CIO Strategic Plan: Goals, Strategies & Actions
GOAL I. Build CIO’s capacity and infrastructure in order to support a skilled staff, engaged board, and active membership able to carry out strategic program goals.
Measures we’ll track:
- Revenue and other financial indicators
- Recruitment and retention of Board members, staff and leaders
- Number of new CIO members, including how many are active
- Demographic diversity of membership
STRATEGIES AND ACTION STEPS:
1. Develop a four-year plan to achieve organizational goals and create an adequate and sustainable level of funding.
a. Assess organizational structure and staffing and adjust them to meet CIO’s infrastructure needs.
b. Increase and diversify revenue sources.
c. Build a strong organizational infrastructure and implement systems, such as updated computer software and multiple phone lines, to enhance the efficiency and productivity of the organization.
d. Upgrade CIO’s database in order to track membership engagement and financial contributions.
e. Sustain a member-run media program in support of CIO’s strategic goals.
2. Build organization’s membership to 1,000 over four years.
a. Ensure membership is at least 51% first generation immigrants/refugees.
b. Seek resources to sustain Membership Coordinator position.
c. Create Membership Committee that can carry out membership activities.
3. Grow the capacity and engagement of the Board of Directors
a. Recruit and retain diverse Board members with varied skill set.
b. Provide ongoing support and training for the Board in the areas of nonprofit governance, financial management, fundraising and organizational development.
c. Identify and recruit at least two youth Board members and provide them the support necessary to ensure their active engagement.
4. Create and maintain a supportive and just work environment and strengthen the staff capacity.
a. Develop a comprehensive set of personnel policies.
b. Provide opportunities for staff training.
GOAL II. Train and support emerging immigrant and refugee leaders and grow a base of informed immigrant and refugee members capable of forwarding the organization’s mission.
Measures we’ll track:
- Graduates from CIO leadership programs
- Active members engaged on CIO committees, participating in programs, attending events/membership meetings
- Percentage of STRIDE Program (immigration services) clients that become CIO members
STRATEGIES AND ACTION STEPS:
1. Create and implement leadership development programs that prepare diverse immigrant and refugee leaders to assume positions of power.
a. Refine Pan-Immigrant Leadership and Organizing Training (PILOT) program and expand the number or participants.
b. Build a shared analysis for cross-cultural organizing.
c. Provide skill-building workshops for immigrants and refugees.
d. Train immigrant and refugee members on government structure and processes, so they can serve effectively.
2. Provide opportunities for immigrant and refugee members to assume leadership roles in the organization.
a. Structure involvement opportunities at CIO and create a multi-tiered strategy to place members in committees/programs according to their ability.
b. Recruit members to work on issue campaigns and civic engagement efforts.
3. Remove barriers to civic participation for immigrant and refugee community members.
a. Provide immigration legal services to immigrant and refugee community members so that they may adjust their legal status.
b. Move immigration clients from recipients of services to members of CIO and active participants in civic activities.
4. Train immigrants and refugees to run for public office.
GOAL III. Lead solidarity and movement building among organizations advancing public policies that support immigrant and refugee rights.
Measures we’ll track:
- CIO members serving on boards, commissions and other policy advisory bodies
- Incorporation of inclusive immigrant and refugee provisions and deletions of regressive provisions in local and state policies
STRATEGIES AND ACTION STEPS:
1. Identify and fulfill unmet leadership needs in policy areas that represent the highest and best use of immigrants/refugees’ collective knowledge and voice (e.g., education equity).
a. Implement well-chosen, collaboratively sponsored educational forums with other immigrant and refugee interest groups to advance our common issues.
b. Launch issue campaigns designed to produce concrete improvement in immigrants/refugees’ lives.
2. Partner with organizations that can assist in the development of proactive policy change and help defeat regressive measures statewide.
3. Work with elected officials and Portland metro area and state bureaus to help them recruit and retain immigrants and refugees on advisory and decision-making bodies.
a. Identify strategic boards, commissions and policy advisory bodies with vacancies.
b. Publicize vacancies to immigrant and refugee leaders we have trained.
c. Provide advice and support to immigrants and refugees who are selected to serve on boards, commissions and policy advisory bodies.
GOAL IV. Build the capacity and efficacy of immigrant and refugee community based organizations and mutual assistance associations.
Measures we’ll track:
- Organizations assisted annually
- Fiscal sponsorship of emerging immigrant and refugee community-based organizations
- Number of organizations with capacity to partner on CIO actions
STRATEGIES AND ACTION STEPS:
1. Fiscally sponsor immigrant and refugee led mutual assistance associations and community-based organizations that lack basic organizational infrastructure.
a. Provide financial management assistance for selected groups.
2. Serve as immigrant and refugee groups’ conduit to potential funders and donors.
a. Help build relationships between immigrant and refugee groups and foundations/donors.
b. Share with funders best practices for working with immigrant and refugee communities (cultural competence framework).
3. Create a physical space/community center for Portland’s diverse immigrant and refugee communities to gather, communicate and organize.
4. Provide technical assistance to immigrant and refugee mutual assistance associations and community based organizations.
GOAL V. Proactively frame immigrant and refugee issues and public discourse
Measures we’ll track:
- References in the local, state and national media, including web links and online stories
- Invitations and requests to speak at local, state and national events or contribute to reports and other written publications
STRATEGIES AND ACTION STEPS:
1. Provide community-based participatory research and reports articulating a multi-ethnic immigrant and refugee rights frame that:
- Adds to discussions on immigration issues and policy;
- Illustrates the contributions that immigrants and refugees make; and
- Highlights the complexity of the immigrant and refugee experience.
2. Tell our story through strategic communications, public events and the media.
a. Provide opportunities for immigrants and refugees to tell their own stories.
b. Identify opportunities to spread CIO’s message.
c. Lead conversations on immigrant and refugee issues and solutions.
3. Represent CIO at key state, regional and national immigrant and refugee tables.
a. Identify influential state and national initiatives and participate as members.
b. Identify and cultivate partnerships with state and national organizations with complementary missions.
4. Share the multi-ethnic organizing curriculum that CIO uses in its workshops so that our successful programs can be replicated.
