Created by NC Counts Coalition
A letter from our Founding Executive Director, Stacey L. Carless: Greetings!
We are excited to share NC Counts Coalition’s 2024 - 2031 Strategic Framework, a roadmap guiding our efforts toward a healthy, just, and equitable North Carolina. This framework, born from thoughtful planning and collaboration, reflects our organization’s deep commitment to historically undercounted communities and ensures that every action we take is purpose- driven and aligned with our mission. Our state is at a critical juncture, facing significant challenges and opportunities that will shape our social, economic, civic, and overall well-being. Now, more than ever, we need innovative, collaborative, and impactful approaches to systematically address the needs of historically undercounted communities. Since our organization’s inception, we have always stood at the forefront of advocating for these communities, and this new Strategic Framework is a testament to our strengthened commitment. This Strategic Framework is not just a document—it is a dynamic, living guide that will inform our decisions, align our efforts, and keep us focused on our goals. The development of this framework was a collective effort, and I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our Board of Directors, staff, member organizations, partners, and stakeholders for their invaluable contributions. Your support has been the cornerstone of our successes, and I am confident that together, we will continue to make a lasting impact across North Carolina. As the Founding Executive Director of NC Counts Coalition, it fills me with immense pride and gratitude to witness the incredible growth and impact of our organization. What began as a vision to ensure that every person in North Carolina was counted in the 2020 Census has evolved into a powerful movement, driven by the unwavering commitment of our staff, Board of Directors, member organizations, partners, allies, and friends. Thank you for your commitment to NC Counts Coalition and to the people of North Carolina. We look forward to the journey ahead and the incredible work we will continue to accomplish together.
With Gratitude, Stacey L. Carless
NC Counts Coalition’s Strategic Framework
2022
In 2022, following a period of significant organizational growth, NC Counts Coalition (“NC Counts”) recognized the need for a focused, inclusive, and comprehensive strategic framework to leverage our platform, experience, infrastructure, and resources to drive transformational change.
Throughout 2022 and 2023, we partnered with The INS Group and Ifetunde Consultancy, LLC to facilitate a collaborative, inclusive and equity-driven strategic planning process. This process involved extensive input from a diverse range of key stakeholders, including member organizations, grasstop partners, government partners, Board members, and staff at all levels within the organization. 2022-23
2024
This is NC Counts’ strategic framework, a dynamic roadmap designed to drive us toward our vision over the next seven (7) years, September 2024 through September 2031. In 2027, NC Counts will conduct a mid-term review to evaluate the framework’s effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
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Table of Contents WHO WE ARE Our Vision
05-06
Our Mission Our Values
06 07-08
OUR FOCUS
HOW WE ACHIEVE IMPACT
ACTIVATING TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES: Our Organization Our People Our Collective Power Our Cross-Sector Partnerships Our Programs Our Story Our Resilience Our Joy
09-25
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DRIVING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
27-30
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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WHO WE ARE
Our Vision
Our Mission
A North Carolina where everyone counts and has a fair opportunity to reach their full potential.
NC Counts Coalition is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization committed to building a healthy, just, and equitable North Carolina through cross-sector partnerships that advance systemic solutions for communities facing systemic barriers, including BIPOC communities, LGBTQ+, low wealth, immigrant, and other communities.
Our Values
Inclusiveness
We champion inclusiveness and commit to representation, diversity, and inclusivity in all of our work.
We will foster a space at our table where everyone is seen, heard, and valued.
Empowerment
We are people-centered. We look at communities holistically and support work that nurtures genuine and transformational relationships within communities.
We commit to work that empowers communities by understanding and addressing different forms of oppression that impact people’s lives.
Integrity
We will be open, honest, and accountable in our relationships with everyone we work with and with each other.
We hold ourselves to the highest standards of ethics, integrity, service, and fiduciary responsibility.
Resilience
Things do not always go as planned or hoped for. NC Counts strives to recover from setbacks, adapt to change, and keep our work moving forward in the face of adversity.
Collaboration
With an innovative and empowering spirit, we aim to build a broad coalition that crosses issues and brings unlikely allies to the table, facilitating cross sector partnerships and collaborations that result in shared strategies to shape collective impact.
Learning
We will foster a learning community where NC Counts and Coalition members can share knowledge and learn from each other.
We challenging ourselves and looking past short-term impact for long-term solutions that will advance equity. commit to
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Our Values
Collective Impact
We are stronger when we work together. We aim to collaborate with, work alongside and strengthen our members because that strengthens our collective impact.
Our work will be driven by clear and focused tactics and strategies that align with our mission, vision, values, and relationships that result in impact.
