“This is exciting! Thanks for your constant, solid leadership and guidance.”
Holly Dingman, MS, RD, Nutrition Coordinator, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
“Lori and Susan, I just want to say that you two have certainly gone ABOVE and BEYOND in helping to make the Coalition and the web site happen. Thank you. I think you both need to be honorary founders of the group.”
Ann Seacrest, RN, IBCLC, Executive Director, MilkWorks
Building a Coalition
Challenge
Establish the Nebraska Breastfeeding Coalition, connecting like-minded people across the state who share common goals and interests but have little time to run a formal tax-exempt nonprofit organization.
Activities
- Researched similar coalitions in other states and presented options for structure
- Facilitated meetings to formulate mission, vision, values and goals
- Developed a database of contacts and a format for on-going communication
- Identified potential partners, established membership and partnership forms and guidelines
- Produced a case statement in PowerPoint; helped to write success stories
- Helped to develop a website, www.nebreastfeeding.org
- Created collaborative leadership model, work plan, and resource development plan
- Designed a job description for an administrative assistant and a plan for a “virtual office”
- Connected with an established organization to launch the Coalition at a biennial conference
Results
- Opt-in contact list grew from 60 to 130 names three months after Coalition launch
- Coalition received support through two grants that funded website development, administrative services, and special projects
- Seed money was raised through memberships and donations at launch event and resources continue to grow