping, business skill development and monitoring & evaluation. Once the skills become familiar, a community can manage and maintain projects with greater independence. Not only do these communities learn what it takes to more effectively address their own issues, but they can then use that knowledge and experience to begin supporting neighboring communities.

Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people

Where we work

Videos

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Roots of Development's goal is to use its resources to help disenfranchised communities learn to better organize themselves and build their capacity so they can become effective managers of their own development. We do this by walking communities through a process that includes the following phases:

1. Community self-evaluation
2. Community organizing
3. Building an institution
4. Management development
5. Project selection & implementation
6. Strengthening & expanding partnerships
7. Monitoring & evaluation

Roots focuses simultaneously on two components in its effort to form and strengthen community based organizations (CBOs) capable of improving the quality of life of the communities they serve.

The first component is geared towards providing CBOs with the tools necessary to understand and maintain the characteristics of an effective CBO.

The second component involves sharpening the skills CBOs need to effectively plan, manage and execute projects to improve the quality of life of the communities they serve.

Roots of Development maintains a strong network in Haiti made up of well vetted subcontractors and government officials in addition to community members and leaders. Roots' work supports subcontracting partners in accomplishing their capacity building goals, leaving them capable of independent and efficient operation. Roots' working relationship with government officials in Haiti enables us to attain the legalization component of our projects, as well as access important local resources.

Roots of Development's capacity-building initiatives with local partner APDAG on the island of La Gonave resulted in their successful, autonomous execution of projects within their community. Their projects continue to be sustainably maintained as a result of Roots' support of their organizational developments.

Our next goal is to expand our capacity building support to other regions of Haiti through other partners similar to APDAG.

Financials

ROOTS OF DEVELOPMENT
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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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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ROOTS OF DEVELOPMENT

Board of directors
as of 2/9/2021
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Christopher Wells

Personalized Medicine Coalition


Board co-chair

Rudy Brioche

Comcast Corporation

Magalie Pradel

World Bank

Ernest Voyard

Johnson & Johnson

Jenna Willits

Jean Francois Bauer

World Bank (retired)

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • 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 ? No
  • 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? No
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 02/09/2021

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:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data