The Challenge:
Affinity Mentoring, a non-profit providing in-person, school-based mentoring, was transitioning away from its primary community partner and funder. At the same time, COVID-19 protocols and long-term remote school required all programming, including mentoring, fundraising, and organizational management, to transition to a remote and hybrid model in a matter of months.
Organization: Affinity Mentoring (Nonprofit)
Duration: May 2020 – May 2022 (24 months)
The Approach:
Applied principles of Universal Design, Change Management, and overall organizational resilience and adaptability to respond and thrive in crisis and transition:
- Pruned and focused organizational goals and outcomes through a rigorous, community-driven strategic plan and mission update.
- Refocused internal resources to support internal strength and resilience before building externally.
- Utilized asset-based development principles to put student and parent voices and Community goals and needs at the forefront of the work.
- Improved data collection and evaluation processes to provide qualitative and quantitative answers each year of the outcomes of our work, sharing them back to the community.
- Built internal processes, procedures and tools to track our steps and keep our work aligned to our mission.
The Results:
- North Star identification and clarify: New Mission & Vision created by staff.
- COVID-19 state compliance: Successfully transition to virtual, hybrid, and COVID-safe in-person programming.
- Sustainable funding: Increased donor base and the creation of three COVID-safe fundraisers and events, with a 25% increase in funding in one year (2020-2021 to 2021-2022) and significant increase in foundation and corporate financial partnerships.
- Data-driven results: Improved outcomes for students participating in programming across all measures.
- Organizational growth and person-centered support: Hired two additional staff and all previous part time staff increased to full time, two staff received promotions, and all staff now received benefits; increased staff benefits, wellness offerings, and professional development opportunities; 50% growth in the number of individuals on our Board of Directors.
Crisis does not necessarily mean conflict or failure. When organizations and leaders are intentional in caring for people while building fiercely resilient systems, crisis can give rise to growth.
Cassandra is an exceptional leader who is organized, thoughtful, and transparent in all she does. She has a way of making those around her feel inspired and motivated to work together toward a collective goal and that is reflected in the results she produces. She is truly an asset to any organization she chooses to be a part of!
Frank Acosta, Jr.
Cassandra is one of the best leaders I have worked with. She is organized, professional, kind, articulate, and thoughtful. As a board member, it was a joy to come to meetings each week.
Cassandra has an uncanny knack to get to the heart of what matters—and helps others to get there too. She is a decisive leader who relies strongly on data and uses her emotional intelligence to create buy-in at the team level. I have nothing but respect and admiration for her—she will be such an asset to whatever organization is lucky enough to scoop her up!
Malaina Snyder
Cassandra has great leadership skills. She is very DEI focused and inspires as well as empowers her staff. She is very knowledgeable and loves to pour her knowledge into others. I love that she’s bilingual, her Spanish is perfect!
Keyla Araujo
Cassandra is a passionate leader who encourages and supports growth in herself as well as her team. She’s a fierce advocate for equity and social justice and seeks out collaborative opportunities for change.
Rae Lynn Humphreys
Cassandra was my field placement supervisor for my MSW, at Affinity Mentoring. She was supportive, engaging, and challenging. She introduced me to many concepts within management I had never heard of before, and always encouraged me to try out new ideas. She was flexible, patient, and understanding. I would work with her again in a heartbeat.
Lauren Enos, LMSW
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