Community Sharing Fund and Q&A With Arbadella Williams
Collectivity guided a strategic planning process for the Community Sharing Fund (a program of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation) over the course of 2024. At the close of the year, we took time to do a short Q&A with CSF’s program manager, Arbadella Williams. Read on to hear more about the incredible resource that is CSF and their updated strategic outlook for 2025 and beyond:
Question #1 What is a Community Sharing Fund (CSF) and what makes it a unique resource for the community?
Community Sharing Fund is a resource of last resort that provides funding to individuals and families with verifiable emergency needs when other services or funds are unavailable. Grants are approved for rent, damage deposits, utility costs and other critical needs. The fund serves residents that live in Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties. CSF is unique as there is no other fund like it in the state. 100% of every dollar raised to support the fund goes back out in the community!
Question #2 What is the focus of the new strategic plan for CSF?
The new strategic plan aligns with SPMF’s aspiration to “envision an equitable, just and vibrant Minnesota where all communities and people thrive” and purpose to “inspire generosity, advocate for equity and invest in community-led solutions.” The new strategic plan consists of four strategic goals that will guide work from 2025-2027:
Strategic Goal #1 Be a responsive and aligned partner to better serve community needs.
Strategic Goal #2 To Address systemic issues affecting historically disinvested communities in addition to immediate need.
Strategic Goal #3 To support the sustainability of community partner organizations.
Strategic Goal #4 Ensure the financial future of the fund.
Question #3 How has the strategic planning process with Collectivity played a role in supporting your impact in the community?
On December 4, 2024, we provided an update to our community partners that throughout 2024 the CSF team went through a strategic reimagining to ensure current and future community needs are served. We shared the four strategic goals mentioned above, that will guide our work from 2025-2027. We then announced that on January 6, 2025, the following updates to our grantmaking will take place:
- CSF is removing the criteria that requires someone in the residence be aged 18 or under to be eligible for funding.
- CSF is removing the criteria that requires a member of the household must suffer from a life-threatening illness, a mental health condition or a physical disability to be eligible for funding.
- Grant amounts will range from $100 - $1,000 with up to $1,500 grants available for housing assistance.
Our collaboration with Collectivity has significantly contributed to our impact in the community. Through their expertise we have been able to achieve one of our key strategic goals that will start on January 6, 2025, which is to be a responsive and aligned partner to better serve community needs. By removing some of the criteria for funding guidelines and increasing our grant amounts CSF will be able to have a greater impact in the community.
Question #4 What are you most excited about in the coming year as you carry out CSF’s new strategy?
I’m truly excited about the impact that CSF can have as it relates to addressing the systemic issues affecting the historically disinvested communities that CSF serves. Also, overall, I’m looking forward to the new work that will emerge from our strategic plan and I’m eager to see the positive changes it will bring.
Question #5 What lessons have you learned through the process that can help other programs and leaders?
I would tell anyone that is working on a strategic plan for the first time to trust the process. It was valuable having a Strategic Approach Team (SAT) that consisted of community partners, a funder, and an internal staff member to be part of the strategic planning process. This team helped drive and champion the work. I enjoyed the collaborative nature of the planning process, and it was beneficial having diverse perspectives.
