Last Note

As I sit here at my desk on my last day as the executive director of NCNA I am finding it hard to walk out my office door. When I do walk out I will be known as the “former” executive director of NCNA and I don’t like the sound of that.

For the past nine years I have put my heart and soul into building this organization. We have dreamt big and boldly went where no one thought we could go and I am very proud of that fact. Having ideas is one thing but having the determination and resolve to make those ideas become a reality takes a team of folks that believe and are willing to follow.

There have been a lot of folks that have believed and become part of what we wanted to build. Some came to the ideas quickly while others were a bit slow to accept the challenge. But in the end they all played in part in believing in the vision that the nonprofit sector is a linked community – bonded by our value of service to others – and that this community should receive greater recognition and support for what they do.

As I close my note and extend my public thank you to many of you that have helped along the way – NCNA staff and board members, state association staff and board, allies and family and friends – please accept my THANK YOU.

I leave you with my favorite statements that I have stated (sometimes like a broken record) over time:

 

• The greatest threat to the independent voice of the nonprofit sector is our source of revenue.
• It is not our money (our contributions, so spend it wisely).
• Nonprofits provide a $1 worth of service for 25 cents (now with inflation it is more like 10 cents).
• We have a responsibility and moral obligation to speak out loudly and clearly for those we serve to those that govern.
• Be joyful in all that you do.

With that be well and thank you for the privilege and honor of serving.

The call to serve

The coming Independence Day weekend gets me in a mood to cogitate on democracy, freedom, and all things core to the American political ideal. I was a political science major in college, so I read tons and tons of books, essays, and treatises on American government (as well as other forms). After all that though, the shorter, simpler documents are the ones that stick with me. The Declaration of Independence itself and the Constitution are both masterful works, especially important because of their emphasis on congress and shared empowerment.

From Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary: “con·gress (noun) 1 a: the act or action of coming together and meeting; 2: a formal meeting of delegates for discussion and usually action on some question.” Their congress was about meeting and taking action, just like our Nonprofit Congress. From the beginning we’ve had an emphasis on hearing the voices of people from all over the country, in all sorts of nonprofit organizations. In fact, the first year of the effort consisted almost entirely of Town Hall meetings where people voiced their opinions about the priorities of the nonprofit sector. This year and last year, we sponsored another round of Town Hall meetings where people talked about improving our collaborative efforts and created action plans around the Top Three Priorities. Why is this so important?

For me personally, it means the work I’m doing is driven by the people, for the people. It means the work has purpose and a clear end result: a strong nonprofit community. It means our work is democratized across all nonprofits. And it really means those folks have an actual voice in all of this.

All of us in the nonprofit sector have been called to serve. We answered that call by starting or joining organizations, working our butts off, and helping others. Sometimes though, it’s hard to hear that call when drowning in the day to day. I like to think that Town Halls and the Nonprofit Congress provide chances for us to hear that call again and to answer it with a strong, united voice.

We are acting collectively for positive change. We are driven by shared values and priorities. We are what democracy is all about.

Mr. Inexperience Goes To Washington

NOTE: This is a guest post from Sam Richard, author of the blog Deserted After Dark, which chronicles his life as a college student living in Downtown Phoenix, where he is the President of the American Humanics Student Association at Arizona State University. After he finally finishes his degree somewhere near the end of this decade, Sam hopes to work for either a nonprofit organization that focuses on environmental issues, or a support organization like the National Council of Nonprofit Associations (hint, hint). You can read a full report of his week at the Nonprofit Congress by following this link.

Just about a month ago, I was a part of history.

Sure, it sounds cheesy. But it’s true. And that’s all that matters, right? A few hundred of my closest friends and I were able to help shape the future of the nonprofit sector at the 2008 Nonprofit Congress. Plenary speakers, breakout sessions, and informal conversations alike peppered our week with other’s experiences, grievances, and joys pertaining to the sector.

I came away from the week filled with expectant hope. I mentioned to a few people that it had a similar feeling to the days immediately following junior high summer camp. You know, when emotions are flaring and the idea wheels are turning at full speed. And let me tell you, neither one of those things have yet to go away.

I trust that my experience wasn’t totally unique, but I feel that I might have a little different twist on it. I did not attend the Nonprofit Congress as a representative of a State Association like my friend and colleague, Patrick McWhorter from the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits. I did not attend as a representative from an individual organization like my friend David Jay, from Volunteer Match. And I wasn’t there in the capacity of an intrigued observer, like my friend Susan who works for a journalistic outfit in the for-profit sector. 

