Fireside Chat Series: Change Makers Designing & Innovating!

This series is designed to guide community action agencies in developing and applying a Local Theory of Change that aligns with evolving community needs in a constantly shifting landscape. Click here for full information on this series.

April 3, 2025 (10-11:15 a.m.) Crafting Your Blueprint for Change - The Local Theory of Change in Action

April 10, 2025 (10-11:15 a.m.) Adapting to Change: Designing Your Theory of Change in a Shifting World

April 17, 2025 (10-11:15 a.m.) Innovating for Impact: Breaking the Mold with Your Theory of Change

The Everything ROMA Podcast

Episodes 1-5 Now Available!

Check out our podcast series which features short, bite-sized episodes discussing performance management through the lens of Results-Oriented Management and Accountability. Tune in to discover ways to enhance processes, apply ROMA principles, and cultivate a culture of performance management essential to your mission of serving communities. Start Listening Now!

Upcoming Training and Events

CAP Plan Webinar (March 11, 2-3pm) - Join the Office of Economic Opportunity Team to review the 25-26 Community Action Plan. Community Action Plans are due May 1, 2025. This will be an opportunity to review all components of the plan and ask questions.

Grant Writing Lunch & Learn (March 27, 12-1pm) - Join us to hear from Karen Thomas, a seasoned grant writer with extensive experience across federal, state, and local agencies. Currently a grant writer at VDSS, Karen will offer valuable tips on both identifying and writing successful grants. Additionally, Community Action Peer Leader Gillian Barney will share her insights, drawing from her many successful grant writing and award experiences with Thrive Virginia.

For a complete list of upcoming community action training and events, visit https://vacsbg.learnworlds.com/calendar.

Agency Resources

For more resources, visit https://vacsbg.learnworlds.com. Select the Resources Tab and choose from a wide range of subjects including Program Resources, Executive Director Resources, Board Resources, Fiscal Resources, and more! Do you have a great resource you'd like to share? Send an email to gail.doyle@dss.virginia.gov and we'll get the word out!

2025 Virginia Community Engagement Index

The VCEI seeks to understand the state of service, volunteerism, and civic action in Virginia, and to identify community priorities. As an integral part of community support across the Commonwealth, your input is critical! Please complete the survey and share widely with your coworkers, family, and friends. Deadline: March 4.

Take Survey

What is a Fundraising Plan? - Your fundraising plan is the way you will achieve your organization’s budget. A successful plan will have a number of different strategies to reach the overall goal. You want to be careful not be become overly dependent upon any single source of funding, so diversification is the key to success.

The basic steps are: (1) Assessment, (2) Cultivation, (3) Solicitation, and (4) Stewardship

The approach for each step will vary depending on which type of funding source you are developing, but they are always the basic steps of fundraising. Most people think the process ends with stewardship, but in truth, that should be where the process begins. The real goal is build a partner, not just a funder. A partner is someone you can count on; a funder is not.

Fundraising Plan Example

Community Action Fact Sheets - The Office of Economic Opportunity has created several one-page Fact Sheets to help agencies communicate their message to stakeholders. These helpful at-at-glance tools are perfect for sending to board members, partners, elected officials, and more.

Free Webinar: 5-Day Challenge to Improve Your Mental Health - Each day explores a different facet of mental health and contains a simple exercise for putting it into practice. In less than 15 minutes a day, you can improve your emotional well-being.

LearnWorlds Virginia CSBG Learning Management System

Virginia Department of Social Services - CSBG Office

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