STRATEGIC PLAN 2024 – 2026
INTRODUCING LMM’S STRATEGIC PLAN
Letter from the LMM Leadership
LMM is embarking on a new chapter! The LMM 2024-2026 Strategic Plan sets forth our vision for the evolution of the agency, and the impact we expect to make over the next few years.
The plan was developed through a highly leveraged process and represents input from stakeholders across LMM and beyond – staff, board, service partners, civic and business leaders. Throughout the process, we challenged ourselves to address key questions about our identity, how to position LMM for increased impact, and ways to authentically embrace our founding values.
The result is a commitment to elevate our efforts to provide solutions that address some of the most complex social issues of our time. Our commitment to provide safety net services remains, as we also focus on upstream solutions and breaking down those obstacles that too often hold people back not only from accessing the most basic needs, but also from realizing their dreams.
LMM is poised to meet the call to be a community leader in social services and civic engagement, and we invite you to join our efforts.
Yours in partnership,
Diane Stack
CHAIR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Maria A. Foschia
PRESIDENT & CEO
They work with the most needy and vulnerable people in the community to help them take the next step in their lives.
MISSION + VISION + VALUES
Inspired by our Lutheran faith tradition and our commitment to act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly.
OUR MISSION IS...
To challenge injustices faced by those who are oppressed, forgotten, and hurting by providing responsive solutions, voice and hope.
We will continue to be responsive to the community, both by providing immediate needs, through safety net programs, and continuing to innovate to find solutions.
Our work “on the ground” listening to those we serve will inform our civic engagement priorities and push for public policy change.
OUR VISION IS...
Everyone can thrive in a community of dignity and respect.
Our vision reflects our desired end state, and defines why we exist, what we are most passionate about, and the impact we aspire to achieve over the long term.
OUR VALUES ARE...
Dignity
Respect
Acceptance
Justice
Excellence
STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Each of our three major goal areas highlights LMM’s commitment to our values, with our mission woven throughout.
GOAL 1:
EMPOWERING SERVICES
Our goal is to be an accepting organization committed to offering comprehensive programs that respond to people in crisis, provide stability, and create pathways forward.
HOUSING & SHELTER
Objective
To decrease length of stay and incidence of shelter by increasing affordable housing options.
Strategies
- Expand shelter rapid-exit strategies through partnerships with landlords and others in the community.
- Grow LMM’s affordable housing footprint and remove obstacles to housing.
- Innovate, pilot, and replicate!
YOUTH RESILIENCY SERVICES
Objective
To invest in upstream solutions that prevent and end homelessness for youth and young adults.
Strategies
- Strengthen life skills and trauma informed services in the shelter and independent living programs.
- Implement new approaches to reach transition age youth in need of assistance, including the Youth Drop-In Center, navigation services, and housing supports.
GUARDIANSHIP SERVICES
Objective
To maintain the high quality, essential services and secure additional resources for those in need in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties.
Strategies
- Prioritize services to those most vulnerable in our aging community.
- Ensure manageable case loads for staff guardians and volunteers.
- Be a voice for adequate government funding to meet growth in demand for this service.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Objective
To place people in living wage jobs by providing credentialed vocational training that meets job market demand through a sustainable financial strategy.
Strategies
- Design/implement Building Maintenance & Repair program.
- Maximize LMM’s social enterprises.
- Research training needs of young adults
OFFICE OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Objective
To be informed by the lived experiences of participants and staff to position LMM to engage, educate, and empower their voices in public policy.
Strategies
- Create and share educational materials related to LMM’s civic-engagement priorities with stakeholders.
- Engage former participants to share stories of lived experience.
- Provide forums and engagement opportunities with elected officials and other key decision makers.
CASE MANAGEMENT & WRAPAROUND SERVICES
Objective
To support individuals and families to achieve long-term stability by providing holistic, wrap around services.
Strategies
- Develop mechanisms to more fully support participants 6 – 12 months after they exit a program.
- Secure sustainable funding streams to increase our capacity across all program areas.
- Explore opportunities to engage volunteer coaches and mentors.
GOAL 2:
INVITING WORKPLACE
Our goal is to become a workplace of choice that supports, connects, and strengthens a dedicated and caring team that represents the community we serve.