Our power building infrastructure is rooted in equity and with our members we work collectively and in the spirit of reciprocity to reduce silos, maximize resources and incorporate diverse voices with the intention to shift power dynamics and create systemic change that achieves a healthy, just, and equitable North Carolina.
OUR FOCUS
The cross-sector partnerships established during NC Counts’ 2020 Census efforts created a unique, powerful, and lasting momentum and infrastructure for collaboration. NC Counts is leveraging, sustaining, and expanding this infrastructure as a strategy for base- building and power-building to advance racial and social equity, activate civic engagement, and mobilize for future census operations. NC Counts believes that census operations not only promote civic engagement but, if operating at their full potential, also serve as a powerful tool for equity. A complete, fair, and accurate count of the population helps ensure fair political representation, equitable resource distribution, and informed policy-making. A complete count supports systemic solutions to inequity and strengthens democracy. Historically, the census has undercounted BIPOC communities, immigrant communities, and low-income populations, resulting in disparities in political power, government funding, and private-sector investment for these
communities. By convening and creating a collaborative space for alignment and partnership among North Carolina nonprofits, grassroots communities, government agencies, and philanthropic organizations, NC Counts successfully mobilized trusted messengers to encourage census participation in historically undercounted communities and achieved a census count that led to North Carolina gaining an additional congressional seat. Our work on the census showed us how the collective power of nonprofit and grassroots organizations, supported by government agencies and philanthropy and united around a vision for inclusion and equity, is immeasurable.
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HOW WE ACHIEVE IMPACT
NC Counts is a thought leader in the issues we champion. We drive innovation, foster collaboration, and build capacity across our areas of focus. By guiding our vision and strategy, we ensure that our efforts remain equitable, impactful, and adaptive in addressing the needs of the communities we serve. We achieve impact through the following: Community Centered Approach. NC Counts uses a community-driven, bottom-up approach to develop programs 1 that genuinely address the needs and interests of the communities we serve. Our initiatives are crafted using qualitative data gathered from our community-based member organizations; our team’s knowledge, experience and observations from working in and being a part of the communities we serve; and, whenever possible, directly from individuals in priority communities. This approach ensures that our 1 programs, 2 campaigns, and 3 initiatives are deeply rooted in the priority communities’ reality and actively supported by them, making the programs more effective, relevant, and impactful. 1 Multi-Issue Organizing. NC Counts employs multi-issue organizing to develop holistic strategies that address the root causes of various issues, rather than treating symptoms in isolation. This approach allows NC Counts to effectively blend direct services, community organizing, and advocacy. For instance, many member organizations initially joined our efforts through COVID-19 response and recovery, focusing primarily on health issues. Through NC Counts, these organizations were introduced to the redistricting process in a trusted environment where they already had established relationships. They learned about redistricting, brought this knowledge back to their communities, and mobilized individuals to participate in public hearings. This demonstrates how multi-issue organizing can expand the scope of advocacy and empower communities to engage in diverse areas of reform. 2 Data-Driven Strategies. NC Counts uses a data-driven approach to build our programs, which involves using quantitative and qualitative data to inform our decision-making, strategy development, and program implementation. As a census focused organization, we leverage data from the decennial census, American Community Survey, and other sources to design, implement, and evaluate programs. Our data-driven approach ensures that our work is based on evidence, which can lead to more effective and efficient outcomes. 3 Convening and Coordinating. NC Counts serves as a convener and a valuable resource for bringing the right people together, identifying needs, and directing resources to address and alleviate those needs. NC Counts brings organizations together in various spaces for both virtual and in-person convenings to share information and resources, coordinate efforts, inspire collaborations, and reduce duplication of efforts. 4
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Cross-Sector Partnerships. NC Counts actively fosters cross-sector partnerships to enhance our resource base, increase impact, and develop innovative solutions to complex social issues. These collaborations enable us to connect public, private, and non-profit actors to collectively address problems holistically, build our organization’s and our member organizations’ credibility, and support financial stability. NC Counts also coordinates programs and campaigns that build an engagement pipeline so that BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and low-wealth communities can influence public policy decisions, change the narrative on race and poverty, organize locally in their communities, and build leadership. 5 Capacity-Building and Regranting. NC Counts supports member organizations to build their capacity through workshops, one-on-one support, and regranting. In addition to prioritizing capacity-building for our members, NC Counts develops toolkits and community education materials on census, redistricting, and other topics of concern to our communities. Our team regularly solicits feedback from member organizations and creates resources based on an analysis of existing materials and feedback. The NC Counts membership program is free to community-based organizations and nonprofits that commit to NC Counts’ mission and values. Member organizations must submit an application to join the Coalition; agree to terms and conditions, including our Code of Conduct; and have the recommendation of an NC Counts staff member who can verify the organization’s work and alignment with our organization. 6 Member Mobilization. NC Counts provides information, tools, and resources for member organizations and community partners at key moments. For example, during the 2020 Census, NC Counts supported partners to shift their outreach plans to incorporate COVID- friendly activities, such as drive-through food distribution events, census awareness caravans, and phone banking. During the 2021-2023 state level redistricting hearings, NC Counts supported members and partners in a “Get out the Comment” campaign to mobilize and prepare individuals to participate in legislative hearings across the state. Generally, NC Counts Coalition does not directly organize individuals to take action; instead, we empower our member organizations to mobilize within the communities we collectively serve. We only organize individual community members directly for specific campaigns, such as Get Out the Count, and even then, we aim to collaborate closely with member organizations to engage individuals within their communities. 7
1. Programs are overarching focus areas that serve as a framework, guiding our work to align with and achieve our vision and mission. Programs are designed to achieve long-term strategic goals. 2. Initiatives are specific components of a program that focuses on long-term efforts to achieve outcomes within the broader goals of the program. Initiatives drive progress in alignment with the program’s overarching goals. 3. Campaigns are a coordinated series of activities or actions that are planned and implemented within a specific time frame to achieve a particular goal or advance a specific initiative.
