April 13, 2023

Hello Nonprofit Leaders and Supporters,

I hope that you are all enjoying the wonderful “liquid sunshine” that seems to be blanketing much of the state these days. One of the common threads we all enjoy (or at least get used to) about being Oregonians is the very rapid switch from spring rains (downpours really), sunshine, snow, and then rain again. But hang in there! We can take heart that those longer periods of sunshine are just around the corner!

Spring also means that together with the unpredictable weather, we are in the middle of the unpredictable Oregon legislative session. Thank you to all the nonprofit leaders who have made their voices heard to our policy makers by taking your issues to Salem (or joining virtually) and testifying on the many bills that are working their way through committees. Whether you are passionate about supporting mental health, homelessness, the arts, the environment, foster kids or education, your work in service to communities across our state is critical and legislators need to know what you are doing and seeing.

Some of you may have seen that the Nonprofit Modernization Act (SB606) was passed by the Human Services Committee last week and is now headed to the Ways and Means Committee. The bill was only passed out of the committee in an amendment after our coalition was instructed to remove the $40 million Nonprofit Workforce Retention Fund that was a major part of the bill. This was of course not ideal, but rather than let the bill die, we worked with our partners at the Northwest Health Foundation to ensure that major parts of the bill could progress. To be clear, removing the Fund does not mean we have given up on the workforce retention issues and the need for the public sector to invest more substantially in the backbone of the nonprofit sector: our workers! We will continue pushing to find ways through the session to add that Fund to the final tally of investments made in this biennial budget.

As we continue to make a case for the need for these important workforce investments, I am asking you to help make that case. There is information in the “State Section” below on how to testify to the Legislative Ways and Means Committee on their state tour over the next few weeks.

Also, you may remember that last year we supported a major survey and report in late 2021 carried out by our friends at the National Council of Nonprofits that identified the scope of the problems related to nonprofit workforce shortages and identified public policies and practical solutions that have helped organizations hire and retain the staff they need to advance their missions. It also resulted in a special report just for Oregon: Oregon-Nonprofit-Workforce-Shortage-Survey-Responses-2021. This year I am again asking for your support in adding to the national data on this ongoing issue that has become a crisis for our sector. Your information can help us make the case to our legislature this session! If you can take a few minutes and complete the survey, our national colleagues have told us they can do another special report for Oregon, but only if we get enough responses. Please take the survey!

Enjoy Earth Day on April 22nd!

Jim White

NAO Executive Director

Nonprofit News

Aspen Tech Policy Hub Nonprofit and Public Interest Fellowship

The Aspen Tech Policy Hub, a West Coast policy incubator, is accepting applications for its Nonprofit and Public Interest Policy Training Fellowship. This paid three-week bootcamp will train nonprofits and public interest organizations focused on tech, science and cybersecurity on how to have a policy impact.  

The Hub trains policy novices on how to impact policy. Hub graduates have gone into key roles in federal and state government and nonprofits, and their projects have helped public service organizations achieve their goals. (See their 2021 impact one-pager.) For more information and to apply, please visit their web portal.

At the State Level

Oregon Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee is touring the state with public hearings

The Ways and Means Roadshow tour is essentially the legislative budget committee crisscrossing the state to learn what community members want to see prioritized in the state budget. They have already been to Portland and are headed to Newport this Friday (4/14) and then Roseburg (4/21) Ontario (4/28) and finally Salem (5/3). Salem is the only tour stop that has a virtual option. In each of the other locations, testimony is only available to be delivered in person. If you live close by and wish to testify in person, you can sign up for any of those sessions by clicking through to the Nonprofit Modernization Act page on our website and following the instructions for signing up to testify. We would love to have folks sign up and testify for the NPMA (SB606), but even if you don’t, go tell your lawmakers what is important to you and your nonprofit in this biennium. If you have any questions, please contact Phillip at pkennedy-wong@nonprofitoregon.org.

For the latest news, please join the next NPMA Monthly Legislative Coalition Meeting on April 20th; you can sign up below.

At the Federal Level

American Rescue Plan Act Update

Advice from Philanthropy: Axios Detroit interviewed Rip Rapson, longtime president and CEO of the Kresge Foundation, about his organization’s involvement in guiding the city’s use of ARPA dollars. First, Rapson explained the case for capacity building, saying, “We have to make sure organizations connected to communities actually have the capacity to absorb these [ARPA] dollars and implement them properly." Going further, he said, "We've got to figure out how to move these dollars through community-based organizations (who are experts in their neighborhoods).” According to Rapson, “The problem is with any (government) money there's … restrictions, and so often community-based organizations simply can't do it.” He concludes, “So the system breaks down unless you can go to a Kresge or (a financial institution)." Kresge Foundation CEO Rip Rapson on pairing philanthropy with ARPA, Annalise Frank, Axios Detroit, Apr. 11, 2023.

