WHO WE ARE

The purpose of Root Cause is to foster effective collaboration. Through intentional facilitation and collaboration, we foster greater effectiveness within and between nonprofits and their ecosystems. We do this work in ways that show care for the people involved, with an intention to improve their skills, build the capacity of organizations, and maximize the use of limited resources. We are spacemakers, designers, implementers and practical partners working to carefully organize the work of diverse groups, organizations, and people toward a greater good.

WHAT WE DO

With skilled and inclusive facilitation, we plan and lead group engagements including design and implementation of:

• Retreats for organizations and coalitions
• Sessions on equity and systemic change
• Listening sessions for stakeholders that meaningfully inform (what’s next) the work

We lead cohort-based learning opportunities such as:

• Collaboration for Impact Cohorts (i.e. collective action, nonprofit coalitions, funder collaboratives, etc.) 
• Grantee communities of practice
• Funder communities of practice 
• Capacity building for social change, impact, coalition building, managing change, continuous improvement, and more.
• Learning series, convenings, and workshops

With innovation and practical partnership, we offer strategic design and implementation in order to build new or improve existing collaborative and/or strategic efforts.

We help organizations with learning and improvement that centers the communities at the core of their work including: 

• Strategic learning and evaluation frameworks
• Change management processes
• Capacity building and technical assistance

WHY WE DO IT

Nonprofits and public agencies that work to provide and improve quality public health, education, and economic mobility are working in uncertain conditions and with limited resources. In order to meet the needs of the moment, nonprofits, public agencies, and their funders need partners who can help them collaborate, build capacity by improving skills to address challenges, and build their resilience. Root Cause is here to play that role.

OUR TEAM

Root Cause has been called “a catalyst for the nonprofit sector,” “suited for groups really committed to change,” and “purpose-driven consultants.” (We have also been called “amazing humans,” —we’re pretty proud of that one!) 

Our team has decades of professional and lived experience in many social issue areas, including: health and well-being; education and youth development; and economic mobility. For every project, we tap into our collective wisdom—gained through work in nonprofit direct service as well as from the government, philanthropic, and corporate sectors. We bring a diverse set of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to bear on our strategy, collective action, and continuous learning and improvement work.  Our skill set includes strategic advising, coaching, facilitation, research and analysis, data collection, performance measurement, assessment and evaluation, program design, relationship development and management, project management, and hands-on implementation support.

COMMITMENT TO RACIAL AND ECONOMIC EQUITY & JUSTICE

ROOT CAUSE BELIEVES IN THE RIGHTS OF ALL HUMANS to have access to basic needs such as food, shelter, and healthcare; we also believe in their right to safety, and their right to thrive in loving and well-resourced communities. Over our history, our clients and partners have primarily focused on those rights and needs and our success is pinned to theirs through our support of their work…

Read the full statement here

Root Cause is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Our EIN# is 20-0703238