Monthly Update | Jan. 2021
A Message from our CEO
This has been yet another incredibly painful week, compounding all that you have been enduring as nonprofit professionals over the last eleven months. What happened at our Nation’s Capital on Wednesday was absolutely horrendous - another example of how the deep rooted issues our nation has with white supremacy and privilege result in ongoing, inequitable treatment of communities and people of color. Many of us are all too acutely aware that if the individuals involved in this devastating assault on our democracy had been people of color then the approach and outcomes would have been far different.

Wednesday's events also serve to illustrate the need for honorable leadership that listens and is representative, just, honest, transparent, committed to equity, values all human beings, and demonstrates examples of collective care and peace. On dark days like this past Wednesday, the only resolve I can find sometimes is in the fact that our daily work at CEN is to further the knowledge and practices of IDEAL (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access and Liberation) in our sector. It makes all of us here dedicate ourselves even more as we lead work that we hope will help transform our sector and address the hidden and sometimes not so hidden issues of racism it has. In times like these, I also look to and find resolution in great examples of leadership by people like Stacey Abrams and the many individuals she worked with that are shining examples of brave, collective, brilliant leadership that honors all people. I am greatly moved by her work and her vision.

As leaders in your own organizations, will you be holding space to talk about Wednesday with your staff? Did you get a chance to check in on them? It is important we do this as organizations. In these times, nonprofits need to acknowledge and not ignore the racism that is not only playing out on our national stage but that is also happening inside our own organizations. We have to lead and invite our organizational members to call out white supremist practices, have honest conversations, work to make changes and create/foster representative and inclusive cultures. Are you making space for staff to speak their truth and feel safe to do so? Are you working to recruit, retain, and develop diverse talent? When we engage in these types of IDEAL practices we all benefit, the people we serve benefit, and we ensure the longevity of our organizations.

Thank you, to all of you that are dedicating your lives to work in this space, to all of you that are committed to listening and learning, and to the leaders that are honoring truth and care for all.

Please note the two-day IDEAL training we are offering below. This important curriculum was designed by Colsaria Henderson, and will be led by her and fellow CEN staff members Jenn Torai, Shana Peete, and Illyasha Peete. 
-Larissa Robideaux, Chief Executive Officer
Keeping up with CEN
Sign the Nonprofit Racial Equity Pledge
Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits (SVCN) and a collective of nonprofits working towards racial justice brings to you this Nonprofit Racial Equity Pledge and is asking for your organizations and for you to publicly endorse it.
 
Why are you being asked to endorse this pledge? Nonprofit leaders know and often witness firsthand that existing systems of power give privilege and access to resources that preserve and exacerbate racial inequities. And although nonprofits pledge to work in service to the community, we often allow biases, exclusion, and inequities within our own organizations to go unchecked. So let's fix this, together. Let’s agree to embed values and practices of diversity, inclusion, and equity in our organizations. We can commit to learn, embrace, and effectuate those values in our everyday work. Furthermore, let’s pledge to champion these values in public and private-sector arenas.

In addition to signing on behalf of your organization, please welcome your staff and board members to sign as well. Signing individually means that nonprofit staff are committed to working within their organizations to provide support and accountability towards the organizational promises, and also furthering an anti-racist culture within your organization. Click the button below to learn more and sign the pledge.
NEW! CEN's IDEAL Certificate for Nonprofit Professionals
As the world around us demands changes and shifts that ensure equity and inclusion, it can be difficult for nonprofits and nonprofit leaders to know where to begin. This 2-day certificate program is a genuine, candid space to explore the principles of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Liberation (IDEAL) and the effect of these principles on the community you serve and the organization as a whole. The sessions are intended to provide a respectful, nonjudgmental space and opportunity for growth and thought-partnership. It will require vulnerability and promises safe exploration of concepts and ultimately the beginnings of an action plan.
We're opening our "Bay Area Nonprofit Consultant and Leadership Program Surveys" and inviting you to participate!
If you provide nonprofit consulting/coaching services or manage a leadership or capacity building program here in the Bay Area, we invite and encourage you to please participate in our survey! Through this open call as well as personal invitations, CEN (in partnership with the Silicon Valley Community Foundation) is surveying the local landscape and putting together a comprehensive list to help raise visibility for you – the providers and organizations doing the critical work – and to better articulate the leadership and capacity building ecosystem locally in order to assist both funders and the nonprofit community in assessing the relevance, efficacy, and long-term impact of various consultants/services/programs. This process also aims to identify consultants and capacity building organizations that can demonstrate a deep understanding of the current landscape and offer well-rounded perspectives, experiences, and proven curricula that build leadership and organizational success. We are committed to ensuring this process includes people that are not always asked to participate and is representative of our community and the wide array of services and support available. Please share this opportunity with any colleagues, consultants, and leadership program managers you know that are engaged in this work!
Nonprofit Boot Camp is Coming up Next Month!
Have you attended a nonprofit boot camp yet? CEN's Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Boot Camp is an opportunity deepen your impact by learning from industry experts, exploring the nonprofit business model, developing and augmenting management skills, and gaining a robust toolkit of resources to excel and sustain yourself in a nonprofit career. Additionally, we've embedded timely content (coping resources, fundraising strategies, etc.) to address current and evolving challenges. All of our virtual offerings are designed to be inclusive environments where participants can create authentic connections with peers and receive/provide support as we emerge from 2020. The intensive Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Boot Camp is a 3-day, not-for-credit certificate course for new executives, managers, board members, and emerging professionals from the nonprofit sector.
Effectively Harnessing Your Nonprofit's Human Capital During Crisis - Strategies to Ensure Organizational/Employee Sustainability and Financial Security
We are once again partnering with Gian Panetta, Samantha Davenport, Kim Smith, and Matthew Sagers from MassMutual Northern California to address some of the prominent issues in harnessing your organization’s human capital. In this program we will discuss the following:

