Not Yet: Engaging the Next Generation

I can count on my hands the number of friends of mine who serve on a board of a nonprofit or foundation. As a 33-year-old, I don’t think that this fact is all that unusual, nor does it reveal that my friends are apathetic. It's just there aren't that many people from my age group doing much in that particular world--not yet. Today I went to a Council of Foundations session that promoted a new wave of philanthropists. Called “Challenging the Status Quo: Next Gen Civic Engagement Through Philanthropy,” and moderated by my friend and colleague Marcus Littles, the session featured three panelists: Daniel Kaufman of the One Percent Foundation, Elizabeth Snowdon of the Hill-Snowdon Foundation, and Derrick Johnson, who talked primarily about his roles as board member of the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation and state president of the Mississippi NAACP. All three individuals made the case for engaging the next generation, with compelling personal examples of how to recruit, train, and inspire young leaders.

The session helped debunk three myths about age and board service:

1. You need a lot of money to be a donor or Board member.

2. You need decades of experience to do what Board members do.

3. The older generation of Board members does not need or want younger leaders to serve.

To quote Trista Harris in an earlier post, “We are here!” Let’s spread the word so that for the first time, more 20-somethings and 30-somethings can imagine themselves as social change leaders.

Brian Baughan is Director of Communications at Frontline Solutions (helpingchangehappen.com) a social change organization that invests in the pipeline of social change leaders; provides consulting services to institutions in the nonprofit, government, and philanthropic sectors; and engages in field-building in three areas of expertise: Education, Social Innovation, and Males of Color.

Putting Ourselves Out of Work

Of all the powerful ideas shared by presenters during today’s sessions at the Council on Foundations, the most powerful among them was the notion that philanthropy, done right, could make itself obsolete.

Essentially, this is the platform of the Working Group on Philanthropy for Social Justice and Peace, which shared developments in its plan to form the Philanthropy for Social Justice and Peace Network. By funding effective social justice work, these proponents believe that collectively we can help dismantle the systems that leave too many people poor and on the margins.

The group invited discussion during two different sessions today. In the morning, over 60 people crowded into a tiny room to hear what has been brewing since 2007 and to receive a draft of a manifesto put together by the Working Group. The paper was informed by a planning meeting held in 2009 in Cairo, Egypt. (Kudos to whoever chose that meeting site.) Since then, the group has been honing in on the foundational components of the network, including its values, strategies & tactics, and community engagement models.

This is my first COF conference, and I’ve learned today that no session takes place without addressomg the issue of measuring impact. And with good reason. I’m happy to say that my organization, Frontline Solutions, is contributing to a growing body of knowledge on philanthropic support for social justice efforts. For the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), we recently authored a report that showed the positive impact of funder-supported nonprofit advocacy and organizing in the Gulf/Mid-South region. This report is the seventh in NCRP’s Grantmaking for Community Impact series. Look for it to be published in early May.

I can’t predict what will become of the Philanthropy for Social Justice and Peace Network. But I do know that if philanthropists can work toward a vision of putting themselves out of work, I’m on board.

Brian Baughan is Director of Communications at Frontline Solutions (helpingchangehappen.com), a social change organization that invests in the pipeline of social change leaders; provides consulting services to institutions in the nonprofit, government, and philanthropic sectors; and engages in field-building in three areas of expertise: Education, Social Innovation, and Males of Color.

http://www.p-sj.org/

My feet are tired, but my soul is rested

Last night, I had the honor and privilege to attend the James A. Joseph Lecture of the Association of Black Foundation Executives. I was exhausted after 3 days of extensive pre conference activities for EPIP and ABFE and was also cursing my choice of high heeled shoes for a conference where I am on my feet all day. All of that tiredness and sore feet disappeared as soon as I walked into the room. Seeing a room full of people that I admire and look up to filled my heart. The program started with a performance by a local youth African drumming group who completely blew the audience away with their energy. One of my personal highlights was seeing Gary Cunningham, Vice President of Programs for the Northwest Area Foundation accept the institutional funder award for the African American Leadership Forum, which is an effort that I am so proud to be a part of in the Twin Cities. Gary's efforts have been tireless to connect the African American community so that we can chart out a better future for our children.