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NC Counts’ strategic framework outlines eight strategic priorities or key areas where we will focus our efforts to create meaningful, positive change for our communities, our people, and our organization. Central to this framework is the activation of transformational change, using our collective strength to tackle our most pressing challenges. While this document cannot encompass everything we do, it highlights our core aspirations, serving as our ‘North Star’ to guide future planning and inspire action. ACTIVATING TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES manage our internal operations. 1 Our Organization: How we will effectively Our People: How we will support and empower our team of staff and board members. 2
Our Resilience: How we will thrive through periods of uncertainty, turmoil, Our Programs: How we will develop and expand our programs and campaigns. 5 and change. 7
member organizations. 3
and celebrate our diversity. 8 and share our narrative. 6
Our Cross-Sector Partnerships: How we will collaborate and connect our membership with government Our Collective Power: How we will unite to build power as a coalition made up of nonprofit and community-based
Our Story: How we will communicate
agencies and other stakeholders. 4
Our Joy: How we will prioritize self-care
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OUR ORGANIZATION
Where We Are
NC Counts’ organizational operations are managed by a dedicated and proficient operations team that ensures the smooth running of day-to-day functions. Included in our organizational infrastructure is in-house human resources that support staff needs and foster a positive work environment. The operations team is constantly developing and refining systems to enhance efficiency and effectiveness across the organization. They manage everything from the administrative process of regranting and logistical support to annual audits, ensuring that all programs can function seamlessly. Working behind the scenes, this team ensures that the Coalition’s mission-driven initiatives run smoothly, allowing program teams to focus on advancing a healthy, just, and equitable North Carolina. Additionally, NC Counts has a diverse Board that is supportive of the organization and is learning to be more engaged. With NC Counts’ rapid growth, our organization has been innovating and adapting quickly. This dynamic expansion has highlighted the need for more robust systems, formal policies to support the growing team, and clear staff roles. Addressing these areas will help streamline our organizational structure, enhance efficiency, and provide essential support for our Executive Director.
GOAL
How We Will Make A Difference
Leverage technology to enhance organizational efficiency while enhancing data protection and privacy Streamline operational processes to reduce inefficiencies and allow staff to focus on their core job functions Assess and improve our organizational staffing structure for sustainability, growth and impact Foster an internal culture of continuous improvement through feedback and review Improve the skills, engagement, and effectiveness of the Board of Directors through targeted training, strategic recruitment, and regular evaluations.
Where We Want to Be
GOAL: Maintain and enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness to amplify organizational impact.
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OUR PEOPLE
Where We Are
NC Counts’ greatest assets are our employees. With a team of 17, we strive to improve the lives and promote equity and justice for more than 3.7 million individuals 2 in North Carolina who identify as part of a racial or ethnic group that have historically faced systemic barriers. We are a team of passionate individuals committed to building a healthy, just, and equitable North Carolina. Our organization is fortunate to have a highly skilled team with extensive experience, advanced education, a deep commitment to equity and justice, and innovative ideas. Many employees have years of experience across various sectors, including nonprofit management, social work, education, public health, and law, enriching our organizational perspective. Our
organization is intentional in hiring a team that reflects and shares the lived experiences of the communities we serve, making us allies, peers, and experts in our work. With NC Counts’ rapid growth, including a large government partnership launched during a pandemic, our organization has faced challenges in building a cohesive work culture. However, this growth presents an exciting opportunity to enhance cross- organization teamwork and develop a more unified environment. By addressing these challenges, we can foster a more collaborative and supportive culture, ultimately leading to a stronger and more resilient team.
Where We Want To Be
GOAL: We aim to create an inclusive and outstanding nonprofit work environment that centers equity, always puts people first, and creates a workplace where all employees—regardless of who they are, where they come from, and where they are in the organization—experience being valued, interconnected, and part of a multicultural, supportive team that is culturally sensitive to their unique assets and needs.
To get closer to our goal, we will: How We Will Make A Difference
Enhance transparency in decision-making processes Promote interconnectedness across our organization Develop a robust training orientation for newly hired team members Cultivate and foster a culture of collaboration and teamwork Address and manage conflict within the organization Review and enhance organization-wide accountability systems
Institutionalize, require and sustain an equitable and inclusive workplace culture - where every employee experiences trust and respect, is treated with dignity, and feels engaged and confident to perform well Maintain a diverse staff led by and composed of individuals who share lived experiences with the communities we serve, and who exemplify NC Counts’ values in their work Implement equitable employee development and access to opportunities
2 3,720,387 individuals identify as Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American Alone, American Indian or Alaska Native Alone, Asian Alone, Native Hawaiin or Other Pacific Islander Alone, Some other race alone according to the 2020 Census 11
OUR COLLECTIVE POWER
Where We Are
Following the 2020 Census, NC Counts’ staff and board members determined that its census infrastructure could support additional efforts around health equity and civic engagement. The COVID-19 pandemic presented NC Counts with an extraordinary opportunity to leverage its role as a trusted partner in BIPOC communities. As a result, NC Counts began formalizing and reframing our Coalition through a membership network. NC Counts recognizes the collective power that stems from our coalition to fight and dismantle systemic inequities and build people power in BIPOC communities to build equitable systems. Our team has prioritized retaining and recruiting new BIPOC- led organizations to our membership network, conducting outreach to communities that were not as widely represented in NC Counts’ census work, such as Indigenous communities, and developing new capacity-building resources to ensure members can sustain their work. Developing our membership has involved learning new practices for building reciprocal relationships, conducting outreach that balances consistency without being overwhelming, and sustaining existing relationships so that members are eager to help respond to the needs of new communities. Since refocusing our work post-2020, we have built relationships with and provided resources to new BIPOC-led organizations, conducted outreach and leveraged resources for BIPOC communities, and advocated for improved government practices that address communities’ needs throughout North Carolina. Our regional teams have been pivotal in building, supporting, and leading large-scale campaigns of face-to-face community outreach in the midst of a pandemic. The current membership stands at 135 organizations, of which 89% are led by and focused on communities of color. NC Counts’ members have expressed appreciation for the inclusive, productive, educational, and collaborative environment the organization fosters. They value the opportunity to connect with individuals from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, which promotes collaboration and alignment. Members are eager for more opportunities to engage with each other and have requested that NC Counts host additional meetings to co-develop strategies. Additionally, members are interested in the expansion of NC Counts’ regranting program.
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Where We Want to Be
GOAL: As a diverse coalition, we aim to build and foster genuine and transformative relationships with other nonprofit, community-based and grassroots organizations to utilize our combined resources, knowledge, and influence to challenge unjust systems and advocate for a healthy, just, and equitable North Carolina.
