Your goals are our goals.
No two engagements are the same.
SFG Strategies is committed to treating every engagement like it’s our only one. Your goals become our goals. We provide personalized attention and the highest caliber of expertise in order to deliver measurable return on investment for the people and communities you serve.
Some client highlights:
First Connections
The challenge: Childhood food insecurity in parts of rural Southeastern Virginia is nearly 28%. A coalition of early childhood advocates and funders in the region wanted to address this issue head on.
The engagement: SFG Strategies was first hired to perform a regional food system analysis and to work alongside the coalition to develop a three-year food security plan. Equity and long-term sustainability were at its core. Next we were asked to help formalize the strategic partnerships that were critical to the plan and to write grant proposals to secure the financial resources needed for implementation.
The results: We secured the funding necessary for three years and were subsequently engaged to create an evaluation plan and oversee the launch of the pilot. Now four years later, the partners are still collaborating, and the program is reliably reaching of preschool-age children and their families with healthy food — while also supporting locally owned fresh food outlets in a rural area where there are limited food options.
Rhode Island Food Policy Council
The challenge: After years as a fiscally sponsored network, the Rhode Island Food Policy Council sought to determine the best path forward to sustainably grow its capacity and impact.
The engagement: SFG Strategies was brought on to chart a three-year organizational development plan, taking a deep look at governance, staffing, and network structure. We also developed a funding strategy and multi-year road map for deepened engagement and revenue diversification, including extensive prospect research. Finally, we helped roll out the plan to build consensus for it across the state-wide coalition.
The results: RIFPC moved forward with many of the organization-level recommendations around structure and governance, and successfully grew its revenue base. An independent nonprofit, the organization has become one of the largest food policy councils nationally, and SFG Strategies has been engaged multiple other times to support the organization with program design and fund development.
Capital Impact Partners
The challenge: One of the largest and most innovative community development financial institutions nationally, Capital Impact Partners aimed to make a deeper impact on hunger and economic development where it is headquartered, the Washington, D.C. metro area. They first needed to assess the market opportunity for financing and business supports as a means to advance inclusive food systems across the region.
The engagement: SFG Strategies developed the blueprint for a social impact fund that uses capital, technical assistance, and network development to equitably build wealth and health in under-invested communities in the D.C. area. We utilized quantitative and qualitative data and stakeholder engagement to assess the food enterprise market, chart the strategy, identify partners, establish impact evaluation metrics, and define the fund's financial requirements. We also developed a pipeline of projects with capital needs as diverse as $25,000 and $7 million.
The results: The fund launched as Nourish DC in 2021, a seven-way partnership between community lenders and technical assistance providers. In four years, the partners have deployed more than $19 million in financing, nearly $1 million in grants, and served about 1,300 businesses with financing, grants, mentorship, trainings, and more. Due to the high demand for Nourish DC and the success of the collaborative structure, SFG Strategies was iteratively engaged by Capital Impact Partners to assess the feasibility of expansion.
The Global Good Fund
The challenge: A social impact accelerator, venture capital impact fund, and associated consulting arm, The Global Good Fund’s impact is far-reaching yet had been difficult to measure and clearly communicate.
The engagement: GGF engaged SFG Strategies to help better quantify their impact and tell their story. We started by creating an organization-wide theory of change and logic model with KPIs to concretely demonstrate how all three branches (accelerator, fund, and consulting) fit together. We then created standardized evaluation tools to quantify the impact of their resources, as well as a model for case studies that brings that impact to life. Together, we also transitioned all fundraising and communications materials to an impact-first framework and developed a new brand identity to reflect the organization’s scope.
The results: GGF can now articulate a cohesive, evidence-based narrative that links its accelerator, venture fund, and consulting practice to measurable outcomes. The organization is positioned to demonstrate its value with far greater clarity. A rebrand is under way, and a new website is under development, so stay tuned!
“Sharon becomes a true thought partner, listening intently and sharing her objective perspective and deep expertise. Her leadership on strategy and impact measurement are tremendous contributions to our long-term growth.”
— CARRIE RICH, CEO + CO-FOUNDER, GLOBAL GOOD FUND; MANAGING PARTNER, GLOBAL IMPACT FUND