I really thought the night couldn't get any better but that is because I have never heard Ambassador James Joseph speak before. As I have heard the legend of Amb. Joseph, who founded ABFE and was the ambassador to South Africa when Nelson Mandela was president, I always wondered how an African American man in philanthropy in 1971 was able to call the question of race and leadership and insist that African American board members be elected on the Council on Foundations. He and other founding members of ABFE proposed an all Black slate at the 1971 COF meeting in Montreal. The compromises that followed at that meeting, led to COF adding black members to the board and the formation of ABFE as the first affinity group of the Council on Foundations. This is hard to do now, let alone in 1971.

Then I heard him speak and it all made sense. There is leadership and then there is Ambassador Joseph leadership. He called us to bring our best as we work for our communities and he reminded us that we sit on the shoulders of giants (with the not so subtle hint that because he and our many other ancestors have given us a much better starting point than they had, he expects much more from us). He also introduced us to the four leadership skills that he learned from Nelson Mandela that he believes are critical for today's leaders (emotional intelligence, social intelligence, moral intelligence, and spiritual intelligence).

They are too few times where we thank those that came before us or when we congratulate our peers for making the world a better place. When we get those opportunities, make sure you show up, sore feet or not.

I TOLD you EPIP was awesome!

  In honor of its 10th anniversary, Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy has just completed an assessment of its impact on the field of philanthropy. Kris Putnam-Walkerly, President of Putnam Community Investment Consulting completed the study and wrote a post about the results for the Philanthropy 411 blog. From Kris:

Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP) is an affinity group of the Council on Foundations. Its mission is to develop extraordinary new leaders to enhance organized philanthropy and its impact on communities. EPIP released the findings of it’s 2011 Impact Assessment, in conjunction with its 10th anniversary and national conference held in Philadelphia.  Below we share 7 key findings about how EPIP has provided support, opportunity, and leadership development for emerging leaders in philanthropy.

1) Emerging leaders have benefited from EPIP’s efforts to connect new and experienced leaders in philanthropy.  Almost all survey respondents (92%) reported that they have personally experienced EPIP’s efforts to facilitate generational change, primarily by participating in forums and events that bring together established and emerging leaders in philanthropy.

2) EPIP members value peer learning and networks gained through EPIP. Two-thirds (64%) of members surveyed reported that as a result of relationships they developed through EPIP, they are participating in new professional development activities. Half  (50%–54%) have met people they can turn to for help in performing their jobs well and regarding being underrepresented in the field.

“I’ve gotten to know so many different people in the field through EPIP. EPIP provides an amazing platform and network to new people in the field, irrespective of age.”  — Rohit Burman, Director of the Culture and Public Broadcasting Program at the Metlife Foundation

3) EPIP supports leadership development early in careers. Many members interviewed described how EPIP provided unique venues to learn, practice, and advance their leadership early in their careers. This included opportunities to propose and lead sessions at conferences, plan events, serve on steering committees, and lead chapters. Senior philanthropy leaders also noted that EPIP provides an important “alternative route to high engagement” for emerging leaders.

“EPIP has done a lot to strengthen a pipeline of leaders into and moving up through philanthropy by giving people mentoring opportunities, confidence boosters, and the chance to develop skills like serving on boards, public speaking, or social justice thinking.”  — Caroline Altman Smith, Program Officer, The Kresge Foundation

4) Participants use the knowledge, skills, and networks developed through EPIP to improve their job performance. 70% of all survey respondents who had been involved in EPIP longer than one year said that as a result of their involvement in EPIP they had established new professional relationships that have been beneficial to their work. Half (56%) described positive changes at their jobs as a result of their involvement in EPIP, including now seeing themselves as leaders in their field (26%) and improving their job performance (22%).

