Leading Foundations. An Inside View!
A discussion about the inner workings of foundations. The executive director at the TW Lewis Foundation sheds light on the Foundation’s mission, values, and commitment to making a positive impact on the community. He begins by explaining how his path led him to the TW Lewis Foundation through his involvement in education advocacy and school choice initiatives.
Tom Lewis, the founder of the TW Lewis Foundation, created the organization in 2000 with a focus on providing scholarships to students going to college. Over time, the foundation has expanded its scope, supporting various nonprofit organizations locally and nationally. The primary mission of the foundation is to assist children and families in need, with a strong emphasis on Christian education, civic-minded causes, and strengthening America.
When asked about the grant cycle, Steve Smith explains that they work closely with their grantees to ensure alignment with their mission and values. The foundation seeks to help organizations become self-sustaining, not just provide one-time financial assistance.
Steve emphasizes the foundation’s nationwide reach, with a focus on both local and national causes. They partner with various organizations and carefully evaluate grant requests to make impactful decisions.
The foundation has maintained a very positive image, driven by its founder’s strong reputation and commitment to helping the community. They leverage social media and traditional media platforms to raise awareness about their initiatives and encourage others to get involved.
Looking ahead to 2024, Steve’s crystal ball reveals the growing importance of K12 education initiatives and alternative learning options. The foundation plans to focus on K12 education efforts, including Christian education, to address the evolving needs of . . . . . . . . .
Nonprofit’s Questions!
Questions sent in by viewers: Nonprofit Mission Moments at meetings. Nonprofit recruiting from other nonprofits. Moving from programming to fundraising. A $250,000 charity fundraising guffaw!
One of the key questions discussed in this episode is the importance of starting a board meeting with a “mission moment.” Guest co-host Muhi Khwaja explains that a mission moment is a way to share when a board member or staff member witnessed the organization’s mission in action, like volunteering at a food bank or participating in a community project. He suggests that mission moments can be valuable for both board and staff meetings as they boost morale and help people connect with the organization’s mission.
Another question is about recruiting talent from other nonprofits. Muhi advises that offering competitive compensation and benefits is important when trying to persuade someone to join your organization. He emphasizes keeping the door open for potential candidates who might be a good fit and highlights the value of networking and referrals.
The final question discusses whether someone from the programming side of a nonprofit can successfully transition into a fundraising role. Muhi believes that having a deep understanding of the organization’s programs can make a fundraiser successful. He emphasizes that success in fundraising is more about personality and relationship-building skills rather than just experience. He also suggests introducing programmatic staff to donors during various stages of the donor relationship to deepen the connection.
The episode concludes with a humorous anecdote about a fundraising event involving a mistaken 0,000 donation made through a mobile app. Muhi discusses the importance of event management and technology oversight to avoid . . . . . . . . .
Giving Circles and Group Philanthropy
Demystifying the concept of giving circles to bring proactive giving into focus by empowering members to collectively decide where to allocate funds, with two remarkable guests: Kim Tarnopolski and Laurie Richter, who share insights about giving circles and group philanthropy. Kim Tarnopolski, the Chief Community Builder of 100 Plus Women Who Care Valley of the Sun, shares her inspirational journey from a 20-year career as an HR executive to becoming deeply involved in philanthropy. She emphasizes the inclusivity of giving circles, saying, “Anybody can be a philanthropist. You don’t have to give $1,000,000 to be a philanthropist.” Laurie Richter, Co-founder of 100 Who Care Alliance, hailing from Chicago, reflects on her transition into philanthropy after retirement and her role in founding a giving circle in North Suburban Chicago, now in its 11th year. She adds, “It’s just a way of collecting resources and pooling resources to have a bigger impact.”
The conversation centers on demystifying the concept of giving circles. Kim shares that giving circles bring proactive giving into focus by empowering members to collectively decide where to allocate funds. Laurie describes giving circles as “getting a group of people together so that they can pull their resources to have a bigger impact than they could have on their own.” Both highlight the transformative effect of turning reactive giving into a more intentional and impactful process.