Nonprofit Learning Cohort (Five Weekly Sessions via Zoom)

Building a Culture of Racial Justice: Strategies for Creating an Equitable Workplace

May 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31, 9 – 10:15 a.m. | Facilitator: Jamila Dozier, MA, New Theory Consulting LLC

This interactive cohort is designed to help organizations build a culture of racial justice by equipping leaders and employees with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to create an inclusive and equitable workplace. Each cohort session will focus on a specific aspect of building a culture of racial justice. We will begin by understanding the concept of racial justice, exploring its historical and contemporary roots, and discussing its relevance to modern workplaces. We will explore strategies for building an organizational culture of racial justice from recruitment and retention practices to policy development. Participants will leave with a deepened understanding of racial justice and clear strategies for operationalizing justice in their organizations. More details and registration information here.

NAO Workshop (In-person)

Embracing a Courageous Workplace of Collaborative Feedback and Supportive Conflict (Portland)

May 16, 10 – 3 p.m. | Facilitator: Kris McRea, McRea Coaching & Consulting

Do you avoid conflict or feedback? Does your team shy away from challenging conversations? More than ever, we need to have messy conversations in our workplace to lean into tough topics; especially around diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging. Feedback and collaborative conflict can be a bridge to trust building, innovation and collaboration when delivered with empathy, support and respect. The key is courage, vulnerability, and emotional literacy. Together we’ll explore how our mythology of vulnerability gets in the way and how our emotions can be a powerful signpost to more connection and collaboration. With tactical tools from Dare to Lead, Crucial Conversations, Emotional Agility and other resources, participants will leave this workshop with stronger muscles for approaching conflict and feedback and tangible tools to support a more innovative workplace. More details and registration information here.

NAO Webinars

Wired for Connection: How Microaggressions Undermine Psychological Safety

April 19, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. | Presenter: Amanda Singh Bans, MA, LCSW, Resonance Therapy LLC

In this session with Amanda Singh Bans, Mental Health Therapist, participants will explore how encounters with microaggressions and implicit bias are embodied and how to respond to the repeated traumatization of racialized, gendered/sexed, and other oppressed bodies. Many of us in DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging) work have attempted to broach deep-seated concepts like these from a left-hemisphere-shifted perspective or using our “logic brain.” Taking that work one step further, participants will learn foundational terms regarding the neurobiology (brain + nervous system + behavior) of relationships, identify survival/trauma responses, and reframe microaggressions as threats to our personal and psychological safety. Participants will also be introduced to micro-intervention strategies and safety-building behaviors to support your organization's inclusive culture building. More details and registration here.

OR Nonprofit Modernization Act: Monthly Legislative Coalition Meetings

April 20, 12 – 1 p.m. | Presenter: Phillip Kennedy-Wong, NAO

Join the coalition to pass the most consequential piece of legislation, Senate Bill 606, the Oregon Nonprofit Modernization Act, to the nonprofit sector in decades. Join us every third Thursday of the month until June 15 to get the latest legislative information on Senate Bill 606, ideas on things your nonprofit do to help pass the bill, and an opportunity to learn about how legislative campaigns are organized by being an active participant! Registration is free. More details and registration information here.

The Neurodiverse Workplace: Overcoming the Neurodivide

May 3, 12 – 1 p.m. | Presenter: Jessica Michaels, The Neurodiverse Workplace, LLC

What is neurodiversity? Are you or others you work with neurodivergent? How does this affect you, and how does it affect your organization? Neurodiversity expert and corporate trainer Jessica Michaels answers these questions and more. By sharing her experiences as a late-in-life diagnosed neurodivergent with Autism and ADHD, Jessica will deliver an inspiring session to motivate participants to drive neuroinclusion through no-cost actions easily added to their daily conversations. More details and registration here.

Layered Security for Nonprofits

May 10, 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. | Presenter: Ron Rothstein, SMB Technologies

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 information here.

The Future of Nonprofit Leadership: Trends to Track and Actions to Take Now

May 11, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. | Presenter: Kari Anderson, Incite! Consulting

As a new generation of employees makes decisions about the type of work they want to engage in, we have an obligation in the nonprofit sector to assess how business gets done. Now’s the time to look at what’s working—and what’s not—at your shop. Join Kari Anderson with Incite! Consulting to learn more about (not so) unique leadership structures, including co-directorship, flat hierarchies, and different ways to provide governance via your board. We’ll discuss the future of leadership structures and how a person can flex leadership when not in a leadership role. Kari has some immediate takeaways for you as a manager or director—regardless of your career ambitions. All employees and board members can lead in their roles—Kari will share how to do it! More details and registration information here.

