October 6, 2022

Hello Nonprofit Leaders and Supporters, 

With the beginning of Fall, you can really sense the change in the seasons and the cooling as we head toward the end of the year. Here at NAO, we are also sensing the excitement that nonprofits are feeling to keep moving systems toward better outcomes for their communities. As you’ll see below, the NAO team has been hard at work curating a set of learning experiences, resources and advocacy initiatives on behalf of the nonprofits in Oregon.

I want to take a moment to wish a Happy LGBTQIA++ History Month celebrating the history and achievements of the LGBTQIA++ community. There are many nonprofits that specifically support the LGBTQIA++ community and there are many events planned across October that you can attend or support.

I also want to wish everyone a Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day on October 10th. This day was proclaimed into law last year by President Biden recognizing all of the contributions that Indigenous peoples have made throughout history. There is much to learn from these First Peoples that have been stewards of the lands we now call Oregon for thousands of years. I hope everyone in our nonprofit sector takes some time to learn more about the nine federally recognized tribes of Oregon as well as those tribes that are still struggling for federal recognition.

Stay healthy and be safe, 

Jim White

NAO Executive Director

Where Has All the Money Gone?

Nonprofits are in dire need. Federal pandemic-related aid programs have begun to wound down, families are struggling with high inflation, and donations aren’t keeping pace. Charitable giving today is more critical than ever, and nonprofits like food banks play a crucial role for millions of families. But the laws around giving are falling short — putting donors' interests first rather than prioritizing what charities need.

Our friends and longtime member, the Oregon Food Bank, are hosting a webinar to address these issues nonprofits face. This is one session you don’t want to miss!

Wednesday, October 19 from 1 – 2:15 p.m. (PT)

Register for free

Oregon by the Numbers

As Oregonians face new problems to solve, decision-makers and nonprofit organizations across our state need high-quality data and new kinds of data. Recently, The Ford Family Foundation released their 2022 Oregon by the Numbers, our state's most-trusted resource highlighting data for each of our 36 counties and measures across a range of topics and issues – the 2022 report is primed to support community action. Download your copy today (available in English or Spanish).

Workplace Culture for Nonprofits Panel Discussion and 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon

Join Oregon Business for a dynamic discussion exploring workplace culture for nonprofit organizations on Tuesday, October 25, at Portland Center Stage. A panel of experts, including NAO’s Kirsten Saladow, will discuss nonprofit workplace satisfaction and offer perspectives on how priorities have changed and what the future holds. Following the panel discussion, Oregon Business will recognize the 2022 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon. Learn more and register here.

NAO is also hosting several webinars, panels, cohorts, and network events on workplace culture and employee wellness – scroll to the bottom of this newsletter to learn more!

At the State Level

Starting next year, a new major program called Paid Leave Oregon will begin and will affect ALL nonprofit employers. This program allows workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid time off for family, medical and "safe" leave (victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, harassment or stalking). All employers except federal and tribal governments are required to participate in the program. Paid Leave Oregon is funded by contributions made by employers and employees. For more information on what nonprofits need to know and do to be in compliance with Paid Leave Oregon, visit here.

At the Federal Level

US Government Funded and Limited Disaster Relief Funds Made Available

Thanks to a hastily enacted Continuing Resolution (H.R. 6833) all federal departments and agencies remained funded and operational when the new fiscal year commenced over the weekend, The package maintains existing funding levels through mid-December when the lame-duck Congress must enact appropriations to run through September or pass another short-term measure. The new law also provides $12.3 billion in economic and military support for Ukraine, and some natural disaster financial aid, including $2.5 billion in funding for New Mexico to recover from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire in April, $2 billion in additional disaster aid; $20 million for water infrastructure in Jackson, Mississippi, and instructions for the federal government to fully cover typhoon assistance in Alaska.

