Monthly Update | May 2022
A Message from our CEO
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Happy Mental Health Awareness Month!
Nowadays, it is rare that we convene a space at CEN, virtually or in person, without some sort of check in. After a couple years of checking in, I’ve been pondering what we have learned—about one another and our team as a whole. Our team shared that they feel like this dedicated time has really allowed us to see each other and to avoid operating like robots whose sole purpose is to produce. I heard that there was a bit of a learning curve in opening up with workmates but we are getting better and better all the time. Some folks shared that while the quick check-ins are fine, they appreciate our lunch hangouts or cocktail/mocktail happy hours after work. It allows us time to have a good “kiki” and loosen up a bit.
Our goal is to never put the work over the people. After events, we make time to debrief and record lessons learned; we have been known to offer space and extra time for recovery. Some days we have scrapped whole meeting agendas when the world weighed heavy on us. While it did nothing to decrease our workload, it did maintain our commitment to make space for each one of us to show up as whole people.
As a team primarily comprised of people of the global majority, we often experience immense stress with the demands of work and life. In the win column, we have found success in creating a collaborative workspace where negative competition is not encouraged. (Now when CEN game night hits, it’s a different story, haha.) At the same time, we are working to unburden ourselves from the weight of perfectionism and urgency. It’s hard, y’all! We see all of these efforts as vital to mental health and growth. How are you all incorporating strategies to promote sound mental health within your organizations?
One of the ways that we can gauge our mental health is to note feelings of burnout and overwhelm in ourselves and others. If your team is experiencing these sentiments, I recommend our workshop Preventing Burnout: Self-Care in a Selfless Sector on July 14 th. It is great for individuals or entire teams. For the month of May, when you register 2 people from your organization to attend this workshop, a third team member can attend for free. If budget is an issue, reach out to us, as a limited number of scholarships is available. One of our community members, the African American Community Service Agency offers mental health Monday programming for the busy professional at no cost. Find information here: https://www.sjaacsa.org/events.
Thank you for your continued commitment to serving others. I wish you all peace, rest, and community.
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-Shana Peete, Chief Executive Officer |
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We're Two Weeks Away from CEN's Biggest Event of the Year! |
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At the virtual event, participants will hear an update from CEN, meet the current graduates, and enjoy opportunities to engage with friends, colleagues, and sector supporters in breakout sessions that highlight the sector's impact over the past year and beyond.
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Thank you to our sponsors for this year's event! |
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Interested in sponsoring this exciting event? Download the sponsorship package to learn more about sponsorship levels and benefits, or email tarryl@cen.org.
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We're Recruiting for Our Building Representative Boards Program! |
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The program is centered on individuals and community leaders that are interested in exploring board service and intentionally engaging nonprofit organizations who are committed to fostering inclusive board cultures and seek to connect with diverse individuals who reflect the communities they serve.
Learn more about the program at cen.org/brb and join our waitlist by clicking the button below.
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Gilead Discount for Black-Led Organizations Focusing on Advancing Health Equity for Black People |
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Thanks to new grant funding from Gilead Sciences, Inc., all staff, board members, and volunteers serving Black-Led healthcare organizations and/or organizations focused on advancing health equity for Black people are invited to take advantage of deep registration discounts for any of CEN’s 3-hour nonprofit professional development workshops.
Access these workshops at a discounted rate of:
- $20 | CEN Member Rate
- $40 | Non-Member Rate
Thank you, Gilead, for supporting this important effort and investing in the well-being of Black people in our sector and beyond!
This effort is supported by grant funding from Gilead Sciences, Inc. Gilead Sciences, Inc. has had no input into the development or content of these materials.
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Workshop Discounts Available for San Bruno Nonprofits!
Is your organization located in or serving the city of San Bruno? Thanks to new grant funding from the San Bruno Community Foundation, all San Bruno nonprofit professionals (staff & board members of organizations located in and/or serving the San Bruno population) can take advantage of deep discounts to any of CEN’s nonprofit professional development workshops! Nonprofits located in or serving San Bruno can access these workshops at the discounted rate of:
$20 | CEN Member Rate
$40 | Non-Member Rate
Visit the registration page of any workshop to learn more and register! Thank you to the San Bruno Community Foundation for this opportunity!
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Each month we share articles/resources that challenge the way we view work and inspire a new way to affect community impact. |
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When it comes to navigating interpersonal conflict in our organizations and in movement spaces, many of us are well practiced in naming our own self-described ‘failures’ and calling out where others fall short of our expectations. What’s possible when we start from a place of naming our gifts and wisdom instead?”
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The staff at Oakland-based nonprofit CompassPoint posed the above question as the team gears up for their upcoming "Conflict Resolution with Power and Privilege in Mind" workshop, where they ask folks to think about their conflict superpowers: the skills, perspectives, and wisdom that they believe contribute to a generative approach to dealing with conflict. Follow the link below to check out CompassPoint's latest blog entry. |
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Greeting CEN Members! Our partners at Silicon Valley Community Foundation would like to request your input on SVCF’s goals, priorities, and recent shifts in practice, to help ensure that their work is meeting community expectations. Your candid feedback is a vital part of SVCF’s continued learning and improvement.