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

May 17, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. | Presenter: Cinthia Manuel, Autentica Consulting LLC

In this session, participants will learn the historical evolution of 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. This training is open to people of all backgrounds who want to learn the historical background and build new vocabulary to have deeper conversations with the communities you serve, including your staff. More details and registration here.

State Legislative Briefing (2) 

May 19, 12 – 1 p.m. | Presenter: Phillip Kennedy-Wong, NAO

Get the latest inside scoop on the 2023 Oregon Legislative Session from NAO’s Public Policy Director Phillip Kennedy-Wong. Bring your questions about the legislature. No question off limits! Topics covered include the state budget, the most recent revenue forecast, the Oregon Nonprofit Modernization Act, bills of interest to the nonprofit sector, political rumors and whole much more. This session is available to NAO members only. More details and registration information here.

Board Bright: Governance Roles & Responsibilities

July 11, 3 – 4:30 p.m. | Presenter: Jenn Clemo, NAO

In this 90-minute webinar, participants will learn about the fundamentals of nonprofit governance and gain an understanding of the board’s role in the management of the organization. This webinar is part of NAO’s Board Bright Series – a quarterly board training designed for emerging and seasoned board members alike, and anyone else looking for a governance refresh. Free to NAO members! More details and registration information here.

Board Bright: Finance Fundamentals

August 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.

Learning Opportunities for Rural Nonprofit (In-person)

Board Workshop (La Grande)

April 27, 3 – 4:30 p.m. | Presenters: Jim White and Grady Goodall, NAO

Effective Board Management – Meaningful board service involves more than just attending meetings; a truly engaged board is one whose understanding of their individual and collective roles matches their passion for and dedication to your mission. No cost to participate, but registration is required. More details and registration information here.

Nonprofit Town Hall (Baker City)

April 28, 9 – 10:30 a.m. | Presenters: Jim White and Grady Goodall, NAO

This Nonprofit Town Hall is a learning and networking opportunity convened by the Nonprofit Association of Oregon for nonprofit staff, board, and volunteers to connect, meet each other and public officials. NAO will share some opportunities and challenges before the nonprofit and public sector and bring attention to the policy work that is being done to make community-led work easier. This session is designed specifically for nonprofits and public sector officials looking to build relations for greater impact. No cost to participate, but registration is required. More details and registration information here.

Nonprofit Resource Roundups

Nonprofit Resource Roundups are in-person learning and networking opportunities convened by the NAO of Oregon for nonprofit staff, board, and volunteers to connect, meet funders, and learn about valuable tools and resources designed specifically for nonprofits. During this session, we’ll also explore how nonprofits can calculate their ROI and ROM and structure conversations with board and staff about the effectiveness of each event. There is no cost to participate, but registration is required.

• May 9: Douglas County Resource Roundup (Roseburg)
• May 23: Benton County Resource Roundup (Monroe)

Springboard: Practical Tools to Keep Your Board Moving Forward

This three-part interactive series goes beyond the basics to explore the nuances of nonprofit board management, helps nonprofits create and execute their annual fundraising calendar, and provides tools to better manage cash flow. Designed specifically with rural nonprofits in mind, these sessions are applicable to both nonprofit staff and board members.

Session 1: Effective Board Management for Meaningful Engagement

• May 11: Lane County (Florence)
• June 6: Douglas County (Roseburg)

Session 2: Creating an Annual Fundraising Plan (That You Can Actually Stick To!)

• May 16: Lane County (Florence)
• June 13: Douglas County (Roseburg)

Session 3: Functional Forecasting: Taking Control of Cash Flow

• May 25: Lane County (Florence)
• June 20: Douglas County (Roseburg)

NAO Regional Networks (In-person*)

Want to connect with other nonprofit leaders in your area? Join us at a regional network in Bend, Corvallis, Medford, Portland or Eugene! NAO's regional network sessions are designed for nonprofit leaders, staff, board members, and volunteers. They are open to any nonprofit leader who wants to learn more about best practices while advancing their skills in nonprofit management, financial accountability, equity and inclusion.

Each network typically offers one session per month between September and June. See what’s coming up in a city nearest you, or sign up to receive region-specific promotions here.

Bend

Nonprofit Network of Central Oregon (NNCO)

Corvallis

Mid-Valley Nonprofit Network (MVNN)

Portland Metro – *NAO’s Portland Metro series will be held virtually via Zoom through May 2023. Anyone from across the state may now virtually participate in sessions from any of our three networks below:

Equity and Inclusions Leaders Network (EILN)

Nonprofit Fiscal Managers Network (NFMA)

Nonprofit Leaders Network (NLN)

Medford

Rogue Valley Nonprofit Network (RVNN)

Eugene

Lane County Nonprofit Network (LCNN)