How We Will Make A Difference
To get closer to our goal, we
Annually assess the impact of our membership program through member feedback and best practices to guide changes and enhancements Standardize the membership experience to ensure consistency, satisfaction, and engagement for all members of NC Counts Support members by offering nonmonetary capacity-building programs and providing clear information on available support and regional programs across the organization Maintain and enhance NC Counts’ community engagement regrant programming, ensuring at least 25% of the organization’s annual budget is allocated to regranting, and implementing processes centered in equity, transparency, and accountability Standardize and institutionalize NC Counts’ regrant process through an equity lens Uplift the spirit of collaboration regionally and statewide through convenings, both virtual and in-person, to promote collective action across cultures and ethnicities, ensuring alignment and effective cooperation among member organizations to address key issues and advance shared goals Grow the organization’s presence across North Carolina through a regional team that primarily focuses on building collaborative partnerships with nonprofit and community- based organizations, delivery of regional initiatives aligned with NC Counts’ mission, and sustaining member relationships Promote regional collaboration through regional work plans that identify community development needs that can be led or supported by NC Counts Coalition Cultivate an inclusive environment within the Coalition membership program through education and shared agreements that embrace diversity, ensure equitable participation, and promote a sense of belonging, reciprocity and accountability for all members Establish an advisory council framework that includes Coalition members to ensure diverse perspectives are integrated into NC Counts’ decision-making and to foster a sense of shared responsibility for the Coalition’s success
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OUR CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIP
In addition to our commitment to our member organizations, NC Counts is dedicated to building and fostering cross-sector partnerships with government agencies and other stakeholders. As a valued intermediary, NC Counts connects government agencies to community-based organizations, ensuring that those closest to the problem are also closest to the solution. Community-based organizations are uniquely positioned to facilitate access to historically undercounted communities, providing the expertise needed to identify and address barriers related to race, cultural norms and practices, disability, and language. This expertise fosters full and equitable civic participation. We are also dedicated advocates for government funding to support nonprofit and community- based organizations. We firmly believe that if government employees are compensated for solving problems, the organizations assisting them should be equitably empowered and funded. Where We Are
North Carolina Department of Administration, when under the leadership of Secretary Machelle Sanders (2020 Census) Wake County Government, in partnership with Sharon Peterson, Long Range Planning Administrator for Community Services/Planning, Development and Inspections (2020 Census) Cumberland County Government, in partnership with Anthony Wade, Human Relations Director, Fayetteville-Cumberland Human Relations Department (2020 Census) North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, under the leadership of former Secretary Mandy Cohen and under the current leadership of Secretary Cody Kinsley (Healthier Together, COVID-19, Behavioral Health) North Carolina Department of Information Technology, under the leadership of Annette Taylor, Director, Office of Digital Equity & Literacy Wake County Government, in partnership with Lechelle Wardell, Population Health Director, Health and Human Services / Public Health (HealthLit 4 Wake, Health literacy, COVID-19) Durham County Government, in partnership with Mary Oxendine, (Former) Food Security Coordinator (Food insecurity) US Department of Commerce, US Census Bureau, under the (former) leadership of Director Steven Dillingham and under the current leadership Director Robert Santos (2020 Census, Census Information Center, 2030 Census, etc.) Since 2018, NC Counts has established the following cross-sector partnerships, specifically with government agencies:
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Working in cross-sector partnership with government agencies and other stakeholders can be challenging, as our values may not always align. Additionally, differing working cultures and capacity structures can create conflict. NC Counts remains committed to staying true to its values and always putting community first, regardless of opportunities, challenges, or pressure from partner agencies. GOAL: We aim to sustain and expand our partnerships with government agencies to support building a robust infrastructure for the 2030 Census and other initiatives rooted in equity and collective action. Additionally, we aim to develop and foster relationships with businesses to deepen our work and impact across North Carolina Where We Want to
How We Will Make A Difference
To get closer to our goal, we will: Identify, co-develop, and foster collaborative campaigns related to NC Counts’ mission with government agencies, ensuring community involvement in decision-making processes and ensuring government resources are getting to historically undercounted populations Engage in information sharing and education on issues aligned with NC Counts’ mission, and engage with government agencies to help shape policies that positively impact the organization’s causes Support government agencies in building transparent, genuine and impactful relationships rooted in equity with community-based organizations Inform and involve businesses in understanding issues related to NC Counts’ mission, and guide them on how they can contribute to advancing equity and community well-being.
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OUR PROGRAMS
Where We Are
NC Counts builds power by engaging and uniting a community of organizations dedicated to advocacy, civic engagement, social justice, and advancing equity in BIPOC, immigrant, LGBTQ+, low-wealth, and other communities. Building on our 2020 Census work and statewide infrastructure, we transitioned in 2021 to include new programming: Civic Engagement, Recovery and Resilience, and Advocacy. During our strategic planning process, our staff identified a need to greater emphasize the census’ central role in achieving our mission. We decided to establish the census as a standalone program, keeping it connected to, but distinct from, our other civic engagement efforts. Every member of the NC Counts Coalition staff is expected to be knowledgeable of the importance of accurate, fair and complete census data and play a part in advancing this cross-organizational program. Our strategic planning process also identified advocacy as a thread that weaves throughout all of our programs. This insight led us to integrate advocacy into all of our programming rather than maintain it as a separate program. Our current programs will include: Census, Civic Engagement, and Recovery and Resiliency. All of our programs amplify and connect the importance of accurate, fair and complete census data in building a healthy, just and equitable North Carolina.
Census
NC Counts Coalition amplifies the importance and impact of accurate, fair and complete census data 365 days a year. We are committed to informing Coalition members on every stage in the release of census data and advocating for policy to ensure inclusive, fair and accurate census operations. The census presents an opportunity to educate and engage BIPOC communities on the critical efforts to build a more just and inclusive democracy, because the census impacts who and how individuals are represented at each level of government. NC Counts facilitates a year-round program that informs coalition members on every stage in the release of data, training on use of census data to build programs and fundraising capacities, and advocates for policy to ensure that census operations are inclusive, fair and accurate.
