This session will highlight a powerful collaboration between Code the Dream (CTD), a North Carolina-based tech nonprofit, and Blueprint NC, a statewide civic engagement network, as a model for how nonprofits can work together to deepen community connections and expand the impact of their individual missions. Together, CTD and Blueprint NC are supporting community-based organizations in using MyFriendBen–NC (MFB-NC), a universal benefits screener developed by CTD that helps users anonymously check eligibility for 16+ public programs. By integrating this tool into their outreach, organizations are not only helping community members access critical government benefits—they are also using it as a vehicle to build trust, engage residents in policy education, and connect them to broader advocacy efforts aimed at protecting the social safety net. Many of the partners involved are BIPOC-led, deeply rooted in their communities, and experienced in base-building and civic engagement. Their use of MFB-NC goes beyond service delivery—it becomes a strategic entry point for organizing and long-term power-building. Presenters will share lessons from the field: How this cross-sector partnership was formed, how the tool is being used, and what early outreach has revealed. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas for how they can forge similar collaborations—combining service delivery, civic engagement, and community power-building—to strengthen their nonprofit’s work and mission.
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