Beyond this relief, policymakers, including Florida Senators Rubio and Scott, have expressed growing interest in providing more substantial support in response to Hurricanes Fiona and Ian. Any such relief, however, would likely have to wait until after the elections. Charitable nonprofits directly impacted by disasters themselves, providing relief services to others, and helping their communities recover need to advocate now for natural disaster tax relief.

We at NAO join with our colleagues at the National Council of Nonprofits and state associations across America in urging the President and congressional leaders to restore expired charitable giving incentives and the Employee Retention Tax Credit so nonprofits have much-needed resources to support relief and recovery efforts in their communities. Learn more at the Natural Disaster Tax Relief webpage.

NAO’s Virtual Nonprofit Cohorts

Good Ground: A Natural Way to Normalize Wellness in Work Culture (8-Part Session)

October 17 – December 12, 12 – 1:15 p.m. | Facilitator: Erica Briggs, NAO

The resilience of nonprofit organizations is being tested, challenging us to overcome and recover from extreme disruption and change. As individuals, we now live and work in a present-day that can feel unsafe and uncertain. This can create feelings of dread and anxiety, making it difficult to make strategic decisions about the future. Mental and emotional burdens can seep into the cultural foundation of an organization, sowing burnout, “quiet quitting,” and difficulty hiring new staff. How do we find a new normal when the ground keeps shifting? How do we honor the wellness of people in our organization and still get the work done? We cultivate good ground in which to grow as an organization in a complex world, and as complicated humans creating the culture in our organizations. More details and registration information here.

Building Systems that Streamline, Strengthen and Scale Our Work (5-Part Session)

November 3 – December 8, 2 – 3:15 p.m. | Facilitator: Sarah Spangler, NAO

From fundraising to program management, to volunteer coordination, and beyond – all of our work is powered by systems. But what is the difference between a system that propels us forward and one that bogs us down? Join Sarah Spangler, Nonprofit Education Specialist at NAO, as we take a close look at the unique processes currently in place in each of our organizations. With the help of peer-to-peer discussions, guided exercises, and other tips and tricks, you will learn how to take inventory of your systems, determine which ones can and should be improved, evaluate the performance of your systems on an ongoing basis, and understand how to strategically scale them through periods of growth or change. More details and registration information here.

NAO Webinars

Growing a Culture of Care (3-Part Series)

October 11 – December 6, 12 – 1 p.m. | Presenter: Emily Squires, Reimagine Everything

How do we create, grow and strengthen an internal organizational culture of genuine care and support? This three-part series will ask you to reflect on and share your current organizational practices and experiences. Together, we will workshop practical skills including practices for group gatherings (October), deep listening (November), and Employee Resource Groups/affinity spaces (December). Participants will leave each session with practical tips to try and specific resources for ongoing learning and practice. More details and registration information here.

Effective Board Management for Meaningful Engagement

October 11, 13 and November 15, 2-4 p.m. | Presenter: Sarah Spangler, NAO

Board Service can be challenging to navigate! In this webinar, we will discuss the finer details of board management including: how to differentiate the role of staff versus board, tips for running effective meetings that move the work forward, and an exploration of how to have productive conversations amongst your various teams - especially when those conversations generate conflict. This webinar is part of NAO's Springboard Series - a cluster of trainings designed for rural nonprofits. Are you a rural nonprofit in one of the counties below? Register today!

• October 11: Klamath County 
• October 13: Coos and Curry County 
• November 15: Umatilla County

Grant Writing: Keys to a Successful Foundation Proposal (4-Part Virtual Series)

October 18 – November 8, 9 – 10:30 a.m. | Facilitator: Hannah Cortez, The Dotted i

In this series, we will offer hands-on learning activities, peer networking, and expert knowledge on grant readiness, grant research, proposal writing, and grant management. In addition to in-class instruction, participants will have weekly homework to deepen learning and have direct access to course trainers for feedback and support. This is the perfect introduction to foundation proposal writing for small and rural nonprofits and those new to grant writing. More details and registration information here.