“We moved to a simpler grant process after I attended an EPIP conference, and that has improved our relationship with grantseekers.  — Survey respondent

Read the rest of the findings here.

How has EPIP strengthened your philanthropic career?

The Nonprofit Rockstar Tour is going to Philly

There are many fabulous events to celebrate the release of the book "How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar" at the Council on Foundation's annual conference that starts this weekend. Stop by and say hi at these fun events:

How to Build Your Multi-Generational Network From Scratch- You can join this interactive session on building your network in person if you are attending the Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy conference or you can join us online. The session will be live-streamed and there will be many opportunities for online participation.

The session starts at 6:00 EST on April 7th and ends at 7:15.

EPIP is also kindly hosting a book release party on April 7th starting at 7:30 at super hip Lucky Strike Bowling. The event will feature bowling (duh), drinks (mmmm), and professional development tips (a ha). It is going to be a lot of fun and I will be selling the books for just $20 at the event and I'll be there to sign copies. There will also be many of the Nonprofit Rockstars featured in the book in attendance.

The Council on Foundations is hosting a book signing at Resource Central from 11:00-12:00 on April 11th. They will also have the book for sale at the conference's bookstore.

For every 5 copies of the book that you purchase at the EPIP Conference or at COF you will receive 30 minutes of free career counseling from me. Buy copies for your book club, as birthday gifts or to donate to your alma mater. Below is a quote from a recent coaching call participant:

Thank you Trista for an amazing, energizing conversation! I'm bursting with ideas and excitement! It was wonderful speaking to you and hearing so many useful, important suggestions. I'll keep you posted.

I am so appreciative to the readers of this blog for all of the amazing support that you have given as we have released this book. I can't wait to meet you in person!

Blogging at the Council on Foundations' Conference

The Council on Foundation’s annual conference and the Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy conference are starting on Thursday. This blog will be providing coverage of the conference events, with the assistance of special guest bloggers. You can also watch the EPIP conference from the comfort of your own computer because most of the conference will be livestreamed. Check out the details here. Check back here often for the latest coverage. If you are not attending the conference, you can still participate by continuing the conversation in the comment section. You can also post messages to our bloggers if you have specific questions about the sessions that they have attended. If you are attending the conference feel free to email me at tristaharris (at) gmail (dot) com your own posts about the sessions that you have attended and I will post them with the rest of the conference coverage. 

 Check back soon and be a part of the robust conversation.

The World is Your Oyster- Ask for it

Minnesota's Young Nonprofit Professionals Network has a great blog and they have a wonderful new post about asking for what you want. From Virginia Brown:

Getting what you want was the theme at this month’s packed Emerging Leaders Network lunch. A crowded room meant two things: 1) Lots of people aren’t sure how to ask for– and get–what they want, and 2) I had to sit on a counter because they were out of chairs.

Asking for what you want is tough. As was discussed by the attendees, most of us have never tried. And what are the factors stopping us? Mix fear of conflict, anxiety about the unknown consequences, difficult management, uncertainty about levels of haggling with a dash of Minnesota nice, and you’ve got a recipe for keeping your mouth shut for years. One attendee did it for 12 years. Yikes.

The advice shared in the room was insightful, yet not rocket science. And the reality is that I think most of us know what to do to ask for a raise, promotion, new office chair or pony. If you’re not, check out this great HBR blog or Christine Hassler’s article on the how-to’s. But really, you know what to do. You (me and everyone else we know) just don’t want to do those things. It’s partially fear, but also the ease of doing nothing and having something to complain about at happy hour on Friday. Doing nothing is always easier than doing something.

So I’ll start by sharing the main lesson I learned in business school:

IF YOU DON’T ASK FOR IT, YOU WON’T GET IT.

I just saved you two years of your life and $60,000. You’re welcome. Seriously, just do it. Work up the nerve, do the research you know how to do, and march into your supervisor’s office to ask for that thing you deserve. Don’t forget to already have a good relationship with said supervisor, have a proven track record of excellent work, and a solid, non-emotional rationale for why you should get that thing you want.