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2030 Census Our 2030 Census initiative includes a comprehensive plan to build and sustain census efforts leading into the 2030 Census, which will guide our work over the next several years. The plan includes four components: infrastructure, public official engagement, continuing education, and the Get Out the Count campaign that we will launch closer to 2030.
American Community Survey (ACS) Our ACS initiative promotes the importance of ACS data by encouraging member organizations to raise awareness of the ACS in their communities year-round and educating them on how to effectively use this data to inform their work, drive decision-making, and better serve their communities.
Civic engagement is the foundation for building healthy, just, and equitable communities. Our communities and our democracy become more equitable and just when people get involved and share in power. Civic engagement is a vital tactic for power building that leads to long-term systemic change for BIPOC communities, LGBTQ+, low wealth, immigrant, and other communities. NC Counts Coalition supports our member organizations in power building by providing nonpartisan civic engagement education and resources to: educate the communities we serve on the democratic process, and the intersection of issues they care about (such as education and healthcare) with the democratic process, and; engage and empower our communities to take action and be seen and heard in our democracy. Civic Engagement
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Redistricting Our Redistricting Initiative serves as a hub for bringing organizations together to align efforts, collaborate, share updates, and exchange best practices. It provides resources to support community outreach and ensure informed and equitable redistricting processes.
Ranked Choice Voting NC Counts Coalition has launched an initiative to explore electoral reform through proportional representation in North Carolina.
The ACS is a nationwide survey, conducted by the US Census Bureau, that collects and produces information on social, economic, housing, and demographic characteristics about our nation’s population every year. Many times when people reference “census data”, what they are actually referencing is ACS data collected and published by the US Census Bureau.
When people and communities experience a crisis together, they often are not impacted in the same way. BIPOC communities usually fare worse in crises, like the COVID-19 pandemic, due to systemic health, economic and social inequities exacerbated by disasters. NC Counts Coalition helps communities recover from unforeseen disasters by working with government and Coalition members to understand the true needs of our communities to develop appropriate responses to crises. We are designing initiatives that connect public sector needs to private sector capacities, and are proud of our growing role as a critical strategic partner to decision-makers at all levels of government. Recovery and Resiliency
ConnectMeNC ConnectMeNC is an NC Counts initiative aimed at advancing digital equity and inclusion across North Carolina, launched in response to the exacerbated digital divide that impacted 2020 Census participation.
Healthier Together Our Healthier Together initiative is a public- private partnership with the NC Department of Health and Human Services to promote health equity statewide. This initiative was launched to address vaccine and testing equity gaps in North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic. It now serves as a vital source of health-related information, resources, and services, continuing to tackle ongoing health disparities.
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Behavioral Health The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing behavioral health issues, significantly impacting the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of individuals and families, notably children and adolescents. Through our Healthier Together initiative, we have grown a network of grassroots and nonprofit organizations that have become essential in connecting communities to healthcare resources. NC Counts Coalition is building an initiative that prepares our member organizations to be community resources to address behavioral health challenges among BIPOC and LGBTQ+ children, adolescents and adults.
HealthLit 4 Wake Our Health Lit4Wake initiative is a partnership between Wake County Human Services (WCHS) and NC Counts to advance health literacy to enhance equitable community responses to COVID-19 in 35 census tracts in urban areas throughout Wake County. In line with the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion’s (ODPHP) Healthy People 2030, WCHS and NC Counts are leading a coalition of diverse organizations, government agencies and individuals to: advance health literacy among racial and ethnic minorities, and other socially vulnerable groups most impacted by COVID-19; expand complimentary services to address social determinants of health; and utilize data for decision making.
As a young and growing nonprofit organization, operating multiple initiatives across North Carolina, we face decisions about which initiatives to add or expand, which to improve, and which to scale back or potentially exit. We also grapple with empowering employees to develop new initiatives. The right type of growth is critical for ensuring mission focus and community needs. While we need systems that provide guidance on expanding our programs, we are not interested in being confined to a single issue area, as community needs are diverse and cannot be neatly categorized. We are focused on building an infrastructure invested in genuine, transformative relationships with our communities, and that comes from earning trust and being responsive to community needs.
