We believe firmly in the guiding principle that being a non-profit is a tax status, not an excuse to run poorly as a business. Our mentoring programs and support services help break the cycle of poverty through education and empowerment. We have even more of a responsibility as a business to run efficiently and with greater impact because lives depend on us.
I was fortunate enough to participate in the MAP Executive Leadership Program in 2011 and, as a result, was able to transform my organization into one of the premier Boys & Girls Clubs in the country. Since participating in MAP, we have been recognized several times in recent years for innovation, management systems, and our strategies. We have grown our impact, increased revenue, set new standards in our industry, and challenged the status quo in several areas of our operations.
I can say without hesitation that my MAP experience was instrumental in our success as a business, and the management systems we adopted are just as important in our day-to-day operations now as they were in 2011. It has taken a great deal of discipline to continue using the MAP systems, especially with changes in personnel over the years, but that discipline has paid off ten-fold as new staff members join our team. Having these systems in place serves as a compass for new team members as they adopt our culture and transition into the organization. The feedback we have received through employee surveys confirms that our team appreciates having clarity around how success is defined, how we communicate and process issues as a team, how and when we meet, as well as how we recruit, hire, and develop talent.
The MAP experience and the additional coaching I received after my experience challenged me as a leader to ask tough questions, think big picture, focus on vital factors, and invest in working “on the business.” There isn’t a day that goes by at the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana when the impact of MAP is not visible. It has helped us evolve our business, increase our impact, and set the standard for what a Boys & Girls Club looks like.
We are eternally grateful to MAP for their impact on our organization and would proudly recommend MAP to any business leaders who are serious about taking their organization to next level.
Robert Santana
Chief Executive Officer
Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana