Translating Strategy for Non-profits

By City Of Good  /
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We are back! 

Based on your encouraging feedback from the 2015 Strategy Track series, we are back with our signature workshop for the 6th straight year. 

Since 2010, we have helped 89 non-profit organizations to better define their strategies, organize themselves more effectively and measure the impact of their mission through our Strategy Track programme. 

Developed in partnership with experts from Bain & Co., the Strategy Track is a three-session experiential workshop series that helps Board members and CEOs develop their compelling strategy, adopt proven practical tools for efficient organization and implement monitoring systems to ensure strategy implementation. 

If you are looking to lead your non-profit from vision to strategy to effectiveness, the Strategy Track series is where you and your leadership team will get the tools, best practices and expert guidance. 

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Photo: Participants working on the ‘Intended Impact’ statements for their organisations at Strategy Track 2015

“ We gained valuable tools that we can implement immediately into our organisation. The workshop was extremely beneficial in facilitating high-level strategic discussion with our Board and team. We left with a clear intended impact statement and metrics to evaluate our programmes.”

Lindsay Courtney
Executive Director, Art Outreach

“Thank you for organizing this. The most valuable learning I received was the concept of Intended Impact. Also, the quadrant on stars, investments etc. to help us decide where to put in the resources of the programmes.”

John Ooi
Board Chair, Family Life Society

She for She

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Photo: Dominique with one of the youngest beneficiaries of DaySpring

With International Women’s Day next week, celebrating the achievements of strong women around the world, we decided to ask ourselves – who, really, is a strong woman?  

Someone once said that a strong woman is she who empowers other women. 

For the occasion of Women’s Day 2016 we caught up with Dominique Choy, a woman who believes in going beyond her call of duty as a successful marketing professional in Singapore’s competitive realty sector, to empower women at risk in Singapore.

Dominique’s desire to give back to her country led her to take on the role of Committee Chair of Highpoint DaySpring Singapore. Under Dominique’s stewardship, this non-profit group now provides both shelter and counsel to young women and girls facing abuse and unsupported pregnancies, helping them to make peace with their past, find purpose in the present, and build renewed hope for the future. 

Her Role Model

Dominique draws inspiration from the late Mr.Lee Kuan Yew, who she believes “had the heart of a father towards the nation” and this is what “guided his decisions, speech and actions” in ensuring the wellbeing and welfare of Singaporeans. This is reflected in the deep personal connection that DaySpring’s volunteers share with its beneficiaries.

Ensuring that DaySpring is always in good hands

In ensuring DaySpring always has the right leaders, Dominique and her team believe that there is nothing more powerful than “listening, watching and encouraging, but mostly listening”. Their aim is to hear and understand the vision of those who work for DaySpring, “to recognize their talents and help them find that “fit” at DaySpring”.  

At DaySpring, one can start as a volunteer providing pro-bono services in their area of expertise like Law or Human Resources, before taking on responsibilities as a leader.
Each volunteer is also personally coached by an existing member of DaySpring.

The importance of corporates and non-profits learning from each other

Dominique believes that both Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) and Corporates can learn from one another. By volunteering with an NPO members of the corporate world can learn to focus more on the process and less on outcome (bottom line), whereas NPOs can learn from corporates to bring more sustainability into their operations.  

The challenges and rewards of being a non-profit leader

DaySpring was the first dedicated treatment shelter for children who have experienced repeated abuse in Singapore. Being residential, it was costly to run. Initially the residents were few as well, and it was a struggle to convince the government and the community of the need to set it up.
With time however, Dominique and the DaySpring leadership were able to build a committed and competent team of people with a clear sense of calling to bring about healing and hope for the children and their families. This, Dominique feels, has been her greatest reward. 

DaySpring is part of Highpoint Community Services Association. To donate to its cause or know more, check out their Giving.sg page.