Time Management Hacks for the Harried Executive

October 19, 12 - 1 p.m. | Presenter: Kari Anderson, Incite! Consulting

Ever heard the adage "manage your time, or it will manage you"? Do you feel like you're on a never-stopping hamster wheel of perpetual Mondays? Kari Anderson, a former nonprofit executive, will share tips and tools that helped her move from survive to thrive in her 20+ year career in the sector. More details and registration information here. 

Creating an Annual Fundraising Plan (That You Can Actually Stick To!)

October 25, 27 and November 29, 2 - 4 p.m. | Presenter: Sarah Spangler, NAO

When it comes to fundraising, it can feel like we're simultaneously overwhelmed with tasks, and yet, still not doing enough. In this session, we'll provide you with the tools to build an efficient, effective, and realistic annual fundraising calendar. Planning quarter by quarter, you'll be able to plan a year's worth of fundraising that features effective solicitation, heartfelt donor stewardship, and meaningful relationship development. This webinar is part of NAO's Springboard Series - a cluster of trainings designed for rural nonprofits. 

Are you a rural nonprofit in one of the counties below? Register today! 

• October 25: Klamath County 
• October 27: Coos and Curry County 
• November 29: Umatilla County

Functional Forecasting: Taking Control of Cash Flow

November 8, 10 and December 13, 2 - 4 p.m. | Jenn Clemo, NAO

Many organizations find themselves at the mercy of their finances, instead of the other way around. In this 2-hour webinar, participants will do a deep dive to explore how cash flows in and out of an organization. Through hands-on activities, templates, and break-out conversations, we'll build the skills and confidence that nonprofit leaders need to better manage precious financial resources. This webinar is part of NAO's Springboard Series - a cluster of trainings designed for rural nonprofits. 

Are you a rural nonprofit in one of the counties below? Register today!

• November 8: Klamath County 
• November 10: Coos and Curry County 
• December 13: Umatilla County

Board Bright: Finance Fundamentals

November 15, 3-4:30 p.m. | Presenter: Jenn Clemo, NAO

Join us for an overview of basic financial principles including board member responsibilities, understanding restrictions, reviewing your statements for key financial indicators, and internal controls. Please note that this webinar provides fundamentals-level overview that is most appropriate for new board members, emerging nonprofit leaders, or those looking for a refresh of the basics. Free to NAO members! More details and registration information here. 

Hope is not a Strategy - Defining What's MOST Important in Your Work

November 16, 12 - 1 p.m. | Presenter: Kari Anderson, Incite! Consulting

Are you great with a task list, but struggle making decisions about the work that will most impact your mission? Is the word "yes" a perpetual staple in your vocabulary, when you should be saying "no" more often in order to achieve your goals? Kari Anderson, a former nonprofit executive, will share how she cuts through the clutter to ensure the most important work is done, and will share resources for you to use in your daily work. More details and registration information here. 

Federal Grants: 4-Part Readiness Series

December 6, 8, 13 and 15, 9 – 10:30 a.m. | Facilitator: Hannah Cortez, The Dotted i

In this series, we will offer hands-on learning activities, peer networking, and expert knowledge on preparing to seek federal grant funding. In addition to in-class instruction, participants will have weekly homework to deepen their learning and have direct access to course trainers for feedback and support. Through this training, we hope to demystify the federal grant process and give participants a better understanding of how federal funding can be leveraged in your own organizations. More details and registration here.

Making Board Service Palatable

December 7, 12 - 1 p.m. | Presenter: Kari Anderson, Incite! Consulting

As a generation of board members exit their volunteer roles, it's time to get serious about rethinking board service. There are scores of young professionals who have the skills and energy that your nonprofit needs. Are you creating an inviting space for them at your board table? Kari Anderson, a former nonprofit executive, will share critical insight, ideas, and perspectives from those "under the age of 50" to make your board roles both doable and exciting. More details and registration here. 

