Combating early childhood education deserts
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By Lynn Sygiel, editor, Charitable Advisors
In Indiana, the month of March is filled with basketball, and if that madness doesn't grab you, then just wait till May when the roar of the crowds turns into the roar of the engines. Hoosiers, like people all over the country, love a bit of competition. But not all of it takes place on the playing field, and not every competition ends up with someone holding a trophy.
That's not to say there aren't winners, especially in the world of nonprofits, which have adopted the concept as they attempt to expand their presence and draw attention to their work.
The Chicago-based MacArthur Foundation has an admirable mission: "To support creative people, effective institutions and influential networks and build a more just, verdant and peaceful world." In order to discover those elements, the foundation launched a $100 million grant competition in 2016. It was looking for a single proposal to solve a critical problem affecting people, places or the planet. Called 100&Change, it was open to organizations working in any field of endeavor anywhere. After reviewing 1,904 proposals, it named its recipient in 2017 --
Sesame Workshop and International Rescue Committee.
While competitions in general are not new, what is new is nonprofits turning to these challenges to drive innovation. Increasingly, they are discovering that many of the very best ideas lie outside their organizations.
This is true for Early Learning Indiana (ELI). Not only was its recent statewide Child Care Desert competition designed to spur innovation, but there was another motivation – it was a way to expand early learning seats in Indiana, said President and CEO Maureen Weber.
“As an organization, we are really focused on bringing together sort of a system of stakeholders to create accessible, high-quality early education opportunities. We absolutely know that we cannot do this on our own, not on our own in Central Indiana, and not on our own across the state. We needed a way of bringing others into the fold. We felt as though we were having conversations with the same sets of people,” said Weber, who has been in the role for two years.
Read more.
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Six ways contests improve philanthropy
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By Mayur Patel, Stanford Social Innovation Review
Insights from Knight Foundation after years of funding open contests.
We love to compete. Contests tap into that need for us to push ourselves to improve and uncover new ideas. Napoleon used contests to develop better ways of feeding his soldiers. Today, governments and corporations -- including Google, Netflix, IDEO, even NASA -- embrace contests as a way to foster innovation. Grantmakers are also starting to use contests. Knight Foundation was one of the early adopters, and contests actually reshaped how we pursue our mission.
Since 2007, Knight Foundation has funded nearly a dozen open contests, many over multiple years. We have selected 400-plus winners from almost 25,000 entries, and granted more than $75 million to individuals, businesses, schools, and nonprofits. That represents less than 20 percent of our grantmaking, but we’ve learned a lot about how good contests work, what they can do, and what the challenges are. Used appropriately, contests can widen networks, deepen the work that grantmakers already perform, and broaden an organization’s definition of philanthropic giving.
Here are six major ways contests have improved our philanthropy.
When Patel wrote this article in 2013, he was the Knight Foundation’s vice president of strategy and assessment at the Knight Foundation. In February 2018, he was named Kwesé iflix’s CEO.
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Strive for more than a new leader with succession planning
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By Jen Pendleton, vice president, Aly Sterling Philanthropy
At a recent session of our popular board development workshop, The Board Series, one of the hot conversation topics for nonprofit leaders was
succession planning.
That’s right. They wanted to talk about how to best groom the next generation of leaders for their organizations.
The timing is certainly right for this discussion. Most of us have noticed the generational shift in our donor bases – but are we paying attention to the same transition in our staff and board? And if so, are we preparing for it in a proactive way that benefits our missions?
First it takes identifying potential next leaders. This means looking for people who can lead your organization with its new challenges and opportunities into the future. This includes its new technologies and needs.
Succession planning is not just about filling a position but setting a future course.
Nonprofits are well-advised to include the entire leadership team in their succession plans – not just the executive director. While the ED is a key position, it should be designed to share duties and information with other leaders so that keys to vital functions and institutional knowledge are not vested in one person.
Now is the time to build a leadership team and repository of information to carry the mission through any changes in staff. Even the loss of a beloved founder or executive director.
Read more.
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Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) announced the promotion of
Ben Snyder to the director of marketing and communications. He joined CICF in 2015 as online communications coordinator.
Correction: Inadvertently placed wrong text under this photo.
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The Central Indiana Community Foundation has hired
Brian Dickinson as the donor engagement officer for Hamilton County Community Foundation. Dickinson is a recent graduate of Indiana University.
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The Central Indiana Community Foundation has hired
Beth Millikan as senior accountant. Millikan is a CPA and was most recently a senior financial analyst with RTI International.
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Center for Global Impact announced
Todd Durell as executive director. A physician, he most recently was a senior medical director at Eli Lilly and Company.
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LaKoya Rochell director of programs and associate director of development for the Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI. Most recently, she was executive director of resource development for several Ivy Tech Community College campuses.
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The Questa Education Foundation’s board of directors has announced
Elizabeth Bushnell as its executive director. She previously served in various roles at Manchester University.
– Inside Indiana Business
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Indianapolis-based The Mind Trust has hired
Chelsea Reed as manager of external communications. She most recently spent eight years leading marketing and communications efforts for Zion Hope Church.
– Inside Indiana Business
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Central Indiana Land Trust has hired
Stephanie Paine Crossin as a land protection specialist. She previously ran a legal clinic before focusing on family and volunteer work.
– Inside Indiana Business
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Ivy Tech Community College has received nearly $4 million as part of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship: Closing the Skills Gap grant program. The college plans to use the funding to launch its Industrial Internet of Things Apprenticeship Expansion.
