Veterans Needs are Still Unaddressed. This New Metric Could Help Predict Success
A 2023 report reveals that 50% of veterans grapple with unaddressed social and health needs like housing instability, financial difficulties, and limited access to healthcare, yet only 14% seek help through the VA. Despite efforts by various organizations, a significant gap remains in meeting these needs effectively. Since 2022, the Network for Nonprofit and Social Impact (NNSI) has been developing a metric to measure the effectiveness of veteran referral networks. This
Innovating Outreach to Unconnected Veterans
This year in the United States, 40% of Americans will experience material hardship. However, less than half will receive help from any source. There are a variety of reasons behind this heartbreaking statistic. Like many people we’ve interviewed, some Americans say they were “taught to be independent” and “can tough it out.” Others feel ashamed of asking for help, especially from government programs with a stigma attached to them. Still,
#WickedProblemsinWellness: Community-Driven Health Initiatives
In the pursuit of creating a healthier and more equitable society, community-driven health initiatives emerge as powerful catalysts for change. These initiatives, often led by grassroots organizations deeply embedded within their communities, represent a powerful force for driving change and addressing healthcare disparities. By empowering local communities to take charge of their health, these initiatives create sustainable and impactful solutions rooted in each community’s unique needs and strengths. Researching the
What Do We Know About Network Designs for Effective Multi-Sector Collaboration?
Nowadays, many healthcare and social care organizations are discovering that it is difficult to build robust referral networks. Despite indicating a need for an infrastructure to facilitate cross-sector referrals and service coordination, research suggests that local providers did not achieve higher efficiency from implementing this type of software. This is because they are relying primarily on the technology’s adoption, not what we know about effective multi-sector network design. Our blog
#WickedProblemsinWellness: Food Justice and Health Equity
In a world where abundance coexists with scarcity, where farmers’ markets flourish in affluent neighborhoods while food deserts persist in marginalized communities, the issue of food justice stands as a stark reminder of systemic inequities. Food justice encompasses every individual’s right to access healthy, culturally appropriate, and sustainably produced food. However, reality paints a different picture—socioeconomic status, race, and geographic location often determine access to nutritious food. Health equity reflects
Key Lessons for Sustained Collaboration Funders
Through the Nurturing Nonprofit Collaborations report, philanthropic funders can learn about the importance of sustained collaboration, identify the features of a quality application, and hear success stories from organizations nationwide. Grantmakers can learn critical lessons about sustained collaboration from this report. Here are a few key takeaways. The report is based on original research by NNSI founding director Michelle Shumate. After the original screening of 58 projects by Sustained Collaboration