Creating and Respecting Boundaries at Work

December 8, 12 – 1 p.m. | Presenter: Anna Young, Principal, Anna Young Consulting

How do we co-create and maintain healthy work boundaries with our teams? In this webinar led by Anna Young, we will look at some of the latest findings and best practices around this topic, access tools to make the conversations easier, and share lessons learned from within our community. We will explore different approaches and expectations around setting boundaries at work including: how our understanding of work boundaries has shifted over the past few years with COVID and remote work; a neuroscience-grounded understanding of why setting boundaries is hard for so many of us; understanding how responsibility and accountability play out between team members and managers; and more! More details and registration here.

Board Bright: Engaging Your Board in Fundraising

December 15, 3-4:30 p.m. | Presenter: Jenn Clemo, NAO

A well-prepared and passionate board is essential to successful fundraising. This 90-minute addition to the Board Bright series will provide strategies for setting your board up for fundraising success. Learn how to create fundraising expectations from the get-go, increase your board's understanding of the organization's revenue needs, find ways for everyone to play a role, and build board ambassadors for your cause. Free to NAO members! More details and registration here. 

NAO Workshops (In-person)

Nonprofit Resource Roundups

November 17 and December 6, 12 – 2:30 p.m. | Facilitators: Jenn Clemo and Sarah Spangler, NAO

NAO’s Nonprofit Resource Roundups are learning and networking opportunities for nonprofit staff, board, and volunteers to connect, meet funders, and learn about valuable tools and resources. Resource Roundups are FREE but registration is required. We hope you’ll join us at one of the upcoming sessions below:

• November 17: Klamath County (Klamath Falls)
• December 6: Clatsop County (Astoria)

Effective Supervision Practices for Advancing Equity and Inclusion

November 30 and December 5, 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Presenter: Cliff Jones, Capacity Building Partnerships

Employees are your organization’s most excellent resource. Effective support and direction for your staff and understanding of how to work across differences will help create an environment where people can fully contribute and advance your organization’s mission and goals. This workshop will explore essential elements of a supervisor’s role with a diversity, equity and inclusion lens. We will offer insight into the specific challenges of supervision in the nonprofit environment to help you identify concrete goals and changes you can implement with individual staff and teams. We will examine strategies to address unclear expectations between staff and supervisor, ambivalence about authority, low pay, and heavy workloads.

Whether you have the title of supervisor or not, this workshop will help you develop the techniques to build staff ownership, encourage joint problem-solving, and support staff experience success and satisfaction in working together. This workshop is offered in person at the following locations. Click through to learn more and register:

• November 30: Portland
• December 5: Springfield

NAO Regional Networks (In-person)

Empowering Your Team to Lead with Emotional Intelligence

October 12, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Presenter: Chris Cook, Capiche Communications

Location: ACCESS Olsrud Family Nutrition Center, Medford

Is your organization ready to enhance its performance, boost productivity, and skyrocket creativity? This hands-on workshop will explain and demonstrate the essential tools and framework to develop relationship systems intelligence and lead an intelligent team. Participants will acquire and practice leadership tools to harness your team’s collective potential to create a “we” vs. “me” mentality. More details and registration information here.

Engaging Your Board in Fundraising: A Mission-based Approach

October 18, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Presenter: Grady Goodall, OSU's College of Liberal Arts

Location: Alvord-Taylor, Springfield

Effective fundraising is a team sport, and it can be frustrating to feel like too much of your team is still on the bench. Board members can be some of our most powerful ambassadors, storytellers, and fundraisers - and yet many feel underprepared to fully participate in the fundraising process. In this session, we'll cover strategies to help staff engage board members in fundraising activities so that everyone shares the workload - and the success. More details and registration information here.

Nonprofit Advocacy: Why Nonprofits and Why Now?