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GOAL: As our organization continues to grow, we aim to sustain and expand multi-issue, multi-strategy programming that takes a holistic approach to advancing equity across the areas of census, civic engagement, and recovery & resilience. Where We Want to Be
To get closer to our goals, we will:
Connect census to redistricting and voting through civic education to empower the communities we serve to take action Develop a robust civic engagement program that evaluates North Carolina’s democracy- building landscape to identify areas where NC Counts can enhance existing efforts and address gaps, supporting democracy-building initiatives across the state Develop a robust recovery and resiliency program that elevates critical equity concerns emerging and exacerbated as a result of COVID-19 Sustain and expand NC Counts’ health equity programming with a focus on co-developing health equity initiatives with our member organizations to implement scalable solutions addressing health disparities across the state Assess opportunities for new programming through a program strategy map that centers equity and bottom-up programming, and provides staff with clear guidance on how to actualize, develop, and implement new programming Develop an advocacy framework that provides guidance on planning, monitoring, assessing and taking action to be utilized across the organization for all of NC Counts’ programs and campaigns Create spaces and opportunities that support younger generations in finding their civic voice and preparing them to continue this work and the movement as the leaders of tomorrow Create and implement an organization-wide impact evaluation framework that directs our data collection, ensuring meaningful metrics that effectively tell our organization’s story and highlight our impact
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OUR STORY
Where We Are
NC Counts’ communications is designed to effectively disseminate information, engage stakeholders, and promote the organization’s mission. A key component of our communications strategy is language justice, ensuring that all NC Counts materials are bilingual in English and Spanish. This commitment to language accessibility aims to empower individuals whose first language is Spanish. Our organization maintains a social media presence across LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, actively raising awareness about key issues. Additionally, NC Counts distributes a monthly newsletter to stakeholders, members, and partners, providing updates, insights, and resources. NC Counts recently launched a new website that will serve as a central hub for information, featuring a members-only section where exclusive resources are available to members. NC Counts also produces annual reports that reflect on organizational success stories, highlighting achievements and impact over the year. One of NC Counts’ opportunities for growth lies in enhancing communication, both internally and externally. Our organization has a significant impact, and by improving our ability to tell our story and the story of our members, and articulate our achievements, we can further elevate our work. Strengthening a unified voice about our initiatives will also enhance NC Counts’ overall effectiveness and reach.
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GOAL: We aim to tell our story and empower others to share it on our behalf, building and sustaining vital connections with our community, partners, and donors. Where We Want to Be
Embrace and incorporate visual storytelling into our marketing and fundraising efforts Ensure consistency in how NC Counts staff and Board of Directors tell NC Counts’ story Streamline and enhance organizational communications to ensure consistent, clear, and effective messaging across all channels, fostering better internal collaboration and stronger engagement with our external stakeholders Integrate financials into our storytelling to enhance transparency and demonstrate integrity in how we manage and utilize funding
To get closer to our goal, we will:
Center equity in all of our communications materials and methods by prioritizing accessibility and language empowerment Annually assess the organization’s communications for the previous 12 months to determine what is working and not working Develop and implement a scalable communication plan that increases the organization’s visibility through public awareness campaigns
Where We Are OUR RESILIENCE
NC Counts was originally founded with the goal of achieving a complete and accurate 2020 Census count. It was expected that the organization would sunset following the decennial census. However, after the count, feedback from partners, stakeholders, allies, and friends highlighted the robust and impactful infrastructure that NC Counts had created. Recognizing the value and necessity of this infrastructure, the executive director collaborated with the Board of Directors to transition NC Counts into a more sustainable organization that continues to prioritize its work around census operations and data equity. Leveraging the established census infrastructure, NC Counts now advances equity and responds to the needs of historically undercounted communities year-round, while sustaining and building its infrastructure for future decennial census operations. Over the past five years, the organization has substantially grown in both staff and funding. NC Counts is now dedicated to building a stronger civic engagement infrastructure that promotes an inclusive democracy, closes health equity gaps, and advances economic and social justice. NC Counts has demonstrated remarkable resilience and an unwavering commitment to serving historically undercounted communities. Today, NC Counts, along with our members, partners, allies, and friends, navigates a polarized and turbulent political landscape. Policies threaten to erase progress toward equity, limit liberty, undermine justice, and reduce government funding. These threats place our organization in a constant reactive state, reduce our ability to proactively advance our mission, and subject us to financial uncertainty.
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GOAL: We aim to enhance the organization’s resilience and adaptability to effectively sustain and expand our impact amidst ideological shifts, political changes, and financial challenges. Where We Want to Be
Where We Want to Be To get closer to our goal, we will:
Diversify funding streams by seeking support from a variety of sources, including grants, donations, corporate sponsorships, and government contracts. Integrate comprehensive crisis management planning into our work planning. Develop a succession plan that outlines the activities NC Counts can take before, during, and after leadership transitions to help the organization sustain its initiatives. Champion cross-training across the organization to enhance team versatility, foster collaboration, and build a more resilient and adaptable staff. Cultivate a culture of flexibility, adaptability, and responsive leadership throughout the organization, empowering our team to recover from setbacks, learn from challenges, embrace change, take risks, and drive innovation, ensuring resilience and long-term sustainability.