Kim and Laurie share the remarkable results achieved by their giving circles. Kim’s group in Phoenix, with three sister groups, donated close to $1.2 million to local charities over nine years. Laurie’s suburban Chicago circle raises around $17,000 to $18,000 . . . . . . . . .
Being Leadership or Doing Leadership at Nonprofits?
Leadership issues in the nonprofit sector. A sparkling discussion portraying the need for leaders to inspire their teams on a deeper and more humane level, with leadership coach, Derek Mulhern. Derek’s insights highlight authentic leadership, transparent communication, and personal growth in the nonprofit sector, with a focus on the evolving dynamics and challenges faced by nonprofit organizations and their leaders.
Derek begins with, “I just see a huge need within the nonprofit space for us to really develop leaders that have the capacity to show up in a way that inspires other people on a deeper level on a more humane level because we’re doing all this humane work right, we’re all trying to create bigger change.”
He also addresses the misconception of creating a “family culture” within nonprofits and how it often leads to caretaking rather than empowering employees. Derek advocates for transparency, communication, and allowing employees to make their own choices and learn from their mistakes.
Another important point he discusses is the evolving expectations of leaders in the nonprofit sector, emphasizing the need for leaders to be empathetic and coach-like. He relates this to the impact of personal life experiences on leadership style and how individuals’ unique backgrounds shape their leadership approaches.
This discussion is sure to spark your thinking on your own leadership style. Learn more at DerekMulhern.com
Low-cost Holiday High Jinks For Staff’s!
Creative ways to enhance employee retention and satisfaction at nonprofits during the holiday season with Dana Scurlock, Director of Recruitment at Staffing Boutique. Some low-cost holiday ideas that can bring joy and camaraderie to the workplace. The ultimate goal is to create a supportive and engaging work environment that encourages employees to stay committed to their nonprofit organizations, particularly during the holiday season and beyond.
Dana begins by emphasizing the significance of employee retention, considering the substantial costs and resource investments involved in hiring and training new staff. She suggests that organizations take steps to make their office environments more appealing, starting with some of these simple but effective ideas.
One suggestion is to offer employees extra break time for shopping and holiday preparations. This not only eases their stress but also allows coworkers to bond while planning their holiday activities.
Another idea is to introduce an internal lottery or game, where employees have the chance to win cash prizes during the holiday season. This adds an element of excitement and festivity to the workplace, boosting morale.
Dana also encourages organizations to consider the power of live music during the holiday season. Whether it’s hosting a choir or hiring musicians to perform festive tunes, live music can transform the atmosphere and create a joyful ambiance in the office.
To foster teamwork and participation, Dana proposes organizing a fun cookie exchange and decorating party. Employees can come together to decorate cookies, fostering a sense of togetherness and adding a festive touch to the workplace.
Recognizing and emphasizing the value of personal touch, Dana suggests personalized gift cards with heartfelt . . . . . . . . .
Creating Transformational Philanthopy!
The founder of Susan Kramer Consulting shares her profound insights, introducing the concept of “transactional versus transformational” philanthropy, and elaborating on the keys of understanding donors’ motivations and stories. Susan Kramer’s perspective on fundraising goes beyond tactics; it’s about creating genuine connections and aligning donors’ passions with the nonprofit’s mission. She highlights that fundraising isn’t about being transactional but building transformational relationships based on understanding and authenticity: “We are not sell, tell, and convince the donors. If you’re going to try to sell, tell, and convince, you’re going to live in transactional.” Susan’s shares her seven-letter formula for fundraising, starting with turning individuals into a community, engaging and educating them, leading to donors, investors, leaders, and advocates. She illustrates this journey with a fun kickball field example–showing how engagement gradually leads to deeper involvement. Susan challenges the idea that wealthy individuals are automatically the best donors, emphasizing that the most valuable donors may already be engaged with the nonprofit, hiding in plain sight. She encourages fundraisers to understand their donors’ capacity, affinity, and propensity to give and to engage them further through stewardship. The conversation also taps into the role of board members, suggesting that their engagement should be rooted in authentic storytelling. Board members should be encouraged to understand their “why” for being part of the organization and share their personal stories. Susan message in this fast-paced episode is one of inspiration and a reminder that fundraising can be a magical journey when it’s grounded in authentic connections and the stories that drive philanthropy.
