University of North Florida, Community Excellence Alliance help nonprofits learn to do more with less

Like many community-service organizations, Trinity Rescue Mission was hurting.

It was 2011. The economy had not recovered from the recession. Providing food, shelter and hope for homeless people in Jacksonville was harder than ever.

“We needed help,” says Matt Heavener, Trinity’s development director.

To Trinity’s rescue came a brainy collaboration of servant leaders and college students that teaches nonprofits how to work smarter rather than harder.

Now operating in the black, Trinity’s resurgence and ability to fulfill its mission are largely a result of a Community Excellence Alliance and University of North Florida partnership, the organizations leaders say.

Using Six Sigma methodology, which embraces statistical analysis rather than guesswork for problem-solving, UNF engineering and business students team with alliance mentors to propose solutions to nonprofits’ challenges.

Read more at: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/university-north-florida-community-excellence-alliance-help-nonprofits-learn-do-more-less

Another article: https://www.jacksonville.com/current/town/2015-06-26/story/unf-six-sigma-course-empowers-nonprofits-saves-millions-funds