Nope, none of those categories fit me. I am a student at Arizona State University, studying with the first (and currently only) undergraduate degree program in nonprofit leadership & management. And it was as a wholly inexperienced tenderfoot that I savored my week in DC. I took feverish notes, hoping I could take them back to my colleagues and share the wealth of knowledge that I gathered. After all, it was Woody Guthrie who said, “Stealing from one person is called plagiarism, but stealing from many is called research,” and I definitely did my share of research. I listened to experiences of men and women who have shaped this sector for the last three decades, and feebly shared what I’ve read in textbooks - some of which these people have written…

But after the first day, I moved past my combination of shell-shock and star-struck emotions, and realized that I did have something to offer this delegation: my unique perspective as a young person with very little experience. The first breakout session I attended was with Steve Bauer and Kim Fellner (Kim and I are pictured above). For an hour and a half, we dialogued about intergenerational issues, and the impending doom of the Baby Boomer wealth and knowledge transfer. Eventually, we decided that this crisis could be avoided with some responsible and focused conversations. We also decided that a large part of the burden for this transition lies on the shoulders of my generation. We “Millennials” need to step up to the plate and take some responsibility for our future. All of a sudden, my perspective became important.

Later that afternoon, I sat in on a session that announced the creation of Project Entry Point, an initiative of the Craigslist Foundation.  Project Entry Point will be an online clearinghouse of resources for every member of the nonprofit sector. Professionals, volunteers, new organizations, and old organizations alike will (hopefully) consider Entry Point as their first stop for all things nonprofit related. I grew up behind a computer, speaking the language of the computer. And once again, my perspective became important.

Throughout the week, people sought my input. At first, it surprised me, but by Wednesday I was fighting the urge to let it get to my head. Thankfully for all involved, by the time I landed back in Phoenix, my ego landed with me. But I took away so much from my time in our nation’s Capital that it would be a crime if I didn’t do anything about it. So, when school starts back up in late August, I’m going to ask everyone in the nonprofit program to sign the Nonprofit Constitution. I am also going to urge my colleagues to focus on the priorities we focused on at the Congress: things like speaking with one voice, promoting collaboration, and increasing public awareness.

And as we move forward in our studies, and in our careers, we will know that changing the world with such efficiency is only possible because of the work of those before us. So, thanks for the amazing opportunity. And thank you for letting me share in some history…

Cheers,
Sam

“We must view young people not as empty bottles to be filled, but as candles to be lit.”
Robert Shaffer

Bright side

It must be summer, because nonprofits are sweating–and not just due to the heat, which has been knocking on 100 degrees here. Gas prices, a faltering economy, a rapid-fire series of natural disasters, and other ill winds are combining forces to challenge the resourcefulness of nonprofits to the max.

And that’s the gentle way of saying it. I could put it in harsher terms, but I don’t need to, because an army of recent reports and news articles have done that already, painting a gloomy portrait of the sector in contrast to the June sunshine. As I was copying and pasting this post, even, I was interrupted by a phone call from a reporter asking for a statement on the “perfect storm” of misfortune for nonprofits. Thanks for reminding us, mass media.

But we’re focusing on the positive around here, and luckily, we have some peppy compatriots to remind us all that the glass is half full: for example, Kivi Leroux Miller over at Nonprofit Communications, the d’bug blog, and the San Diegans, keeping things upbeat when others are heralding the Apocalypse. Just try going to the Good News Network and searching “nonprofit.” You get 50 hits. How cool is that? But it’s hardly a surprise. After all, we’re good at doing a lot with a little, and we’re still doing good things, and we have a lot to celebrate.

So the journalists looking for weepy stories of nonprofit woes will just have to dust off a sunnier angle as we push the positive and focus on what rocks.

And if nothing else works, we can all just move to San Diego.

P.S. How has your organization, or another you’ve seen, risen to recent challenges? Give them a shoutout in the comments section below.

Back at it!

The end of May and beginning of June was a pretty momentous time for me and for NCNA. In those couple of weeks, two major projects that I (we) have been working on for many, many months finally culminated: the Nonprofit Congress National Meeting and publication of Work With Me: Intergenerational Conversations for Nonprofit Leadership. If you’ve ever come to the ‘end’ of a major project that you’ve spent hundreds (maybe even thousands) of hours on, you’ll know how I feel: really happy and excited to have finally completed it, but a tad bereft and wondering, what now?