October 20, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Presenter: Phillip Kennedy-Wong, NAO

Location: Corvallis Community Center, Corvallis

Communities are going through unprecedented change. Oregon is making important decisions in the coming months about state leadership at all levels. Nonprofits have the right to educate civic leaders on the role our organizations play in our communities to help them make most informed public policy decisions. Join us for an informative discussion on the importance of nonprofit advocacy during a time of social upheaval and unpredictable political challenges. More details and registration information here.

Nonprofit Leaders Panel: Promoting Wellness, Preventing Burnout, and Fostering a Positive Work Culture

October 26, 8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. | Facilitator: Erica Briggs, NAO

Location: Ecotrust, Portland

Nonprofit leaders are constantly having to juggle an untold number of competing priorities. However, as workplace norms shift again, we find ourselves in an environment where the culture of our organization is a top priority to the volunteers, employees, and board members we hope to attract and retain. Join us for this interactive panel discussion with local nonprofit leaders as they share lessons about cultivating a work culture that keeps people engaged, productive, fulfilled, and well. More details and registration here.

Board Governance Plans: What Are They and How Do They Help

October 26, 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Presenters: Jen and Tim Rusk, Rusk Coaching & Consulting

Location: Deschutes Children's Foundation, Bend

This session focuses on exploring the benefits of a Board Governance Plan that clearly communicates the expectations, responsibilities, and protocols for all those involved in the governance function of a nonprofit. A Board Governance Plan is an opportunity for board members to define their culture, agree on how they will work together, set up how they will measure success, establish an orientation process, and calendar the work they need to do over the course of a year. More details and registration information here. 

Layered Security for Nonprofits

November 2, 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | Presenter: Ron Rothstein, SMB Technologies

Location: Ecotrust, Portland

Nonprofit organizations hold a lot of sensitive information – including financial records – that they need to keep safe and secure. Cyberattacks and breaches happen every day and nonprofits need to be prepared to apply the multi-layered security needed in order to prevent these events. In this session, you will learn about layered security, which is a network security approach that deploys multiple security controls to protect the most vulnerable areas of your technology environment where a breach or cyberattack could occur. More details and registration here.

Trauma-Informed Care: Next Steps

November 2, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Presenter: Reba Smith, M.S., Consultant

Location: ACCESS Olsrud Family Nutrition Center, Medford

Resilience is becoming the new buzzword for how to navigate our stress-filled lives. But, what does resilience in action look like? In this session, you will: learn practical, simple ways to promote resilience and trauma-informed care; explore the main areas in your organization that can be targeted for improvement; examine the influence individuals have in shifting your culture; and gain skills to support yourself, staff and clients. More details and registration information here.

Guided by our Values: Value-driven Leadership and Intentional Workplace Culture

November 3, 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Presenter: Chris Wallace Caldwell, MA, Catalysis LLC

Location: Ecotrust, Portland

As nonprofit leaders we often talk about being value-driven. And we often (but not always) have a set of organizational values. But how do we use and lean into our values to help us make decisions, work through dilemmas, and create the workplace culture we truly want? What would it look like if we set out to create a workplace culture that helps us all feel a sense of belonging to bring our best work? This is becoming even more critical as our workspaces respond to changes brought on by the pandemic, reckonings with systemic racism and social inequities, and shifts in how we approach work life balance. This workshop is for leaders who want to operationalize what it means to be "value-driven" and who are ready to create an intentional approach to workplace culture. More details and registration here. 

Nonprofit Leaders Panel: Promoting Wellness, Preventing Burnout, and Fostering a Positive Work Culture

November 8, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Facilitator: Sarah Spangler, NAO

Location: Alvord-Taylor, Springfield

Nonprofit leaders are constantly having to juggle an untold number of competing priorities. However, as workplace norms shift again, we find ourselves in an environment where the culture of our organization is a top priority to the volunteers, employees, and board members we hope to attract and retain. Join us for this interactive panel discussion with local nonprofit leaders as they share lessons about cultivating a work culture that keeps people engaged, productive, fulfilled, and well. More details and registration information here.