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Where We Are OUR JOY
NC Counts is committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve, with the majority of staff and board members identifying as Black, including the Executive Director, the second most common identity being Latinx, and multiple staff members identifying as members of the LGBTQ+ community. Sharing lived experiences of oppression at a social justice organization can make it challenging to maintain a healthy perspective, especially during times of blatant racism, sexism, and other forms of systemic inequity. Constant exposure to injustice and hate adds stress, making it difficult for our team of social justice advocates to care for themselves and focus on daily work. We have to remember to prioritize our joy amidst the chaos. Creating an environment that uplifts
and empowers our staff, members, and others to be their true and authentic selves is essential. As an organization rooted in equity, we commit to learning from and celebrating our differences. Our organization does not have a standard policy on joy, but to support self-care, NC Counts has a generous leave policy, ensuring our team has the time and space they need to rest and recharge. We also strive to uplift the diversity of our Coalition through cultural performances at statewide convenings. Additionally, we incorporate mental health components at these events to encourage holistic health and wellbeing among our members and ourselves.
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To get closer to our goal, we will: Cultivate a culture that acknowledges and celebrates all achievements, big or small, to boost morale and reinforce a positive mindset, helping the organization and our member organizations navigate through challenging times Incorporate a wellness program that empowers staff to stay focused on their purpose and maintain their well-being by fostering a culture of self-care, resilience, and purpose-driven action. We want to prevent burn-out while ensuring we are able to continue to serve and lead effectively despite external challenges and inequities Host external cultural events in collaboration with member organizations to celebrate the Coalition’s diversity with communities Acknowledge and celebrate our collective work as a coalition. GOAL: We aim to cultivate an environment that encourages rest and joy, ensuring our team remains resilient, motivated, and effective in advancing social justice. Where We Want to Be
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DRIVING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
Writing a strategic framework is just one step toward our long-term impact. The real challenge can lie in implementation. Daily operational demands can overshadow the enthusiasm for executing the plan. To truly benefit, our strategic framework must be “lived” every day. NC Counts Coalition will use the following strategies to ensure our strategic framework is put into action:
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Keeping the Framework Visible Keeping NC Counts’ strategic framework visible is vital for aligning the organization with its goals, guiding daily decisions, fostering accountability, and ensuring focus on the mission. Unlike plans that gather dust, a regularly referenced framework allows for adaptability and effective execution. To enhance visibility, we will share our strategic framework and progress during member meetings, include it in our monthly newsletter and on our website, report successes annually to the board and stakeholders, and provide quarterly internal updates to staff. collaboration. By aligning individual performance goals with organization- wide objectives, we will ensure that daily work is directly tied to broader priorities, making the framework an integral part of each employee’s role. Also, by engaging staff in the strategic planning process we are leveraging their unique insights and expertise, promoting innovation and unity while driving the success of our initiatives. Mobilize Our Team Mobilizing staff is essential for the successful implementation of our strategic framework, as it fosters ownership, accountability, and
Monitor Progress To effectively measure and evaluate progress toward our goals, we need robust processes in place. An internal committee, the Strategic Framework Implementation Working Group, will be established to manage and track the implementation of the strategic framework. This group will ensure goals are pursued effectively and within established timelines. By regularly monitoring the implementation process, the group will identify challenges or delays and make recommendations to the executive director to resolve them to keep the framework on course. The working group will also collect and analyze data to assess progress against key performance indicators, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives. Annual Work Planning NC Counts’ annual work planning for organizational, programmatic and regional efforts will be essential for translating our strategic framework and high-level goals into practical, actionable steps. These work plans will ensure that our vision and mission are effectively pursued throughout the year, serving as a detailed guide to drive the implementation of our strategic plan. Breaking down our long-term goals into timely, manageable, and clearly defined segments within work plans will help create a detailed roadmap that aligns our organization’s daily activities with our overarching strategic priorities.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This framework exists due to the significant contributions from NC Counts Coalition staff and the time and support of our members, partners and stakeholders. We are also indebted to our Board of Directors, current and former, for their dedication, time, and valuable insights to guide this process. Finally, we salute our Executive Director for her leadership and vision that have turned this long-awaited framework into a reality.
The development of this framework has truly been a collaborative process, and we will carry that approach forward into its implementation.
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