Thankfully, I have a good idea about some answers to that question. We are getting underway with the process of evaluating our event-related efforts to determine which were the most successful, which deserve more time and energy next time, and which simply need to be dropped. We’re integrating the feedback from the wonderful folks who attended the meeting. We’re also doing some thinking about the next National Nonprofit Congress Meeting and the goals of that event. (In fact, I’d love to hear your ideas and thoughts on it, even if you weren’t here this year.)

As for Work With Me…well I can’t even describe what it felt like to see it printed, bound, and in my hands for the first time. I’m not ashamed to admit that I did a happy dance all around the office. The Leadership Group, Kim Fellner, and I put countless hours into making sure Work With Me was the best possible resource it could be. Our next step is to get the word out to nonprofits everywhere so that they can begin improving intergenerational dialogue in their organizations.

In addition to these two things, I have about a million ideas percolating in my head for new and improved services, outreach efforts, membership benefits, programs, and publications that we can get to work on. Though the summer is usually pretty quiet in DC, I know we’re still going to be busy around the NCNA office. I’m ready for it!

“Democracy is not a spectator sport”

“It’s time for us to realize that democracy is not a spectator sport.”
Sam Daley-Harris, founder of RESULTS

What kind of day was it that turned on 18 diverse nonprofit leaders from Montana? Lit a fresh fire in the heart of a missionary reverend from Connecticut? Created bright eyes and smiles on the faces of young women from one of Pennsylvania’s largest foundations? It was a day when over 100 people from 28 states called on approximately 110 of their Members of Congress. Indeed, it was Lobby Day, the concluding day of the Nonprofit Congress National Meeting here in Washington DC. What better way to end our own congress than taking our message about supporting and partnering with America’s nonprofits to the Hill.

It was a day of enthusiasm beginning with a breakfast on the Hill where we were welcomed by bipartisan representatives of the Senate Finance Committee. It was a day of citizenship for those who had made time to tell their stories and bring their messages to elected officials. It was a day of empowerment when people realized that they are constituents in a sector that is a key partner with government and who have a voice that will be listened to by their elected officials. It was a day of learning the truth that Sam Daley-Harris speaks of in his book, Reclaiming our Democracy:

“By and large, members of Congress are dedicated, committed people who got caught without us. We sent them to Washington and then we abandoned them there. It’s time for us to get back into action.”

And that we did by bringing members of Congress our stories from the field about the good work that nonprofits are doing at home. By reminding them of how we leverage resources to benefit communities in their states. And by widening the circle of the Nonprofit Capacity Building Initiative.

In these times of state budget deficits, a weakening economy, and job shifts that will occur as a result of the “party being over” with cheap oil, the need for the federal government to partner with the nonprofit sector to meet this country’s expanding needs feels like a history-making milestone. The milestone where both the existing and latent capacities of the sector are recognized in a new way, our work is reframed and honored in compelling language, and the partnership is recognized with new ties and tools of governance. As Rusty Schweichert the astronaut put it, “We aren’t passengers on spaceship earth. We’re the crew…” And the nonprofit crew is finding its voice, and using it!

UPDATE: This post was featured as part the Carnival of Nonprofit Consultants weekly roundup, up at the Donor Power Blog.

Newsflash: Nonprofit folks like to talk.

Big surprise, right? But I learned this anew at the Nonprofit Congress National Meeting here in DC last week. As one member of a single-digit staff working to make a 500-plus meeting run like butter (is that a saying? Run like butter?), I spent a lot of time behind the scenes: making centerpieces by the dozen, fielding media inquiries, and, once, rewriting a plenary speech by hand in the A/V booth five minutes before said speech was supposed to be delivered. But despite all that shadow work, I still managed to get swept up in the wave of energy created by hundreds of people gathering for a common purpose.

Here we are…

Here we are at the Nonprofit Congress National Meeting. I sort of can’t believe it. After many, many months of planning, its finally here. It is so wonderful to see all of the smiling faces, meet the people I’ve been speaking with on the phone, and interact with all them as well. The meeting so far has been inspiring, amazing, fun. Even behind the scenes, the energy is contagious. This is amazing!

 

Here are a few quotes that I’ve gathered from the participants and staff:

 

“After six months of registration and correspondence, it is refreshing to put names with faces and also hear the accolades on this year’s effort. We’ve heard nothing but positive feedback.”

 

“The thing that I learned from the lunch plenary is that the gathering of all these people with all their different knowledge is the key to the future of the sector. If we don’t share our mistakes and successes, we’re not going to make it.”