So Are You Latinx?: The Complexity of Language and How It Impacts Our Identity

November 9, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Presenter: Cinthia Manuel, Autentica Consulting LLC

Location: Ecotrust, Portland

In this session, participants will learn the historical evolution of the terminology surrounding the terms Hispanics, Latin@s, Latinx, Latine, Chican@. In addition, this session will provide an opportunity to reflect on the various terms and how their evolution is related to oppression among individuals who identify as part of this historically underrepresented group. After this session, you will have historical background and vocabulary to help you have deeper conversations with the communities you serve, including your staff. More details and registration here.

Nonprofit Leaders Panel: Promoting Wellness, Preventing Burnout, and Fostering a Positive Work Culture

November 10, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Facilitator: Sarah Spangler, NAO

Location: Corvallis Community Center, Corvallis

Nonprofit leaders are constantly having to juggle an untold number of competing priorities. However, as workplace norms shift again, we find ourselves in an environment where the culture of our organization is a top priority to the volunteers, employees, and board members we hope to attract and retain. Join us for this interactive panel discussion with local nonprofit leaders as they share lessons about cultivating a work culture that keeps people engaged, productive, fulfilled, and well. More details and registration information here.

Nonprofit Leaders Panel: Building Community through “Win-Win” Partnerships with Corporations & Local Businesses 

November 16, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Facilitator: Sarah Spangler, NAO

Location: Deschutes Children's Foundation, Bend

As nonprofits work to diversify their revenue, corporate sponsorships can feel like a challenging game to break into. Especially as businesses of all sizes continue to recover from the economic effects of the pandemic, there is uncertainty about what kinds of partnerships make sense and how best to build them. From raffle donations and event sponsorships to capital campaigns and naming rights, there are many options to engage businesses of all sizes in your work. More details and registration information here.

Creating Gender Inclusive Teams: Understanding Pronouns to Create Inclusion

December 6, 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Presenter: Kaig Lightner, Quantum Gender

Location: Ecotrust, Portland

Personal pronouns are a common part of speech that many people in Western cultures pay little attention to, however, pronouns are a critical part of everyone’s identity. This workshop uses practical examples and personal stories from the presenter's own lived experience as a queer, transgender coach and youth soccer club leader. Objectives include: understanding the importance of pronouns to individual identity; building empathy for transgender and nonbinary communities; and gaining comfort and skills in using gender neutral pronouns. More details and registration here.

Optimizing the Board & Executive Director Relationship

December 6, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Presenter: Jenn Clemo, NAO

Location: Alvord-Taylor, Springfield

The board/executive director relationship is among the most critical for an organization to be successful. This relationship is not effortless, but the reward is a results-driven partnership that is productive, enjoyable, and consistently in support of the organization’s mission. This session, participants will examine board/executive director roles and the division of labor between governing and managing. Participants will also learn about essential elements of a good board/executive director relationship as well as optimal elements of a great, high-performing leadership team. More details and registration information here.

Planned Giving: Gifts That Help Now and Later

December 8, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Presenter: Grady Goodall, OSU's College of Liberal Arts

Location: Corvallis Community Center, Corvallis

As we all grapple with a changing financial landscape, it can feel tempting to put planned giving on the backburner. When the need for funding is immediate, we instead focus on fundraising activities that we believe will generate more immediate revenue. However, “Planned Giving” and “Quick Giving" don't have to be mutually exclusive! More details and registration information here.

Making Time for Reflection, Especially When It Feels Impossible

December 14, 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Presenter: Amy Varga, President, The Varga Group

Location: Ecotrust, Portland

When it comes to leadership, there’s a paradox: if you want to have greater impact – faster – you have to slow down enough to reflect on where you’re going, what you’re doing, and how you’re showing up as a leader. In this highly interactive and engaging workshop, you will explore why reflection is essential to effective leadership; how you can harness the power of reflection for yourself and your team; and how to make time for reflection when it feels impossible to pack one more thing in. More details and registration here.