Read the rest here.

WE ARE HERE!

As the parent of two school-aged children, I get to see more than my fair share of children’s movies. My current favorite is “Horton Hears a Who.” Horton, the elephant, hears a small yell and realizes that an entire civilization of Whos lives on a speck of dust. He makes it his life’s purpose to protect this little planet from the other animals in the jungle that don’t believe anyone lives on the speck. In the story’s climax (SPOILER ALERT) evil Kangaroo threatens to boil the speck of dust in oil. To prove their existence, all of the Whos yell together, “We are here, we are here!” until they can be heard by all of the other animals and save their planet from certain destruction.

I bring this up because I think the Whos and next generation foundation staff share a similar plight.

Read the rest here at the Council on Foundations' RE:Philanthropy Blog

PS If you are going to be at the Council on Foundations' conference in Philly next month and want to help me show the field that "we are here" be a guest conference blogger for New Voices of Philanthropy. If you are interested, send me an email at tristaharris (at) gmail (dot) com.

Be your own role model

There are times in life where we are pretty fabulous at something. We train for a marathon, sew handmade clothes for our kids, or raise $1,000,000 for our nonprofit. We are running on all cylinders and it can start to feel effortless. Then habits change, some crisis comes up, or something else makes us lose our mojo.

You don't have to look to someone else to help you get back on track, be your own inspiration. Keep a journal where you document what is going well in your life and why. Maybe you used to block out time at the gym in your calendar and that's why you stayed in such great shape. You can do that again. You can also look back at old calendars to see how you spent time and what your priorities were.

I just received a link to an article that quoted an interview that I did in 2009. 2011 Trista is pretty jealous that 2009 Trista was able to set aside so much time for strategic thinking. 2011 Trista feels like she is juggling a lot of things and doesn't often set aside enough time for thinking about big picture issues. 2009 Trista says suck it up and set the time aside to make it happen.

What can younger you help you with?

Philanthropy News Digest Flip Chat

I had a wonderful conversation with Regina Mahone from Philanthropy News Digest when I was in New York last week. Here is the video.

How to Make Giving Awesome

Trina Isakson has a great post about the Awesome Foundation, which is a donor circle that supports awesome ideas (nonprofit or not). I like the low barrier to entry, easy application, and the idea that you don't need to be a 501 (c) 3 to have fun. From Trina:

Philanthropy is changing, especially for the young, hip (and often with cash to spend) who aren’t interested in the traditional ways of gala events and golf tournaments.

Awesome Foundation "Forwarding the interest of Awesome in the universe, $1,000 at a time."

I first heard about Awesome Foundation when a member of the Toronto chapter was interviewed on Q on CBC (Jan 31).

The basic premise is that 10 people (in one city, or around one idea) commit to giving $100 a month. People/organizations with awesome ideas apply online for a $1,000 grant, using possibly the shortest and simplest grant application in the history of the world. The members of the foundation pick one, and give the $1,000, no strings attached.

This project first started in Boston, but has since spread to many other cities, including Ottawa and Toronto in Canada. I’ve submitted a pitch for a Vancouver chapter. Contact me if you’re interested in being a Vancouver chapter donor.

Why this is awesome

Low barrier for grant applicants

No requirements for charitable status or registration as a nonprofit. Super short application. Not a huge was of resources if the application doesn’t pan out.

Direct impact by donors

The chapter members get to see what awesome ideas are being cultivated in community, and directly support them. While there is no expectation of reporting back by grantees, smart grantees will follow up and invite grantees to connect with the awesome project further.

Growth of social capital

Not only are chapter members giving directly, they are being exposed to and potentially connecting with a broad range of awesome within their communities. And the resulting relationships may go beyond financial. Some chapters try to help runners-up with connecting them with in-kind donations instead of money. Money is not the only philanthropic commodity with value – connections can be just as important.

