Check out the helpful tips that our members shared at this quarter’s NCN member Roundtables:
1. Event spaces and convenings can generate tenant-partner leads.
Does your center include an event space or conference rooms as part of its amenity lineup? Many centers do and often make them available to their tenant-partners and sometimes the public. If looking to fill vacant space in your center, make the most of these amenities and consider hosting convenings of nonprofit organizations. This can be a great way to increase traffic and introduce potential tenants to your space. An in-person, first-hand experience in a community space can be impactful for both you and a potential tenant-partner!
2. Small but mighty organizations lean into collaboration.
Many nonprofits are stretched thin when delegating resources and striving to deliver on their mission. Identifying aligned partnerships can help grow your pool of resources. Likewise, if an aligned partner is better positioned to meet a need, directing resources to them can help you both move the needle on mission-centered work. When identifying possible partnerships or collaboration opportunities, focus on the community or client you serve and work backwards – who else can support this demographic and how can we work together? It’s always worth considering, “who else can be at the table?”
3. Create “sticky” spaces to boost engagement.
Looking to promote engagement and collaboration in your space? Think about designing “sticky” spaces that get folks to stay, chat, and connect. This might be a small café or communal coffee area, or a casual lounge space setup for co-working. Consider the flow of traffic in your facility (mailboxes, community boards, etc.) and add your sticky space nearby to promote low-stakes interaction. Connecting in person can build valuable relationships and be energizing for partners and your environment.
4. Consider back-office support to offer more value.
An option for increasing your space’s value proposition to potential tenant-partners is adding back-office support. This might look like accounting, HR, legal, marketing, or IT services that your tenant organizations can individually utilize. These might be services offered “in-house” or through coordination with an outside vendor. From fiscal sponsorship to à la carte administrative services, there are many ways you can explore back-office support in your shared space.
5. Win-win: Featuring programmatic work and placemaking.
Be open to opportunities to showcase programmatic work from your tenant-partners to both support their efforts and as a placemaking project for your center. For example, displaying artwork from a youth program can generate greater interest in that program for your partner, and create a positive, creative atmosphere for those working in and visiting your space. Perhaps a tenant wants to establish a vegetable or cut-flower garden. Again, this might be a great way to promote a program in action, and a positive addition to your community space landscape.