  • How to address the myriad challenges from finance to culture and compassion fatigue
  • Why it is important to pay attention to the wellness of your employees and their financial situation
  • Why non-profits shouldn’t overlook the importance of employee benefits at all levels
  • How to package compensation/benefits at low or no cost that will encourage employee retention
  • What is the employer’s responsibility to employees as it pertains to financial wellness
  • How to maintain healthy relationships through voluntary wellness programs

We know that challenges in human capital are exacerbated during crisis times which means organizations must recalibrate and pivot as needed to grow and thrive. These topics will be covered with ample time and opportunity to discuss specific cases and issues that nonprofit leaders are experiencing.
Did You Know?
Each month we'll share an interesting fact, statistic, or article that challenges the way we view work and inspires a new way to effect community impact.
"[This year] 0ur understanding of what it means to be a trans ally grew from words – writing “trans rights” on a placard, putting pronouns in their bio, asking for trans-awareness training at work – into deeper actions. Whether it was giving money to trans people and groups, writing letters to politicians backing trans rights, or calling out their transphobic boss, cis people supported their trans and non-binary siblings during what has been, for many people, a genuinely awful year. Now, it’s time to build on that..."


PinkNews shares eight pieces of advice from trans and non-binary people on how to be a better trans ally in 2021 and beyond.
Membership
CEN remains committed to supporting our sector through this challenging time and will continue to offer membership scholarships and payment plans to ensure you have access to the resources you need.
Has your organization renewed its CEN membership? As the nonprofit sector continues to face the negative impact of COVID-19, CEN has shifted our offerings to better support you through this unprecedented time of crisis. We have moved all of our programs online, offering virtual training opportunities that merge fundamental leading practices with crisis management resources and opportunities for authentic peer-to-peer connections and support. Members continue to receive deep discounts - usually 50% - on all of our programming, which we've expanded this year, and access to special resources.
Nonprofit Training
In response to COVID-19, CEN has moved all of our programs online, offering virtual training opportunities that merge fundamental best practices with crisis management resources and opportunities for peer-to-peer connections and support. Additionally, we're offering special discounts and payment plans to make these offerings increasingly accessible during this challenging time so please reach out!
Understanding Nonprofit Financials - Level 101
In this class we will explore the basic elements of common nonprofit financial statements and will identify tips to better understand what they mean and how they can be used to determine the health of an organization, specifically in times of uncertainty. Participants walk away with an understanding of how they can use this financial information to make timely, strategic decisions.
Management Basics - Part 1
This workshop (great for new managers and those looking for a refresher) will show you the techniques you need to set yourself – and your team! – up for success. Participants will learn how to set expectations, manage performance day-to-day, and review human resources best practices. Additionally, we'll offer leading practices and strategies for managing and working remotely as well as resources to help staff cope during difficult times. You'll leave with the tools to improve productivity, communication, and overall team satisfaction.
Management Basics - Part 2
In this workshop, participants will gain ways to build a culture founded on trust (increasingly important in a virtual setting) by exploring working styles and setting expectations around working together. The workshop will also identify ways to turn a currently dysfunctional employee/team into a high performing asset. Bring your own examples/struggles and we will work together to create action plans.
Nonprofit Board Essentials
In this workshop, we will go over the basic responsibilities of nonprofit board service to help board leaders understand their commitment and to set appropriate expectations between staff and board. Additionally, we will explore ways for nonprofit board members to maximize support of the organization's mission. This session is also a great program for individuals interested in exploring nonprofit board service and gaining a better understanding of what this commitment means.
Fundraising Basics - Level 101
Participants will explore the basic fundraising process, gain a framework for building a comprehensive fundraising plan, and will learn how to develop a case for support and then strategies to communicate it effectively to donors. We will also touch on the Board's role in fundraising and how best to support these efforts. This beginner level session will leave you with the templates and resources you need to start fundraising more strategically, especially during current challenges.
Newsletter Sponsorship
Interested in newsletter sponsorship? This is a great opportunity to share your services with our community of nonprofit leaders and to support CEN's ongoing networking efforts? Please email jen@cen.org.
Community
National Day of Racial Healing
The National Day of Racial Healing is a movement designed to lift interconnectedness, promote social justice, and heal the harms of inequity through community, relationship, and structural change. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation spearheaded the national movement in 2017 sharing the perspective of “Racial Healing as a process that restores individuals and communities to wholeness, repairs the damage caused by racism and transforms societal structures into ones that affirm the inherent value of all people.” 

