Date
Winter 12-4-2025
ESRP 9000 Professor
Sandy Underhill, Ed.D.
ESRP 9001 Professor
Sandy Underhill, Ed.D.
Executive Summary
Executive Summary
A Strategic Approach: Building Strategic Partnerships to Address Financial Constraints Through Community-Focused Financial Wellness Education. Kimberly Pierce, 2025: Strategic Research Project, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. Keywords: community wellness education, faith-based organizations, financial sustainability, quantitative strategic planning matrix (QSPM), rural churches, strategic partnerships.
This strategic research project employs a mixed-methods approach, drawing on existing literature to support strategic decision-making, utilizing quantitative analytical tools to provide numerical measures. The research was designed to provide actionable solutions for financial challenges impacting the long-term sustainability of Raining Manna Christian Center, a non-denominational church serving a rural community in Southwest Mississippi. A comprehensive strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats analysis identified 40 internal and external factors, with limited revenue sources and reliance on traditional giving methods emerging as a key external concern. Further assessment revealed that rural churches often face economic limitations among members, geographic isolation, and insufficient partnership with community organizations. After evaluating four strategic options, building strategic partnerships was selected as the most effective solution to enhance financial sustainability and expand community impact. This approach aligns with the church’s mission and leverages its relational strengths to address systemic financial barriers.
A quantitative strategic planning matrix confirmed that community-focused financial wellness education was the most attractive implementation strategy, earning an overall total attractiveness score of 6.14, compared to 4.29 for the digital giving alternative. The strategy involves forming partnerships with local credit unions, certified financial planners, and nonprofit financial counseling services to deliver targeted financial education. A five-step action plan includes identifying participants, developing a curriculum, hosting monthly workshops, establishing a financial resource center, and providing ongoing support systems over a 12-month period. Expected outcomes include four strategic partnerships, five trained volunteer facilitators, ten participants per workshop cohort, and measurable improvements in financial literacy and capability. Key recommendations include adopting a phased capacity-building approach that first establishes foundational partnerships before pursuing advanced government funding streams. Organizations should focus on systematic volunteer recruitment and training, creating clear pathways for program participants to move into volunteer leadership roles. The administrative infrastructure and capacity must develop alongside program implementation to ensure preparedness for expanding funding opportunities. This strategic approach demonstrates that financial sustainability emerges when community service and organizational capacity align through authentic relationship-building and evidence-based programming.
Document Type
Strategic Research Project-NSU Access Only
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
College
Abraham S. Fischler College of Education
Concentration
Higher Education Leadership
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Kimberly Pierce. 2025. A Strategic Approach: Building Strategic Partnerships to Address Financial Constraints Through Community-Focused Financial Wellness Education. Capstone. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education. (474)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/fse_srp/474.