The not-as-awesome side

Not just for community

This isn’t really a bad thing, but it’s important to note this isn’t just about warm fuzzy community stuff. It’s about awesome stuff. This might mean an idea from a band, a researcher, a business. Which, on the awesome side, encourages innovation and awesomeness from the community sector. The bar gets raised for everyone.

Pooh-poohing operating costs

While not disallowed, “maintenance fees for established charities and foundations” are said not to generally be chosen. I see how these sorts of things aren’t sexy and awesome, but they are most important in order to strategically and sustainably move social change forward. But that’s not the focus of this foundation, awesome is. Other donors and foundations play the operational funding role.

No charitable status

While tax benefits aren’t the only reason people donate, it is one of them. Currently the Awesome Foundation isn’t actually a registered charity, and therefore cannot provide tax receipts for donors. However, if the chapter members did choose a project proposed by registered charity, I suppose they could arrange a tax receipt through the organization directly.

Diverting money from other organizations

One could argue that members of the Awesome Foundation may be shifting money to this project from somewhere they are already donating, thus leaving their former recipients that much worse off. This could very much be likely. I would also argue that members likely give when they weren’t already giving, or giving more than they had before.

Read the rest here.

Why mentors aren't enough to get you "big dog" status

I've written a lot about mentors over the years. How to think about mentorship, how to build your own frankenmentor, and how to be a mentor. What I've realized as I've moved further along in my career is that mentors are important as you are starting up  but sponsors are critical if you aspire to be an organizational leader. A mentor is someone who gives you good advice, a sponsor is someone who is willing to use their own credibility to help you move to the next level. Those are very different things. There have been different times in my life where I had those sponsors and their advocating on my behalf has led to a variety of great outcomes including a 30% increase in salary, moving to a leadership position in a nonprofit and eventually becoming the executive director of a foundation. Women and people of color are much less likely to have those sort of sponsors advocating for them, so you need to start thinking now about how to build those relationships.

1) Look at your professional network, do you have senior leaders in your field that you are close to? You are the average of your five closest colleagues, so make sure someone further along than you is in your network.

2) Start doing informational interviews with top leaders. Ask good questions and grow that relationship.

3) Be clear where you want to go. People can't help you move ahead if you don't tell them where you want to go.

4) Return the favor. Be your sponsors biggest cheerleader and remember to thank them as your career accelerates.

Give Smart: 25 Websites to Learn a Charity’s Effectiveness & Efficiency

Joseph Morris at the Master's in Public Administration blog (a great resource if you are looking for grad programs) has a new list up of 25 web resources to check a charity's effectiveness. From Joseph:

According to the IRS, an organization qualifies as a charity if 35% or less of its income goes to administrative expenses such as salary and operating costs. With literally thousands of groups qualifying, it can be confusing to decide which organization to give to. Every day, the images of those who need help reach us, along with mailings, charity walks, food drives, and even guys dressed as Santa ringing a bell.

With literally billions of dollars at stake, how does the average person navigate this maze of giving? A quick and easy way to do so is to check out the below 25 websites to learn a charity’s effectiveness and efficiency. Use them to separate the generous from the stingy, the ones whose actions define them from the mouthpieces, and even by the areas that interest you.

Websites to Learn a Charity’s Effectiveness & Efficiency

1. American Institute of Philanthropy Stop here for a nationally prominent charity watchdog service whose purpose is to help donors make informed giving decisions. They rate, grade, focus on top salaries, and other hot issues in the charity sector. You can also read tips for giving wisely and hear what others have to say. Best of all, the AIP does not take any money from the charities it rates.

  2. Charity Navigator This site works to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of over 5,500 of America’s largest charities. You can browse by every category from animals to religion. There are also loads of top ten lists to keep you busy such as “Top 10 Most Requested Charities” and “10 Super-Sized Charities.” There are also tips, methodology information, and more. Be sure not to miss the blog with more in charity evaluation.

