SERVICES OVERVIEWUrban Strategies (US), LLC is a professional service, capacity-building. project management firm.
Our operational model allows us to provide service in 3 primary service areas:
1. Research and Planning
2. Technical Assistance
3. Professional Development
We operate under 2 traditional industry identifications areas: Business Development and Workforce Strategies.
Our target market is discovered in 5 (super) sectors:
- Nonprofits,
- For-profit businesses,
- Academia,
- Government, and
- Healthcare.
Workforce Strategies Skills and Services• Primary research, including survey design, implementation, and analysis• Focus group design, facilitation, and analysis, and one-on-one interviews• Work with diverse populations• Collecting, compiling, and analyzing secondary research and best practices• Practical application of information• Facilitating social change in partnership with business• Comprehensive knowledge of workforce development • Workforce diversity and cultural competence• Program evaluation
Strategic PlanningSkills and Services• Trained in various strategic planning methods, including the Drucker Self‐Assessment Tool which is useful to encourage discussion and draw out pertinent information • Expertly facilitates staff, board members, and other groups to build consensus so that plan outcomes are not divisive, but collaborative • Collects and compiles best practices that are used to inform new strategies, benchmark the organization, and determine market niche • Conducts primary research, including survey design, implementation, and analysis, focus group design, facilitation, and analysis, and one‐on‐one interviews with a wide variety of populations • Uses knowledge of nonprofit income diversification to determine areas of revenue generation for clients as part of strategic plans Urban Strategies understands that plans are only useful if implemented, and therefore always engages a broad group of stakeholders to
obtain their input.Believing that those closest to the work understand it best, Urban Strategies takes the time to gather input from
not just those in upper management, but all staff members, customers,clients, and other community stakeholders. Every strategic
planning process begins with gathering primary and secondary research on the client and trends and best practices in their line of work.
Once input is gathered,Urban Strategies encourages clients to put aside previous ideas about what will and won’t work and consider
all the possibilities that can be pursued. Urban Strategies then develops a plan, focused on accountability, that serves as a road
map for the client to meet their goals. Most importantly, each Urban Strategies strategic plan is customized to meet the specific,
distinct needs of the client.
Urban Strategies does not employ a canned, cookiecutter approach to its assessments and strategic plans; Urban Strategies becomes familiar
with the specific business in which the client is engaged, and provides suggestions and solutions that are feasible, specific, mission‐driven, and honest.
Program EvaluationSkills and ServicesUrban Strategies is skilled in all types of program and policy evaluation. Preferring multi‐tier approaches, when evaluating a program
Urban Strategies involves all levels of management and client to develop a full picture of a program, its successes, and areas for improvement.
Urban Strategies is rigorous in their evaluation tactics, ensuring for appropriate response rates and selection and providing the utmost respect
and confidentiality to the subject.
• With the client and partners, designs an evaluation strategy that will answer relevant programmatic questions and balances cost, time, and depth of data. • Collects and compiles best practices that are used to inform new strategies and benchmark the program. • Conducts primary research, including survey design, implementation, and analysis, focus group design, facilitation, and analysis, and one‐on‐one interviews with a wide variety of populations. • Supplements primary research with other collected data to demonstrate wide program connections and opportunities for impact. • Analyzes data with an eye for areas requiring program improvements.
Collaborative Development & ManagementSkills and Services• Researches and recruits possible partners for collaborative efforts • Facilitates the decision‐making on vision and goals for the collaborative and advises and directs the implementation toward success. • Staffs the leadership with practical guidance for problem resolution and coalition‐building. • Develops and administers policies to meet the mission and objectives. • Builds trust to assist in consensus decision‐making for the project. • Designs evaluation strategies that will answer relevant programmatic questions and balances cost, time, and depth of data. • Manages contractors to provide efficient and effective services. • Identifies and solicits funding sources for collaborative efforts. • Analyzes data with an eye for areas requiring program improvements. • Supports self‐assessment with tools and training for ongoing progress. Urban Strategies is experienced in developing and managing multiple variations of councils, coalitions, collaborative and other joint projects.
With a wide range of knowledge and practice in community‐building and change management, Urban Strategies brings theory and proficiency to diverse groups. From conference and gatherings to large scale, multi‐year projects, Urban Strategies has the toolbox for success and accomplishments.
Nonprofit Income DiversificationSkills and Services• Experts in the theories, concepts, and practices evolving from nonprofit income diversification, and helping organizations to plan for and implement these practices • A keen business understanding of identifying opportunities and a passion for facilitating social change; Urban Strategies brings these two interests together in the marketplace • Business accounting and finance expertise to project accurate start up and operational costs of a social enterprise • Collect and compile best practices that are used to inform new strategies, benchmark the organization, and determine markets • Fund development experience in major donor work, grant‐writing, partnerships, and cause‐related marketing • Conduct primary research, including survey design, implementation, and analysis, focus group design, facilitation, and analysis, and one‐on‐one interviews with a wide variety of populations • Experienced in business planning and plan writing • Provide implementation assistance and evaluation to keep the client on track in achieving the Recognizing that for most of our non‐profit clients, excessive reliance on any one funding source is risky,
Urban Strategies is always looking for ways that our clients can diversify funding through fee‐for‐service or
other revenue generating approaches. Urban Strategies has worked with numerous clients to devise strategies
for income generation by applying business principles. Karen Gotzler , Urban Strategies COO, served on the
Core Team for The Denali Initiative, a social enterprise development project of Manchester Craftsman’s Guild,
a 3‐year national fellowship program for executive directors funded by Kauffman and Kellogg Foundations in
the mid‐1990’s. She continues to teach at UWM School for Continuing Education and consult around the country on
social enterprise and nonprofit income diversification.
Cultural Competence & DiversitySkills and Services• Broad base of knowledge regarding trends in cultural competence and workforce diversity • Ability to develop specific curricula and training modules for a number of occupations and institutions • Experts in conducting primary research, including survey design, implementation, and analysis, focus group design, facilitation, and analysis, and one‐on‐one interviews with a wide variety of populations • Possess a keen business understanding with a passion for facilitating social change, and able to bring these two interests together in the marketplace through effective communication and persuasion Urban Strategies has a staff as diverse as the City. This small, personable staff makes up the multi‐cultural,
multi‐talented heart that defines Urban Strategies, allowing the organization to successfully and knowledgably
distribute products and services to and in regards to a diverse marketplace. Urban Strategies brings a broad
and unique perspective to each project. Experience from the business world, nonprofit management and
government service means Urban Strategies not only understands and values theory, but can take it a
step further to apply it to real organizations. Thanks to this diverse background and a passion for projects
with social impact, Urban Strategies is uniquely positioned to assist organizations in their endeavors to
meet a double bottom line of mission and money.