It is amazing to have staff who can actually relate to us and give us something to look forward to and to show us we have the potential to be normal members of the community
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & GROWTH
Objective
To provide opportunities for skill building and professional development that support staff to reach their full potential and contribute to organizational success.
Strategies
- Leadership development training for greater managerial effectiveness and succession planning.
- Expanded professional development training and experiences for all staff.
- Continuing education on mission focused topics.
RECRUITMENT & RETENTION
Objective
To establish a stable, engaged, and committed workforce.
Strategies
- Market analysis to ensure competitive salaries across all positions.
- Explore additional supports to help staff partners navigate challenges and achieve improved work/life balance.
- Implement new tools and systems for performance goal setting, evaluation and rewarding excellence.
COMMUNICATION & EDUCATION
Objective
To ensure staff are well informed and connected through timely and transparent communication.
Strategies
- Offer staff partners opportunities for cross departmental exposure and other learning.
- Improve internal communication through employing various methods including electronic, in-person and special all-staff events to strengthen information flow to and from the front lines.
BOARD & DEVELOPMENT GROWTH
Objective
To cultivate a balanced and skilled board who are representative of the community.
Strategies
- Identify background and skill gaps and establish goals to achieve a Board which better reflects the community.
- Develop the Board’s ability to build connections and seek resources to maximize the organization’s impact.
GOAL 3:
ELEVATED PRESENCE
Our goal is to be a respected and recognized leader that is supported by the community to advance effective solutions to complex social issues.
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Objective
To influence public policy to remove obstacles for people LMM serves.
Strategies
- Ensure LMM has a strong and consistent presence at the city, county, and state levels.
- Leverage strategic partnerships with coalitions, ecumenical partners, and others who share LMM’s vision.
- Define and clearly articulate LMM’s view on human rights.
FUNDING
Objective
To increase unrestricted revenue to support programming
and staff.
Strategies
- Utilize moves management to increase revenues from individual donors.
- Leverage already established connections to businesses and corporations to increase corporate funding.
- Expand government funding for safety net and new opportunity areas.
BRANDING, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Objective
To improve community understanding and recognition of LMM.
Strategies
- Plan for the rebrand of the organization as “LMM” and ensure a cohesive approach.
- Update messaging to align with new Mission, Vision, Values.
- Board, staff and volunteers are Brand Ambassadors.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Objective
To have an active and engaged presence in multiple sectors.
Strategies
- Engage new sector partners in support of strategic goals.
- Identify opportunities for staff, participants, and allies to tell our story and elevate civic engagement priorities.
They are growing their presence locally. If you’re a Clevelander, you likely know LMM.
As we implement strategies over the course of three years, we have our sights set on not only providing basic needs, but really moving the needle in the following ways:
- Affordable housing as a solution to homelessness
- Living wage jobs as the means to financial stability
- Meaningful changes to public policy at the local and regional level that remove obstacles to success for individuals and families
Keep your sights set on LMM to follow along as we implement our strategic plan.
You can help us in our endeavors by sharing our content, volunteering, making a meaningful gift, or simply cheering us on as we uplift this plan as the game-changers we always aim to be.
STRATEGIC PLANNING TASK FORCE
BOARD
Liz Pretzlav, Chairperson
Workforce Development/
Executive & Program Committees
Mike Emch
Civic Engagement Committee
Grayson Sieg
Executive, Finance, and
Housing & Shelter/BNG Committees
Kris Nunn
Governance Committee
Pastor Angela Freeman
Executive and Governance Committees/
Pastoral Representative
STAFF
Maria Foschia, Co-Chair
CEO/Executive Administration
Michael Sering
Chief Program Officer
Stephanie Brown
Vice President, Human Resources/
Melanie Haas
Guardianship Services
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ms. Diane M. Stack, Chair
Mr. Grayson Sieg, Vice Chair
Ms. Elizabeth Pretzlav, Secretary
Mr. Brent Horvath, Treasurer
Ms. Alonda Bush
Mr. Michael Dearden
Mr. Frank Edmonds III
Mr. Mike Emch
Rev. Angela Freeman
Ms. Linda Jungeberg
Dr. Reza Khoramshahi
Ms. Nicole McGee
Ms. Kathleen Nitschke
Mr. Adam J. Phillip
Dr. Beth Sersig
Ms. Khalida Sims Jackson
Rev. Ryan Wallace
Mr. Vashon Williams
Rev. Charlie Woodward