Nonprofit Consortium of St. Croix (USVI)

As we are now firmly in the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season, and withweather events increasing in both frequency and severity across the globe, St. Croix Foundation is more mindful than ever before about what true “Community Resilience” looks like. Resilience is, of course, supported by policy, funding, and programs – but in truth, these are all tools, and our ability to wield them with effectiveness and with humanity lies in the collective, connected relationships within a localized community ecosystem.

Today, whether the crisis is natural, economic, political, or social, when a disaster hits, each community contracts into its own little island. The truth of this is seen in what unfolded in each city around the globe during the COVID Pandemic. And so, as today’s climate (natural and human-made) is rife with uncertainty, SCF and our Nonprofit Consortium are actively strengthening our local civic ecosystem.

This summer, St. Croix Foundation’s Nonprofit Consortium (NPC) will celebrate nine years of fostering collaboration, innovation, and sustainable community development! Our Consortium, born in the wake of an economic crisis when St. Croix’s largest employer closed its doors, developed new systems in response to the 2017 Hurricanes, which were put to the test in 2020 – and passed it with flying colors - during the pandemic. Since 2016, the Consortium has advocated publicly for the reinstatement of critical local government dollars for our healthcare nonprofit providers, created new systems of information dissemination and communication around environmental and public health, and leveraged scarce grant dollars to find and reach more of our People.

Current Work and Activities in the Past Quarter
This past quarter has been marked by growth and renewal within our Nonprofit Consortium. Demonstrating its enduring value and impact, the Consortium has been focused on solidifying its foundation through membership renewal and strategic expansion.

In just the past few months, our Consortium convened 10 times, facilitating crucial dialogues and collaborative initiatives, and reactivating our Advisory Council. The Council revised the Consortium’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to build additional structure around membership, enhancing our collective capacity to address community needs and providing clearer processes for joining. We are also proud to welcome five new members to the Consortium, each bringing unique expertise and a shared dedication to our mission.

A highlight of this quarter was our special session on July 14^th, featuring the El Paso Community Foundation (EPCF). This meeting, titled "Field Voices: Strategies and Stories from El Paso, Texas," provided invaluable insights into the El Paso ecosystem and explored the role of the El Paso Community Foundation within their localized ecosystem. This peer exchange fostered cross-learning and identified best practices that could be adapted to the unique context of St. Croix.

Looking to the (Very Near) Future!
Looking ahead, we are excited to announce a joint Summit in early August, bringing together our KIDS COUNT work in the Virgin Islands and the Nonprofit Consortium to harness the diverse community genius and wealth that already exists in the territory. This summit, themed "Harnessing Community Genius, Co-Designing System Bypasses," will be held from August 4th to 6th and will feature a one-of-a-kind workshop led by global change leader Tuesday Rivera from The Outside.

This collaborative event will bring together community members to share ideas, nurture partnerships, and co-design support systems and safety nets for our families and children. By weaving together community wisdom and fostering collaborative action, we are confident that this Summit will catalyze innovative solutions and strengthen the fabric of our community. As we continue to navigate the complexities of our time, the St. Croix Foundation and the Nonprofit Consortium remain committed to building a resilient, equitable, and thriving St. Croix for all.

Over the past nine years, SCF and our Nonprofit Consortium members have intentionally developed muscle around collaboration that goes far beyond a single project or memorandum of understanding – in fact, our NPC is itself bypassing entrenched systems and demonstrating that sustained, true community resilience lies firmly in the hands and in the power of collective action.

This past February, love was in the air as St. Croix Foundation hosted its 7th Annual Philanthropy Retreat with love at the core of the convening—love for community, for philanthropy, and for our beautiful island home. Entitled, “Experience the Power of Islands of Innovation: A Living Laboratory of Philanthropy Rooted in Place,” the Retreat began on February 14, 2025, gathering senior leadership from eight national philanthropies and our Nonprofit Consortium for a transformative three-day experience centered on the values of our Nonprofit Consortium: collaboration, trust, and the preservation and resilience of St. Croix’s People and Place.

Navigating Philanthropic Landscapes

In today’s complex and rapidly changing environment, isolated communities often face significant challenges due to scarce resources - and are forced to hone skills around collaboration, resilience, and innovation that are forged in deep partnerships. At our Annual Philanthropy Retreat this past February, the Consortium led discussions that highlighted the importance of coalition building for strengthening community ties, which nurtures essential trust and strengthens both individual organizations and the collective. And, by honoring St. Croix’s vibrant cultural heritage, our Nonprofit Consortium underscored the importance of aligning nonprofit initiatives with community values to create genuine connections that last and initiatives that are sustainable.

Throughout the convening, conversations revolved around developing equity-based sustainability solutions—such as food security and cross-sector collaboration, particularly between the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The importance of self-care was also emphasized, prompting leaders to prioritize their well-being to maintain their commitment to community service.

In the seven years since the Foundation and our Nonprofit Consortium launched the Philanthropy Retreat, over 30 national Foundations have visited  St. Croix amplifying the work and impact of the Nonprofit Consortium to national funders.  This year the Foundation and Nonprofit Consortium members hosted the following national organizations: El Paso Community Foundation, Enterprise Community Partners, Future Good, Kataly Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, Mellon Foundation, and One Eleuthera Foundation.

The Power of Collaboration: A Nonprofit Consortium Case Study

On Day 2 of the Retreat, Nonprofit Consortium members led a lively panel, sharing their experiences of growth and collaboration since 2016, when the Consortium was first launched. The discussion began with an exploration of trust issues that arose from early discussions around funding, which were alleviated when the work pivoted to emphasize relationship-building, vulnerability, and ultimately, shared values among its members.

Panelists also delved deeply into how St. Croix serves as an island of innovation, highlighting the importance of being grounded and rooted in local culture to drive impact. They noted that St. Croix’s rich historical context allows for different approaches, fostering innovative solutions tailored to community needs. And because the work is rooted in community, in People and Place, it is also sustainable for the long-term with the potential to become a bonafide new system of support.

Participants also articulated their needs from the philanthropic sector, including calls for flexible funding, improved representation for the Virgin Islands, and increased access to essential resources such as land, legal assistance, and networking opportunities. 

Future Forward Thinking

As St. Croix Foundation and the Nonprofit Consortium look to the future, we think back on a key question posed by our Keynote Speaker: What does the future look like without barriers? The President and CEO of Future Good’s keynote address, “Future of Philanthropy,”  opened with this thought-provoking question and continued on to advise that future thinking was a critical skill for leaders and asked the attendees to design their work with the future in mind. She then discussed her model for the Future of Philanthropy and gave pointers for “future-proofing” organizations, a strategy that helps to minimize the impact of global, economic, and political changes on individuals and organizations. The keynote sparked dynamic discussions about the necessity of future thinking, with the President of Future Good stating, unequivocally, that the Nonprofit Consortium of St. Croix had already, in many ways, done the work needed to meet the challenges of today - and tomorrow.

As the retreat closed, participants gathered for a reflective session that reinforced their collective commitment to the Nonprofit Consortium's values and strategy. This shared experience left attendees inspired and united in their vision, motivated by the love that binds us all—a love that drives us to nurture our community, innovate collaboratively, and sustain our cultural legacy.

St. Croix Foundation would like to thank GlobalGiving for helping to support the Nonprofit Consortium to forge the path we are on today.  We continue to make the case for broader support and access to resources, even if it’s as simple as including the U.S. Virgin Islands in the drop-down box for participation!

We hope you’ll continue to follow the remarkable story of the Nonprofit Consortium and stay the course with us!