Alliance for Children and Families member St. Aemilian-Lakeside, Milwaukee, benefits greatly from the leadership and support of a very active 16-member board, says Ann Umhoefer, chief administrative officer. As part of the agency’s annual strategic planning process, board members help St. Aemilian-Lakeside solicit feedback through interviews with at least a dozen organizational stakeholders, including funders, other nonprofit leaders, and school district officials.
The goal of each interview is to engage a stakeholder in conversation to:
gain insight into their perception of the future of St. Aemilian-Lakeside, especially as it relates to the current economy’s impact on the human services field;
learn about their business challenges and opportunities; and
talk about St. Aemilian-Lakeside’s role in the delivery of services to children and families.
In 2008, the agency’s management team developed 12 standard questions to be addressed during stakeholder interviews. Among them were:
What trends do you think will impact service delivery for children and families?
What new initiatives do you have planned for the next 1-3 years?
If someone asked you to briefly describe St. Aemilian-Lakeside, what would you say?
Who are St. Aemilian-Lakeside’s competitors?
What type of client outcomes are most critical to show success of services provided by St. Aemilian-Lakeside?
How can St. Aemilian-Lakeside be more innovative?
Do you have any suggestions on how St. Aemilian-Lakeside can continue to develop its cultural competency?
View the entire list of interview questions as a PDF.
