Sustainability Definitions

Leadership
Leadership roles can be held by individuals or groups, which take primary responsibility to create change by guiding/facilitating the process towards intended outcomes. This role might be filled by a project director, members of an advisory group, partners, or members of the community

Evaluation
Evaluation is a process that assesses the effectiveness of a program in achieving its goals and/or objectives. Evaluation produces data that can be used for sustainability efforts as well as program improvement.

Capacity-Building
Capacity-building entails identifying and creating resources that will improve the program infrastructure, enable continued delivery of activities and/or services (e.g., design a database system, train-the-trainer program, expanding staff and leadership skills, instituting new ways to approach decision-making).

Financing
Funding for people, programs, and processes may come from foundation grants, business or corporate contributions, revenue or fee development, or tapping into local, state or federal funding.

Partnerships and Collaboration
Individuals and groups that reflect the community and can work jointly towards a shared vision.

Communications/Marketing
Communication/marketing strategies targeting participants, community members, stakeholders, and decision-makers provide key information about the program's services and impact

Strategic Planning
Long range planning involves linking identified goals and objectives that are based on assessed needs to action plans that are regularly reviewed and adjusted. A strategic plan is a "roadmap" of long- and short-range strategies, activities, and timelines.

Self-Assessment
A set of questions about the eight sustainability strategies that will help you assess where you need to focus sustainability work.

Sustainability
A quality of programs and projects; characteristics of how a program is implemented that assures the ongoing support of program goals and achievement of program outcomes.