Tower Grove Neighborhoods: A Case Study of the Consolidation of Three Community Development Corporations
As Karl Guenther described the research paper to me, we both felt it could be helpful to other, similar organizations, struggling financially and with capacity issues to consider consolidation to create a larger service area and to leverage funds to become more appealing and flexible for future grant opportunities. Please see the research paper link below. Thanks the the Board members of all three organizations for working together and for taking a leap of faith to best ensure community development activities continue in Southwest Garden, Shaw, and Tower Grove South neighborhoods for years to come. Thanks to Karl Guenther, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Todd Swanstrom, University of Missouri–St Louis, and Rachel Hanks, University of Missouri-St. Louis for taking the time to investigate, understand, document and publicize our consolidation of Southwest Garden Housing Corp, Grand Oak Hill Community Corporation and Shaw Housing Corporation. Thanks to the Community Builders Network for starting "Better Together" meetings and conversations between organizations in close proximity. And thanks to Alderman Conway and Alderwoman Florida for leading discussions between organizations and informing each of the upcoming changes in CDBG funding that were, at the time, critical to survival.
Sean Spencer Executive Director Tower Grove Neighborhoods CDC
From UMSL:
Public Policy
Research that result in policy recommendations that strengthen the capacity of decision makers in government, philanthropy, business, and nonprofit sectors to create whole communities.
Tower Grove Neighborhoods: A Case Study of the Consolidation of Three Community Development Corporations by Karl Guenther, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Todd Swanstrom, University of Missouri–St Louis, and Rachel Hanks, University of Missouri-St. Louis. This report examines the causes and effects of the merger of three community development corporations (CDCs) in St. Louis. After analyzing the environmental factors that pressured the CDCs to consolidate, the study identifies key factors that made the merger possible and discusses the benefits of consolidation.