In Santa Clara County The National Day of Racial Healing is a coordination of events and actions designed to promote racial healing, youth voice, equity, and connectedness. The County of Santa Clara’s theme for 2021 is: Healing through justice, truth, and equity: Black lives are Sacred. This movement builds on the collective healing work of our system partners and honors the diversity that makes us all sacred. Join the movement by attending, hosting an event at your organization, and/or joining the Office of Cultural Competency and its partners in justice from 3-5pm on January 21st to celebrate the strength and diversity of our community. Please email Patty Marquez (patricia.marquez01@ceo.sccgov.org) with questions about the OCC virtual event.
Financial Management Courses
Are you aware of online learning opportunities from Financial Management Associates (FMA)? These courses offer students knowledge and practical skills that transform work environments. Through interactive learning techniques, cutting-edge curriculum, and practical tools that support learning, students can immediately apply their new knowledge to improve their organization. FMA’s courses are led by professionals with deep nonprofit sector experience. They tailor training to address specific nonprofit organization and professional needs.
Participate in Fair Pay for Northern CA Nonprofits: The 2021 Compensation and Benefits Survey
2021 promises to be a year unlike any other as nonprofit managers continue to navigate the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's how your organization will benefit from the "the best survey of its kind:"

·  Current, local compensation data on more than 200 jobs found in nonprofit organizations throughout Northern California
·  Base pay levels and bonus/incentive pay for each job with details by annual operating budget, location within Northern California, number of employees and primary field of service
·  Employee benefits in detail: paid time off, insurance, retirement
·  Salary increases over past year and expected during the next year
·  Policies with respect to on-call work, overtime, shift differentials, pay for bilingual skills, introductory periods, performance reviews and more
Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties & the Constitution
As many of you know, Fred Korematsu challenged the United States government's unlawful incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. After fighting to vindicate the civil rights of 120,000 Japanese Americans, Fred went on to speak up against the detention of racial profiling of Muslim Americans after 9/11 and the wrongful prosecution of a Chinese American scientist for alleged espionage. For the past few years, ALA has co-sponsored the annual Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution and you're invited to join the virtual eventl. The program will feature Fred's daughter, Karen Korematsu, Professor Margaret Russell, of SCU School of Law, Zahra Billoo, Executive Director of the Council on American Islamic Relations of the Bay Area and Rev. Jethroe Moore II, President of the NAACP San Jose/Silicon Valley Chapter.
Does your organization have a training or resource you would like to share with our newsletter community? Please email jen@cen.org. Posts must include a link to learn more and be formatted into a short blurb.
Nonprofit Sector Job Openings
Project Safety Net - Executive Assistant/Business Manager
The Executive Assistant/Business Manager is a newly created position that will be a key member of a small backbone team responsible for supporting Project Safety Net’s collective impact, which is dedicated to youth resiliency, wellbeing promotion and suicide prevention. This position provides comprehensive support to the CEO, serves as a liaison to the Board of Directors, and manages organization’s business operations. This dynamic position requires the ability to anticipate needs, think critically, and offer solutions with a high level of professionalism and confidentiality while working in a start-up environment. This exempt position will initially be 32 hours/week with benefits, flexible hours, and teleworking with the opportunity to increase hours to 40 hours/week.
Bay Area Cancer Connections - Client Services Manager
Bay Area Cancer Connections (BACC) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support anyone affected by breast or ovarian cancer with personalized services that inform and empower. BACC has a job opening for a Client Services Manager. As a key member of the program team, the Client Services Manager plays an important role working closely with the Director of Programs and Services to manage the implementation of all programs and services, which range from support groups to wellness programs to one-on-one support. The position is currently remote but will return to in-person once it is safe to do so.
Have a Job Opening You Want To Share?
Please email jen@cen.org to feature your organization's job opening(s) in an upcoming newsletter (format: 3-4 sentences with a link to learn more). Priority is given to CEN members.
Sobrato Center for Nonprofits - Redwood Shores
330 Twin Dolphin Drive, Suite 151
Redwood City, CA 94065
650-517-5855