Baltimore CONNECT Board Meeting Recap: Refining Our Vision, Strategy, and Commitment to Community
On Tuesday, our board at Baltimore CONNECT gathered for a pivotal meeting to reassess our mission and vision, and to better position ourselves to meet the evolving needs of Baltimore’s community-based organizations (CBOs). This session marked a powerful moment of reflection, strategy-building, and collaborative planning.
Reaffirming Our Mission and Vision
We began the meeting by grounding ourselves in the purpose of Baltimore CONNECT. Our mission has always been rooted in equity, access, and sustainability—connecting Baltimore communities with vital health and social resources. This week, we revisited this mission with fresh eyes, reaffirming our shared belief in community-driven partnerships and data-informed action.
Our vision remains bold: to foster a Baltimore where all residents can access the tools and opportunities needed to thrive. Still, we acknowledged that with shifting community needs and growing disparities, there’s work to be done to make that vision more actionable and inclusive.
Internal Analysis: Reflecting on Our Organizational Health
Our internal review took a deeper dive into Baltimore CONNECT’s history, operations, and financial sustainability. Over the years, we’ve built a strong foundation with key community partnerships and academic collaborators. Our data initiatives and community events, including resource fairs, have seen measurable success.
However, we also recognized the need for financial diversification. As a nonprofit, reliance on a few major funding sources makes us vulnerable to shifts in grant cycles or donor priorities. We identified pathways for increasing unrestricted revenue and building stronger long-term funding models.
What’s Next: Reconstructing for Impact
The most powerful part of the meeting was the consensus that now is the time to reconstruct—to evolve how we operate and communicate, both internally and externally. This includes:
Re-evaluating our strategic plan to incorporate insights from the SWOT and internal reviews.
Streamlining our community engagement frameworks for greater consistency and visibility.
Investing in data infrastructure and digital tools to better track impact and inform stakeholders.
Developing more agile funding strategies to ensure long-term organizational health.
Understanding the External Environment
Next, we conducted a SWOT analysis to identify the current external forces affecting Baltimore’s community-based organizations.
By identifying these key factors, we’re better equipped to guide our strategic efforts and advocate more effectively on behalf of our network partners.
Internal Analysis: Reflecting on Our Organizational Health
Our internal review took a deeper dive into Baltimore CONNECT’s history, operations, and financial sustainability. Over the years, we’ve built a strong foundation with key community partnerships and academic collaborators. Our data initiatives and community events, including resource fairs, have seen measurable success.
However, we also recognized the need for financial diversification. As a nonprofit, reliance on a few major funding sources makes us vulnerable to shifts in grant cycles or donor priorities. We identified pathways for increasing unrestricted revenue and building stronger long-term funding models.
Final Thoughts and Call to Action
Baltimore CONNECT is at a defining moment. As we align our vision with today’s realities, we invite our community partners, supporters, and stakeholders to join us in this process. Your voices, stories, and feedback are essential as we shape the next chapter.
Stay tuned for more updates as we finalize the action plan. For those interested in participating in our next strategic feedback session or learning more about how Baltimore CONNECT supports local CBOs, contact us or visit our website.
Special thanks to Louise Stoner Crawford
Leadership Coach | Facilitator