Nonprofit’s Asked And Answered This Week!
Julia Patrick, and Meredith Terrian from Fundraising Academy, address this week’s questions related to board recruitment, fundraising benchmarks, and internal office privacy at nonprofits. The cohosts provide valuable guidance on these nonprofit management challenges, underlining the importance of diversity, clear goal-setting, and sensitive communication within the organization.
Julia opens the discussion by introducing their first question, which is about recruiting younger board members to enhance diversity. Meredith responds thoughtfully, acknowledging the organization’s proactive approach in recognizing the need for diversity. She emphasizes the importance of a strategic approach to recruiting younger board members. “A board can make or break an organization,” Meredith says. “Being methodical and strategic about how you recruit, train, and engage board members is essential.”
Meredith provides specific recruitment strategies, such as reaching out to local universities, community organizations, and online platforms where young professionals network. She highlights the benefits of board involvement, like skill development and networking, and suggests matching potential members with roles that align with their skills and interests.
The cohosts also discuss the significance of setting fundraising goals, with Meredith clarifiying the difference between goals and benchmarks, advising a clear and realistic primary goal with benchmarks used to track progress in various fundraising categories.
Lastly, the cohosts address a viewer’s concern about a C-Suite member of their nonprofit publicly expressing interest in a new job on social media. Meredith encourages approaching the situation with sensitivity and understanding the context of the post. She suggests engaging in a private and casual conversation with the individual to inquire about their intentions while respecting their privacy and the decision . . . . . . . . .
Year-End Tips For Fundraising Success!
How nonprofits can enhance their year-end fundraising efforts with Micah James, Manager of Professional Services at Bloomerang.co. Micah starts with the importance of authenticity in nonprofit messaging during this busy season, advising organizations to avoid cookie-cutter approaches and instead showcase their unique missions and impact.
Micah encourages nonprofits to communicate authentically, connecting with their local communities and highlighting their specific contributions to solving community problems. She points out that unique approaches tend to resonate more with donors, stating, “It’s really about connecting not only with your community—where are you located? What’s your context? —but also, what do you do in that community to solve that community’s problems?”
The conversation also covers the use of video in nonprofit communications. Micah recommends short (90-second or less) videos to provide a distinctive touch and make supporters feel connected to the organization’s work. Authenticity was key, and she advised against over-editing, encouraging nonprofits to showcase their day-to-day operations and impact. Micah urges, “90 seconds or less is like that perfect sauce. So it’s not too long, not too short—just letting me say, ‘Hey, how are you? This is us. Come on in. Don’t you want to be a part of this?'”
The hosts asked about the challenge of nonprofits operating remotely or without a physical presence to showcase. Micah digs into storytelling and capturing the essence of the organization through conversations, even if it’s a virtual tour or discussion among team members.
This episode also describes the importance of maintaining a consistent brand image throughout the donation process, including on landing pages. Micah stresses the need to minimize friction . . . . . . . . .
Empowering Authentic Leadership
The founder of 4DaHood talks about the importance of creating spaces for racial healing during this conversation focused on empowering authentic leadership. Frank Velasquez, Jr.’s organization is dedicated to supporting nonprofits and individuals in addressing racial equity issues, and he shares insights into his journey, motivations, and the evolution of his work.
One of his key quotes during the discussion is, “Creating a space where people of color can heal.” Frank underscores the significance of providing safe and supportive environments where people of color can come together to heal from the wounds of racial discrimination, microaggressions, and systemic inequities. These spaces offer individuals a sense of belonging and understanding among peers who share similar experiences.
Frank also describes the concept of “learning separately to lead collectively,” emphasizing the need for separate spaces where both people of color and white allies can engage in learning and dialogue about racial issues from their unique perspectives. He points out that these separate spaces allow individuals to work through their own biases and challenges before coming together to collectively address racial equity. This approach recognizes the value of both groups working in tandem to bring about change in policies and systems.
