Insider

GoodWork, a nonprofit incubator that provides high-value customized incubator services including executive coaching, expert training, professional development and peer to peer networking, has announced its first group of nonprofits that will receive strategic and operational support. Six idea phase and early-stage nonprofit founders, leaders and board members attended the GoodWork Orientation and Kick-Off on January 28 at Community Action Partnership of Strafford County in Dover.

Located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, GoodWork currently serves the communities of Strafford and eastern Rockingham Counties.

Startup nonprofits often have little to no technology, legal, human resources and operational expertise in house. The cost for top-notch service in each of these critical areas can be out of reach for these organizations. At GoodWork, incubator participants have access to pro bono professional consultation and support.

“We are so excited to begin working with these organizational leaders who are incredibly committed to the work they do in addressing some of our communities’ most challenging issues,” said GoodWork CEO, Molly Hodgson. “The organizations we serve are typically less than three to five years old and operate with a budget of less than $250,000. The leaders must demonstrate a deep passion and dedication to the social, environmental, cultural or economic challenge they are addressing and be open and willing to learn and accept feedback from diverse sources. We encourage them to explore opportunities for collaboration and partnership with other like-minded organizations as well.” Hodgson said.

Incubator participants will be provided with a pro bono team of professional partners who will help them with the business challenges they are facing. They will also be matched with an experienced nonprofit mentor who will provide consultation and networking support. Each nonprofit incubator participant will have an executive coach that will provide a comprehensive organizational assessment, optimization report, work plan and provide guidance on setting and meeting goals. Participants will also learn from each other in a variety of peer to peer learning opportunities provided by the incubator.

The GoodWork 2020 incubator participants are;

• Vouchers for Veterans, Rochester NH
  The mission of Vouchers for Veterans is to thank Veterans living in New Hampshire and Southern Maine for their service by providing them with vouchers to purchase healthy, nutritious food directly from the growers at local Farmers Markets.
• Library of Things, Durham NH
  The Library of Things will provide a centralized location where people can donate underutilized items to share with others who might not have the space to store things, the money to buy them, or the need to use them all the time. It works the same way as a traditional library, except the collection of items goes beyond books to include all types of things including tools, kitchen items, and outdoor gear.
• Friends of Lafayette House, Portsmouth NH
  Friends of Lafayette House is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Lafayette House, a group home for the developmentally disabled. Twelve developmentally disabled residents and two dedicated house managers are happy to call Lafayette House, home.
• Big Fish Learning Community, Dover NH
  Located in the McConnell Center in Dover, BigFish Learning Community offers teens and families in the Seacoast a different approach to living and learning without conventional school. Through a self-directed learning approach, they offer mentorship, tutorials, relevant classes, and a place for teens to work and socialize.
• Access Navigators, Portsmouth NH
  Access Navigators helps people impacted by mobility impairments plan for what to expect when they visit towns and cities throughout New Hampshire and New England by providing reliable web-based guides with restaurant and attraction accessibility information. Access Navigators also builds awareness of the need for and benefits of community accessibility with speaking engagements; interacting with businesses, organizations, and government agencies; and teaching a course on accessibility at the University of New Hampshire.
• Step Up Parents, Portsmouth NH
  Inspired by a close friend’s struggle and a call to help, Step Up Parents provides financial assistance to kinship caregivers in New Hampshire who are raising the children of parents battling a substance use disorder. With the explosion of the opioid epidemic, the number of kinship families has skyrocketed. Step Up was founded on the belief that these relative caregivers are everyday heroes, and even heroes need a hand.

“We are thrilled with the initial interest in GoodWork, from nonprofit organizations as well as from the business community looking to support them. Our professional partners and mentors are excited about sharing their experience and expertise,” said GoodWork COO, Maria Sillari. “We are looking forward to helping these nonprofits serve their important missions.”

For more information about GoodWork email molly@goodworkseacoast.org or call (603) 953-4709.