3. Good Intentions Are Not Enough This site believes if “aid is done poorly it can hurt the very people it is supposed to help.” They provide readers with the knowledge, tools, and resources they need to ensure that their donations match their good intentions. This is accomplished through an internet show that has loads of episodes. There are tips, questions, and other resources that are a must view for anyone looking to be charitable.

4. Guide Star The tagline of this site is “trusted data, customizable analysis, targeted results.” Recently reviewed organizations often make the list and are done by volunteers, clients, and donors. They even offer an Exchange Seal to outstanding charities.

5. BBB The Better Business Bureau keeps tabs on member businesses and does the same for charities. Use their site to find a list of approved charities in your area or area of interest. They also feature reports and standards that you can read online, as well as a wise giving alliance.

6. IRS Just because a charity says it is a non-profit doesn’t necessarily mean it is. To be considered a non-profit and be eligible for deductible giving, it must fill out and have a form 990 approved by the Internal Revenue Service. Visit there to search for charities and get loads of other help. They also include useful items for charities themselves.

7. Charities Aid Foundation A charity to help charities? That was the aim of this foundation is. Donors are given tools to help make the most of their gifts. Based in the United Kingdom, they also put out reports such as a World Giving Index and Disaster Monitor.

8. The Chronicle of Philanthropy Get the latest in charity news by checking out this website of this publication. Daily news, tips for fund raising, giving, and even managing are regularly reported. You can also check out facts and figures, as well as view the most popular stories from the homepage.

You'll find the other 17 resources here.

10 Years of nonprofit buzzwords

Every field needs its big thinker that summarize mounds of data and helps us identity trends. Lucy Bernholz is that big thinker for the social sector. Recently she produced a list of the top 10 buzzwords from the social sector over the last 10 years. From Lucy: Buzzwords are fleeting things. They come in and go out, are first hot and then not. However, looked at over time, buzzwords also provide a useful rear-view roadmap of how we got here.

Taken together, the 10 phrases I have chosen to show the long steady rise in market-based solutions for social problem solving, technology’s infiltration of all things fund raising, and a shift in attention from local to global.

Following, in descending order of importance, are the 10 philanthropy buzzwords that define the decade.

Number 10: Donate-now buttons

Remember writing checks, stamping envelopes, and mailing off your donations? Way back in the 1990s that’s how we gave money. Filling in credit card numbers on a direct-mail appeal reply card was high-tech, just a notch above throwing your coins into the swinging red kettle.

Donate-now buttons on Web sites got their start in 1999 and really took off in 2001 when AOL, Cisco, and Yahoo started Network for Good.

Number 9: Prize philanthropy

It used to be the biggest philanthropic honors were those you couldn’t apply for - like the Nobel Prize or the MacArthur “genius” award. That all changed in 2004 when SpaceShipOne, a privately built and piloted craft, completed its second orbit of the earth and won the $10-million X Prize. Since then foundations and corporations have fallen over themselves offering cash prizes for social change. There are challenges for wireless news tools, clean-water carriers, digital learning games, and much more. Philanthropists love prizes because they don’t pay out until you solve the problem.

Number 8: Celebvocates

Nonprofits have always loved celebrity backers. Nowadays, star status requires that every movie actor, utility infielder, and aspiring politician find a charitable cause to love. Ceaseless, blatant self- promotion in the name of hungry children, sad diseases, and cute animals is ceaseless, blatant self-promotion we can all stand behind.

In fact, here-let me wear your T-shirt, carry your tote bag, and tweet a gift to your organization so you can take credit for my generosity.

Number 7: Microvolunteering

Mom used to bake cookies for the PTA and serve on committees for the church. Now she edits marketing copy for the local animal shelter while waiting for the bus and helps NASA identify craters on the moon during boring department meetings. Microvolunteering, the art of donating time in 20-minute increments, comes to us via our smart phones-which we also rely on to organize protests and tweet our bikeathon fund-raising totals.

Number 6: Philanthrocapitalism

Nonprofits should be more like businesses. Giving should be more like investing. And capitalism should be more creative just so long as it continues to let some people get crazy wealthy so they can give some of it back to others.