Read more.
The
Indiana Philanthropy Alliance is accepting nominations for the Hazelett Award for Leadership in Grantmaking. The award is presented to an individual who exemplifies personal high standards, devotion to philanthropy and leadership and mentoring skills and recognizes the efforts of a leader in grantmaking. Nominations due April 3.
Nominate here.
The
Women’s Fund of Central Indiana is accepting grant concept proposals through March 31. The Fund will consider program or operating support for organizations that share its interest in improving conditions for women and girls. Learn about guidelines and how to apply
here.
Do it Best Corp., which is relocating its headquarters to Fort Wayne's Electric Works project, is also launching a foundation. The Do it Best Foundation will distribute grants to nonprofit organizations and focus its giving in four key areas -- health and wellness, youth enrichment, the arts and the community.
Learn more.
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Streamlining your major gift efforts with data: A case study webinar on March 11 at noon. Learn about a process that combines donor data with behavioral analytics to ensure gift officers are focusing efforts on the right prospects. Free.
Register.
Theory of change: why you need one and how to develop it webinar on March 19 from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Learn to explain what a theory of change is and why it’s helpful, differentiate between a theory of change and a logic model, determine who should be involved in your organization’s effort to define or refine its theory of change and begin articulating who your core audience is, what their related needs are and how you hope they will change or benefit as a result of their engagement with you. Cost: through March 11, $49; then $75.
Register.
Buckingham Foundation presents a
community screening of “The Rescue List” on March 20 at 4 p.m. at Indiana Landmarks (1202 Central Ave.). The film is an award-winning documentary about the work of Challenging Heights, an organization that rescues children from slavery in the fishing industry at Lake Volta, in Ghana, Africa, and the session includes a panel discussion followed by a reception. Cost: free.
Registration is required.
Volunteer recruitment, retention and more on March 25 from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at Central Library, Knall Meeting room (40 E. St. Clair St.). Learn best practices and proven methods to recruit and retain volunteers. Participants will receive tools to help guide the development of a strong and lasting volunteer workforce. Cost: free.
Register.
Building power: a conversation on Latinx giving and philanthropy on April 7 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Indianapolis Central Library (Clowes Auditorium, 40 E. St. Clair St.). Hear from the president of Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP), Ana Marie Argilagos, as she discusses current trends in philanthropy among Latinx communities. Cost: free.
RSVP here.
Ethical decision-making for fundraisers webinar on May 14 from noon to 1 p.m. In this session, Dr. Kathi Badertscher will apply ethical decision-making models to real-world fundraising scenarios. Learn three approaches to navigating ethical dilemmas. Cost: $19.74.
Learn more and register here.
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The Mayor’s Office of Education Innovation (OEI) is hosting a board recruitment event on March 12 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Tinker House Events (1101 E. 16th St.). This is an opportunity for those looking to make an impact in the community through nonprofit board service to network and engage with school leaders across the city. This event is tailored to highly-skilled leaders with experience in the areas in which our boards have indicated a need (i.e. finance, marketing, philanthropy, communications, IT, legal, engineering etc.).
RSVP here.
Coburn Place volunteer orientation is March 21 from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. at Coburn Place Safe Haven (604 E. 38th St.). You’ll get the chance to meet new people, learn more about Coburn Place and domestic violence and tour its building. Contact
Drew LaCroix or call 317-923-5750 for questions. To apply, click
here.
The City of Fishers is seeking volunteers for Spring Recycling Day on March 28 at 10:15 a.m. at Billericay Park (12690 Promise Rd., Fishers). Volunteers will help residents remove non-recyclable trash to the general trash dumpsters. More information
here.
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The nonprofit communications trend report. The 2020 Nonprofit Communications Trends Report has both good news and bad news to share, compiled from the answers of 625 nonprofit communications professionals who took its annual survey in November 2019.
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Our
sponsor marketplace
serves to further connect our readers with our advertisers who are focused on serving nonprofits.
To learn about each sponsor's nonprofit services, click on its logo.
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FUND DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGIC PLANNING
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BANKING/
ASSET MANAGEMENT
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MEETING ROOM OR EVENT SPACE
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Reserve a room for your next meeting or training at St. Paul's Indy.
Looking for a meeting space on Indy's Northside? St. Paul's Indy has six rentable spaces that can accommodate groups from six to 250. Building is handicap-accessible and has a large parking lot and ample street parking. Guest wifi and A/V equipment included. Interested in learning more?
Click here
for accommodation details, pricing and an inquiry form.
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OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE OR SALE
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Prime office space for lease in the heart of Indy's Downtown
Share office space with other nonprofits in the Platform in the City Market Complex (202 E. Market St.). Affordable spaces available for up to 60 people or six to eight employees. Among the amenities, tenants have shared access to large and small conference spaces, fiber optic Internet and Wifi, color and black-and- white printers/copiers/scanners, and a kitchen stocked with premium coffee. Easy access to parking, public transportation, a bike hub, outdoor plaza, and cultural trail, along with many great restaurants. For more information contact Lesley Fitzsimons at
lfitzsimons@lisc.org
or click
here
.
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Downtown
Are you looking for a small office downtown? Look no further. The Heier Building (10 S. New Jersey St.) is located in the heart of Indianapolis and has 630 square feet available. It is a five-minute walk from City Market and within walking distance to Monument Circle, Mass Ave and Fountain Square. Contact Lena Hackett at 317-423-1770 for detail.
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