In the months and year ahead, Turning Points for Children will strive to meet a variety of goals in order to maintain the excellence of our programs. Three of these goals and an explanation of the challenges that may hinder their completion are listed below:

Goal:

Completing a Strategic Plan During 2011

In January, 2010, Turning Points for Children initiated strategic planning, aided by a grant from The Philadelphia Foundation. Preliminary meetings and constituencies’ feedback (via formal survey) led to five meetings with an experienced strategic planning facilitator. The strategic plan will be finalized and presented to Board and staff by January, 2011. The challenge will be the communication and follow through on new strategies that will be connected to a new vision. Part of follow through will be the development and implementation of a tactical plan which supports the strategic direction.

Further, there will be a need for improved communications so that all leadership, inclusive of the Board of Directors and the Advisory Committee, can have a full understanding on charted new courses, and the clear action steps that must be followed in order to fulfill an expanded mission and realize a new vision.

Goal:

Supplement the endowment, as its value and the income from the endowment are lower across the board due to overall market conditions.

In this uncertain economic environment, the entire country is feeling the strain.  While Turning Points for Children does not rely on its endowment as its main source of funding, having a strong endowment is an important income stream for general operating expense, and is considered a “safety net” for any non profit organization.  Therefore, it is important to seek out additional funding through government and foundation grants and gifts from individuals/family foundations, etc. in order to restore the endowment to its former annual income capacity.  

Goal:

Awareness

In June, 2008, the Boards of two legacy organizations merged to form Turning Points for Children. The ‘new brand’ was announced to past benefactors, the press and government officials in November, 2008 and, there was system wide re-branding of letterhead, brochures, business cards, website, etc. There was a one-time budget allocation to effect the realization of new name and new logo.

The challenge has been creating brand awareness, as well as the organization having a follow through and consistent message of the brand, Turning Points for Children. Action steps must be taken for much better brand awareness, including a stepped-up public relations effort by a skilled professional firm, as well as greater engagement in social networking and online communications and capabilities.