Philanthrocapitalism, a term coined by Mathew Bishop and Michael Green and used as the name of their 2008 book, celebrates the coming together of business skills and structures with a focus on solving the world’s shared social problems.

Read the top 5 terms at the Chronicle of Philanthropy

Join Me LIVE for Six Ways to Rock Your Nonprofit Career in 2011

Me and Rosetta Thurman are giving another one of our Nonprofit Rockstar webinars this Friday, January 14 at 4pm EST/3pm CST/1pm PST. Wanna join us? Read on for all the details:

6 Ways to Rock Your Nonprofit Career in 2011

There’s no better time than the beginning of a new year to make progress on your career goals! In this information-packed webinar, you will learn six ways to advance your nonprofit career in 2011, including expert tips on how to:

• develop expertise
• build a strong network
• establish a great personal brand
• practice authentic leadership
• plan for balance
• move on up

The webinar will be taught by me and Trista, co-authors of How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar. Your registration fee also includes a copy of our NEW Nonprofit Rockstar Workbook, which contains 10 professional development exercises designed to help you move forward in your nonprofit career right away.

Title: 6 Ways to Rock Your Nonprofit Career in 2011

Date: Friday, January 14, 2011

Time: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST

Cost: $19.99 (includes webinar and a copy of our new Nonprofit Rockstar Workbook)

Register Here

6 Events that got people talking about nonprofits in 2010

Allison Jones, one of my favorite nonprofit bloggers has a great new post about six events that happened in 2010 that got people talking about nonprofits. From Allison:

Is it just me or were more people talking a lot about nonprofits this year? Not just from my fellow nonprofiteers; but also from folks who were interested in doing good or who were shocked/interested by some stuff they heard and wanted to learn more.

I decided to compile some events this year that I think made those of us working in the nonprofit sector think more critically about our work as well encouraged others to participate (or at least learn about) our role in this country.

The Earthquake in Haiti

From helphaitiearthquakevictims.com/

What happened: On Tuesday January 12th a catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti a few miles outside of the capital Port-au-Prince. The earthquake killed 230,000 people, injured 300,000, and left 1,000,000 homeless. The limited infrastructure Haiti had was severely damaged, making recovery efforts difficult.

How did this affect nonprofits? In addition to mobilizing communities to participate in relief efforts in a variety of ways, several organizations stole the spotlight because of their use of technology (good) and their questionable actions in times of crisis (bad).

The Red Cross made text message donations more mainstream and raised the most of any disaster relief organization responding to the earthquake; at the same time they, along with Wyclef Jean’s nonprofit Yele Haiti, faced harsh criticism for their handling of funds. By February, over $500 million raised for Haiti had not been spent leading many to question nonprofits ability to respond to disaster.

Read about the other five events that got people talking about nonprofits here.

How the lotto can help your career planning

The end of the year is a great time for some good old fashioned daydreaming. Clear your head and think about what you would do if you won $200 million in the lottery. Be as detailed as possible. Would you buy a fast car, quit your job in a hail of thrown paperwork a and profanities, do a Pretty Woman style shopping spree? Now what would you do the second week? The second year? At some point shopping gets old, so what are you going to do with the rest of your life, since money is no longer an issue. Would you start volunteering at the local woman's shelter? Would you start a foundation that uses a community decision-making process? Would you write a book about the intersections between community good and corporate profit making? Be as detailed here as you were in the shopping spree fantasy.

I'm willing to bet that winning $200 million in the lottery isn't what is standing between you and that dream. The things that you would do a few years into your lottery win are actually  your big, hairy, audacious goals. These are the goals that are so big that we are sometimes afraid to dream them. This year get over that fear and take the next step to getting to that goal. If helping battered women take the next step to independence is really your dream, then set up an informational interview with a director that you admire. If you want to start your own foundation, look for a job as a program officer and help other people give away their money more efficiently. If you want to write a book, then sit down and start writing a book.

