We continue our series of #Impact3 interviews!
This time we spoke with Simona Srebov – program manager of the Federation "Community Foundations of Romania" (F.F.C.R.). She shared with us some of the results she had after going through the Impact3 programme, but also the challenges she faced.
What did you decide to give up or change about measuring and communicating impact after participating in IMPACT3?
We stopped believing that we can grow without communicating effectively with donors/funders, with the community we are part of, with other NGOs. We can't make a name for ourselves through word of mouth and expect funders to pull our hand to support our projects. We are also no longer "afraid" of data, to collect it, interpret it, and base our conclusions on it.
What have you decided to start doing in terms of impact measurement and communication after participating in IMPACT3?
Now we feel we have really started to grow! These weeks we are focusing on creating our communication strategy, even a "brand manual", and rethinking and redesigning our website and promotional materials.
What have you decided needs to continue in terms of measuring and communicating impact after participation in the programme?
We are continuing to build the capacity of the team, working on tools (or adapting resources) for data collection and analysis, and partner-raising for some projects that we now have the courage and know-how to take out of mothballs and bring to life.
3 reasons why you recommend other NGOs to participate in IMPACT3?
Networking! Things go infinitely more smoothly when you have power together. With some of my colleagues I have already linked partnerships, and we have even written (and funded) projects together.
Mentoring! I sometimes felt that other colleagues, as well as the program hosts, had more faith in us and our mission than we had in ourselves. This gave us wings and strength to write more ambitious projects, to put order and coherence into our thoughts and plans, and to gain easier access to (varied) sources of funding.
Know How! The investment is time, and it pays back to the organisation (and therefore to the beneficiaries) through all the knowledge and resources you will acquire during the programme. And let's not forget the good will, plus the fact that you interact with other souls who are from and in the same story as you.
