Nonprofit Matters 
The Center for Nonprofits Weekly E-Newsletter 
May 29, 2014 

 

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Six Things I've Learned

 

Here in Chattanooga, we often talk about the gorgeous vistas, the hip social scene, and that all important Can-Do attitude that has resulted in great strides being made in our overall economic well- being.  

 

No doubt about it: Chattanooga, and the areas that surround it, are cool places to live.

 

But a large part of what makes it so are the people who live here, especially those that have a passion for making this part of the world better.  Our nonprofit community - its leaders, staff, volunteers, boards and donors -   are the difference makers.  Whether it's a hand up, a hot meal, or a hug; a jaw dropping mural or a jaw dropping vista; a home for man's best friend or an opportunity to forge new friendships in a safe environment - our part of the world is made better by its vibrant nonprofit community.

 

As Executive Director of the Center for Nonprofits and Volunteer Center for the past seven years, I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with amazing people doing amazing work that truly makes this great place to live even greater.  And I've learned a lot - a whole lot -from those I've served.

  1. Change is good.  Really.  It forces us to think, to adapt, to learn and to grow.  Someone once asked me why the Center for Nonprofits was still assisting those who wanted to start a new nonprofit, given that there were "already so many".    My reply?  We have new needs and problems, and old problems that still need solutions.
  2. We gotta work together.   I'm not just paying lip service to the idea - we really must collaborate to accomplish anything important.   Collectively we can have a bigger impact, and actively working to forge partnerships should be something we are all consciously working on.
  3. Good work is not an excuse for bad business.   Even when your heart is in the right place, your head has to be focused on the details that matter. Budgets, marketing, HR issues, financial controls, insurance, staff development, board development - it's all important.
  4. Boards are a blessing.  It may be more cumbersome to make decisions through a diffuse power structure of board and staff combined, compared to the top-down executive decision making that is the norm in the for-profit world, but a well-functioning board whose individual talents and resources come together in support of the organization is a powerful force to be reckoned with.  Mountains can be moved.
  5. Beware of the wolves in sheep's clothing.  Someone once asked me where I worked and what I did, and when I told them, said "you must be a good person".  I'm not, at least not any better than most.  That mentality, however, that "no-one would ever steal from a nonprofit" (or sue, or con, or fill- in- the- blank)canmake us an easy target if we are not vigilant.  Although it's a teeny-tiny percent, the bad people are out there and yes, they will steal from a nonprofit.  And unlike a for-profit entity, it is not our dollars they steal, but our donor's.  It's a big deal.
  6. Mission Matters.  It is central to everything.  And while those of us who work and volunteer in the nonprofit sector may not  necessarily be better people than those that don't, for the most part we do care deeply about what we do and why we do it, and our passion sets us apart.

Thanks to each of you who have crossed my path over the years, and taught me so much.  I hope you will continue to engage with, and support, the Center for Nonprofits/Volunteer Center in fulfilling its mission.

 

All the best,

 

Sheila Moore  

 

 

* Sheila's last day with us is Friday, May 30th.  Please join us in wishing her the best. Should you need to reach her after this time, she can be reached at sheila_moore22@yahoo.com. 

 

 

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Did you know that in addition to giving your organization great benefits, your annual membership fee goes toward supporting the entire Chattanooga area nonprofit community with training and services?

 

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Consider the Center's Affiliate Business Membership
 
Upcoming CNP Classes & Events
June 3; 9am-12pm
 

Learn effective strategies for planning and organizing your volunteer program and how apply established templates and well-researched policies and procedures to your volunteer program. Participants will be able to develop their own volunteer handbooks after completing this session.

Communicating in Today's World

June 4; 9am-12pm

 

Learn how your preferred style in conjunction with today's technology influences your overall performance within a team. You will walk away from this fun and interactive session with a greater understanding of communication styles, their impacts and strategies to apply within both work and personal team settings. Presented by Melonie Dalson.

Wage and Hour Rules for Nonprofits
June 5; 9am-12pm
 

Perhaps the fastest-growing area of legal exposure for employers in the United States is wage and hour law. In this training session, we will discuss a variety of fundamental topics related to the payment of wages in the workplace and provide you with the tools to ensure that you avoid the hidden pitfalls that lead to legal claims in all areas of wage and hour law. Presented by Maury Nicely, Esq.

Grant Opportunities

  • The Ford Foundation focuses on securing equal rights and opportunity for all. It support efforts to help vulnerable populations gain access to the social, political and cultural institutions that govern their rights. Requests are accepted in categories such as project planning and support; general support; and endowments.
  • The Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation seeks to fund organizations that operate in the areas of education and health. Specifically, the Foundation is interested in projects that operate in interprofessional education and teamwork among health care professionals, providing new curriculum to health professional education, developing new models for clinical education, increasing faculty skills in health profession education, and improving education for the care of underserved populations. 
  • The Weingart Foundation seeks to support organizations that operate in the areas of health, human services, or education. The Foundation gives highest priority to activities that provide greater access to people who are economically disadvantaged and underserved. Of particular interest to the Foundation are applications that specifically address the needs of low-income children and youth, older adults, and people affected by disabilities and homelessness.
 
News & Notes
  • Save the Date- The TN Valley Institute for Nonprofit Excellence, the Center's annual conference, will be held on August 27th at the University of Tennessee- Chattanooga. Stay tuned for more details.    

 

Center for Nonprofits | 630 Market Street | Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402 | 423-752-0300