 

“Great conference. I’m continually impressed with how the topic of empowering the nonprofit sector is staying relevant and the participants are keeping it relevant. We need to be unified. After the first Nonprofit Congress Meeting, I was worried there wouldn’t be future action and content, but people have been keeping it going and its amazing.”

 

“The inspiration cup floweth over.”

 

“There are people here from all over the country. The fact that everyone was able to participate is great. The mixture of nonprofit advocates coming together in one location is inspiring.”

Off to the Meeting!

Hello everyone!

The staff of NCNA are off to the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill for the 2008 Nonprofit Congress National Meeting - Convene · Connect · Commit! We will be setting up shop tomorrow, Saturday, May 31 and welcoming our first participants on Sunday. Though we won’t be in the office, we will be keeping you up to date by blogging throughout the event (and inviting others to post and cross post here). Make sure to subscribe to our feed to get the latest updates!

In the meantime, for those of you coming to DC, here are a few last minute tips and reminders:

• You can find travel information, including the address of the Hyatt Regency, public transit information, directions, and more on our website.
• The weather in DC is supposed to be sunny and warm during the meeting, but make sure to pack layers so you can stay warm inside the meeting rooms.
• While we’re working to improve the nonprofit sector, the Hyatt will be working to improve their lobby! During this year’s meeting, there will be construction underway on the lobby level of the hotel. Please keep an eye out for signs directing you to the breakout rooms on that level.
• The agenda for the entire Nonprofit Congress Meeting is posted on our website, so you can preview it before you arrive.
• Registration will be open starting on Sunday, June 1 from 3pm to 7pm and again on Monday, June 3. There will be signs directing you the registration/help desk.
• The Nonprofit Expo will also be opening on Sunday at 11:30am. Make sure to visit the 40+ fantastic vendors that will be there!
• If you are attending Lobby Day on Wednesday, June 4, please review the toolkit and make sure to bring everything you need with you.

Thanks and we look forward to seeing you all in a couple of days! 

Public Confidence - A Matter of Concern

I received a call from a reporter recently asking me about my reactions to the results of Paul Light’s latest Organizational Performance Initiative survey indicating that the public’s confidence in the nonprofit sector was declining. The survey has not been officially released but was reported in an article in the Chronicle of Philanthropy (Public Confidence in Nonprofit Groups Slides Back, New Survey Finds).  

Mr. Light stated that the percentage of Americans who believe charities are doing a “very good” job of helping people has declined to 25% today from 34% in 2003. He further stated that “this new survey basically says we’re still at the bottom and we’re not recovering.”

Light faulted nonprofit leaders for failing to tackle the public-confidence issue head on. Let’s examine the situation a little more carefully before we place blame and inform Mr. Light about the efforts that have been underway for some time now.

During the lead-in to the first National Meeting of the Nonprofit Congress, we conducted our own survey. We asked nonprofit staff and volunteers to identify the values that best reflected the nonprofit sector. The results were: dedication to the betterment of the communities we serve; commitment to serve others; serving as a catalyst for change and innovation; and operating with ethics and integrity. We used these values, or guiding principles, to develop the The Nonprofit Constitution and asked nonprofits to declare their commitment to operate from these basic core values. These are the values to which we hold ourselves and other nonprofits. You would believe that the public’s confidence in us would improve relative to our adherence to these values. But that is not always true.

The media likes a good scandal. The greatest contributor to the public’s loss of confidence in the nonprofit sector is the media’s presentation of those among us that have, in fact, lost our way. Despite the occasional feel-good stories during the holiday season, the only stories that garner the media’s attention throughout the rest of the year are the scandals. Yes, we all agree that we want the bad apples tossed out, but there are far more positive, heart-warming, and exemplary stories of how we continue to be invested in helping people than you might get from the media. Not to mention our role as community builders, civil society cultivators, social fabric weavers, and economic stimulators.

So there in is our challenge: to tell our own story linking our work to the broader values of the American public. There has been some work done in this area, usually referred to as “reframing,” by DEMOS and Frameworks Institute. Both of these organizations present good examples of how we can use different language and approaches to impress upon key audiences the long-term worth and value of our work.

The Nonprofit Congress Public Awareness Work Group, convened by the National Council of Nonprofit Associations, has adopted these key concepts and will work to address, head-on, Mr. Light’s criticism that nonprofit leaders have not responded aggressively to promote charities’ achievements or produced “any countervailing source of information.” Through our work we will ensure that this will not be the case anymore.