Our website does a decent job at explaining the what, but we wanted to drop a post for each of our programs explaining the why.
There are a number of reasons we’re starting the We Connect program: to fill a void, to provide rewarding experiences for talented young professionals, to address common issues plaguing nonprofits (this list goes on and on).  The main reason however is that we feel we can execute it successfully.  And, successful execution of the program will benefit individuals, nonprofits, and ultimately the community.
Over the last two years we have been approached by people who wanted to get more involved in philanthropy.  Given the economic climate, many of these individuals were more interested in finding ways to give their time rather than (or in addition to) their money.  During this same period, we’ve met with countless nonprofit organizations with a laundry list of problems that they would love to get resolved.   GoodSpark connects the dots and ensures that it’s a mutually beneficial experience.
One other thing we wanted to point out is that GoodSpark believes in collaboration, and this program is no exception.  Our friends at Social Venture Partners Denver have been an invaluable resource in helping us structure this program.  They have a mature model and member base that use their business expertise to take a strategic role in addressing our community’s challenges.  Their crew focuses on building the long-term success of nonprofits in the Denver area and learning about philanthropy.  The main difference (and one of the reasons our programs complement each other so nicely) is that they focus on the strategic, and we focus on the tactical.
We share a lot of the same values and goals, and we hope to see the relationship grow between our two organizations.