Additionally, Frank highlights his efforts to create spaces for white allies to confront feelings of guilt and shame related to racial issues, acknowledging the significance of both people of color and white allies in the journey toward addressing systemic racism, emphasizing the importance of difficult conversations and the gradual process of chipping away at biases and misunderstandings.
As he looks ahead to 2024, Frank Velazquez Jr. predicts . . . . . . . . .
Why Outsourcing Makes Sense At Nonprofits!
Outsourcing accounting and financial services at your nonprofit can be a game-changer, as Carole Melvin, the regional director at Your Part Time Controller (YPTC), highlights in her insightful interview. She explains how outsourcing these services can provide nonprofits with specialized expertise, cost savings, and scalability while allowing them to focus on their mission. It’s a trend that is likely to gain momentum as nonprofits discover the benefits of this approach. As Carole aptly puts it, “You’re not just hiring one person; you’re hiring the whole firm.”
According to Carole, outsourcing is a business practice where an organization contracts out specific functions to an external service provider, with the goal of leveraging specialized services, reducing costs, improving efficiency, and allowing the nonprofit to focus on its core activities, such as programming and fundraising.
During this fast paced interview, you’ll learn about the types of outsourcing, the annual tasks typically done, where the cost savings are, how flexibility plays a key role, and the timelines of finding and engaging with these outside experts. Carole also digs into how the outsiders integrate with the NPO team and what the board involvement might look like.
She wraps up the discussion with some insightful comments on the future of outsourcing.
Are Nonprofit Consultants Really Worth It?
The value that nonprofit consultants can bring to organizations, underscoring the importance of viewing them as strategic partners in advancing the mission with Jerry Diaz, CFRE, founder, and CEO of Geronimo Consulting. He begins by affirming, “Working with consultants is an investment, not an expense. They bring in expertise that you may not have on your team or not be able to afford somebody. So when you choose them, choose them wisely.”
The discussion revolves around various facets of nonprofit consulting, including the significance of being a proactive and cooperative client when collaborating with consultants. Jerry emphasizes that consultants operate across a broad spectrum of areas within nonprofits, such as fund development, organizational development, board engagement, program and data management. They provide a fresh perspective and invaluable insights that can prove highly cost-effective for organizations.
The conversation also touches on the changing landscape of nonprofit consulting. Funders are increasingly open to supporting transitional projects and initiatives, recognizing the pivotal role consultants can play during times of change. Consultants can help organizations navigate transitions resulting from leadership changes, periods of growth, or strategic shifts.
Furthermore, the dialogue explores the essential role of consultants in project management. Consultants, with their wealth of experience and an array of tools at their disposal, are well-equipped to oversee specific projects efficiently. They can assist organizations in successfully managing projects, even if those projects lie outside the organization’s typical purview.
Nonprofit’s Ask and Answer! Thanksgiving Episode
In this annual Thanksgiving special episode, Host Julia Patrick shares the podium with her daughter Camaley Joy Patrick Jennings as they answer questions from NPO’s and discuss Camaley’s work in the nonprofit sector and her experiences on a nonprofit board. Camaley works as a marketing and project manager at GitHub, a subsidiary of Microsoft, on their social impact team.
Camaley shares insights into how GitHub encourages its employees to engage in philanthropic activities, citing one of their programs that incentivizes volunteering by offering a donation of $20 for every hour volunteered, which employees can contribute to a nonprofit of their choice.
The two chat about the challenges of educating employees in the tech sector about philanthropy, along with aspects of how GitHub faces cultural differences in volunteerism and philanthropy among its international employees. Camaley also talks about the importance of personal connections in a remote work environment and the ongoing efforts to communicate and engage employees effectively.
Julia asks Camaley about her experiences serving on a nonprofit board and whether her age and background have influenced her interactions with other board members. Camaley shares her thoughts on the board she serves on and continues by emphasizing the importance of passion and finding a balance between impact-driven work in one’s job and outside of it.
They explore the involvement of millennials in nonprofit boards, then discuss ways to make board commitments, especially financial ones, more achievable for younger board members. They propose the idea of offering scholarships to cover some of the financial commitments, thus diversifying the board’s composition and perspectives.
This fun family tradition concludes with . . . . . . . . .