A ticket isn't stopping you from reaching your goal, so take that first step.

Free Webinar Tomorrow! (Hurry it's almost sold out!)

Me and Rosetta Thurman are giving an exclusive one hour webinar tomorrow, Friday, December 17 at 3pm CST/4pm EST for all of the lovely folks who’ve purchased our new book, How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar! Here’s all the details:

How to Build Your Professional Network (from Scratch!)

You’ve heard this many times before: the key to getting your dream nonprofit job or moving up in the sector is to network, network, and network some more. You’ve heard it so many times because it’s true.

But how do you network if you don’t have much of a “network”? Well, back in the day, before Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, nonprofit leaders actually made connections face to face most of the time. These days, technology has made communication much less time-consuming, but the old-fashioned methods of networking still hold true.

This interactive presentation will reveal nine practical ways to build your network from scratch – both on and offline. Rosetta Thurman and Trista Harris, co-authors of How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar will facilitate.

Title: How to Build Your Professional Network (From Scratch!)

Date: Friday, December 17, 2010

Time: 3:00 PM CST/4:00 PM EST

The webinar is a totally FREE professional development opportunity for those who’ve already bought our book, How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar! And no worries if you can’t join us in real time – the webinar will be recorded for you to listen to afterwards. But you have to register in order to receive the recording!

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Lying on your resume will get you grounded

I read an article today about an airline pilot/cardiologist that had a very successful speaking and academic career. This pilot was uncovered as a fraud when it was discovered that he had not actually graduated from medical school and was not a cardiologist. From the AP:

He seemed like Superman, able to guide jumbo jets through perilous skies and tiny tubes through blocked arteries. As a cardiologist and United Airlines captain, William Hamman taught doctors and pilots ways to keep hearts and planes from crashing.He shared millions in grants, had university and hospital posts, and bragged of work for prestigious medical groups. An Associated Press story featured him leading a teamwork training session at an American College of Cardiology convention last spring.

But it turns out Hamman isn't a cardiologist or even a doctor. The AP found he had no medical residency, fellowship, doctoral degree or the 15 years of clinical experience he claimed. He attended medical school for a few years but withdrew and didn't graduate.

When I read these type of stories I always wonder how it got to this point. It probably started with trying to impress a woman at a dinner party ("Yes, I am a pilot and a heart surgeon") and then when that went well, he tried it at his next job interview.  

I know when the job market is tight there is an little voice in your heard that may be encouraging you to embellish your qualifications. Fight that urge. Make your resume stand out more by branding yourself, building your network, and legitimately increasing your skills.

Lying is a slippery slope. One day you are fudging your GPA on a resume and the next you are pretending that you are a flying heart surgeon.

I used to be crafty but now I love my job and buy from Etsy

There was a time, not so long ago, when I would spend the weeks leading up until Christmas bent over a table of cardmaking supplies. I would get a ton of joy from arranging the paper just so and thinking up witty sayings for the inside of the cards. It was a huge creative outlet for me that I really enjoyed. My husband asked me if I was going to make cards this year and I snorted a "yeah, right". The thought of making a pile of homemade cards today makes my brain hurt. I was trying to figure out why something that was once a pleasurable hobby, now sounds like a bleak chore and it's because I like my job.

I know that this is a weird leap but card making was my creative outlet when I felt like I wasn't able to be very creative in my job. I was a small part in a large machine and there were responsibilities that I needed to manage in very specific ways. I hadn't yet learned how to bring creativity and vision to my work, so I had to find a different place (card making) to use that creativity and vision that was inside of me, just waiting to come out.

Now I am able to use my creativity every day at Headwaters and I've found a great creative outlet writing "How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar" with Rosetta. In the past, I might have equated life balance to excellence in every area of my life at the same time. I've finally come to the place where I realize that balance, for me, is using my skills, talent, and energy in a way that makes me happy and makes the world a better place, even if that mean no homemade cards this year.