To ensure all input is anonymous, a survey is being conducted by FM3 Research, an independent research organization. Each organization that responds will receive an e-gift card of $15 as a thank-you for your time.
Some of the areas this survey will cover include:
- Overall perceptions of SVCF
- Your agreement with SVCF’s priorities in the community
- Your familiarity and satisfaction with SVCF’s work
- Your organization’s experiences with SVCF (if any)
- Ways in which SVCF can better support your organization’s work
If you have any questions, please reach out to:
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In response to COVID-19, CEN has moved all of our programs online, offering virtual training opportunities that merge fundamental leading 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! |
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Management Basics - Part 1 |
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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. |
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Management Basics - Part 2 |
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People are your organization's most valuable resource, and effective team management can be one of your biggest opportunities for impact -- especially during times of crisis. You will gain strategies to build a culture founded on belonging and trust (increasingly important in a virtual setting) by exploring working styles and setting expectations. |
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Recruiting & Retaining a High Performing Board |
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Using an IDEAL framework, we will explore tactics for effectively identifying what board talent your organization needs to achieve your impact goals, offer practical ways to find and develop these board candidates, and discuss strategies to keep them engaged once they’ve joined the board. We recommend your ED and board member(s) attend this workshop together. |
Fundamentals of Financial Wellbeing
No-Cost Partner Event Hosted By MassMutual
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Having clear financial goals are the foundation of a person’s financial well-being and this session will explore opportunities and strategies - at all income levels – to set goals and increase personal financial security. |
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Participants will explore the basic fundraising process, gain a framework for building a comprehensive fundraising plan, and learn how to develop a case for support and strategies to communicate it effectively to donors. This beginner level session will leave you with the templates and resources you need to start fundraising more strategically, especially during current challenges. |
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"Making the Ask" Fundraising |
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This session will help you identify best practices for successful fundraising while clarifying roles at every level of a nonprofit organization. We'll practice "making the ask" and will explore strategies and techniques to set proper expectations, expand your team's ability to raise money for your organization (including special strategies during times of crisis), and maximize your impact. |
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Intentional Branding: You and Your Organization |
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Branding, when done right, makes clear who we are, what we do and value, and why. This applies to individuals and organizations alike. In our “Intentional Branding: You and Your Organization” workshop, we will help you define your personal professional brand and do so in service and support of your organization’s brand as well. |
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LiveImpact, a fully integrated technology platform, continues to be a trusted partner of nonprofit leaders in advancing their mission. Built specifically for nonprofits, LiveImpact strives to make nonprofits more efficient, more accessible to their communities and help them deliver greater impact. It includes intelligent apps to support Fundraising, virtual and in-person Events/Auctions, Marketing, Volunteering, Memberships, Programs & Case Management, and Automation. Their onboarding experts work closely with nonprofits to customize the platform for their specific needs, making switching to LiveImpact swift and painless.
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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 tarryl@cen.org.
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City Year | Meet & Greet Open House with New Executive Director
During this virtual event on May 10, attendees will learn more about City Year’s new executive director Kevin Bradshaw, his passion for the organization’s mission, and his plans for leading the San Jose/Silicon Valley site. There will be a live Q&A session where participants will have the opportunity to ask Kevin questions about the issues that matter to them.
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Thrive Alliance | Thrive Wellness Wednesdays |
Join Thrive and the County of San Mateo Employee Wellness Team as we dive into Mental Health Awareness Month in our virtual series: Thrive Wellness Wednesdays. These sessions are held on the second Wednesday of every other month and incorporate practices like self-massage, mindful art, movement exercises, meditation, and an exploration of ways that we can take care of ourselves for optimal health and well-being. This month will feature a special speaker and a self-assessment practice in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. We hope you and your team will join us!
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Tri-Valley Nonprofit Alliance | Go for the Gold… Or Even Platinum!
Candid provides information on every nonprofit registered with the IRS. The information comes from several sources: nonprofit organizations themselves; the federal government; and partners in the nonprofit sector. TVNPA's Community Program this month focuses on how you can collect and provide information about your organization to achieve the highest "seal of transparency." There are four levels/seals: bronze, silver, gold and platinum. We will also discuss nonprofit profiles on Charity Navigator and Great Nonprofits.
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AFP Silicon Valley Virtual Luncheon | Are Big Foot and Major Gifts Mere Legends?
Major gifts can often seem like Big Foot—there is a legend that they exist, other organizations seem to get large gifts, but there’s just not enough evidence that it’s real to you. According to Giving USA, individual donors comprise 75% of all philanthropy each and every year. Rarely do donors make major gifts as first-time contributions or to organizations they’ve just gotten to know. This session explores three core truths to help you shape a multi channel individual donor engagement plan that attracts, inspires, and retains donors at all levels from Annual Fund supporters to mid-level donors and ultimately major gifts investors.
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Does your organization have a training or resource you would like to share with our newsletter community? Please email tarryl@cen.org. Posts must include a link to learn more and be formatted into a short blurb.
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Nonprofit Sector Job Openings |
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Have a Job Opening You Want to Share?
Please email tarryl@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.
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Sobrato Center for Nonprofits - Redwood Shores
330 Twin Dolphin Drive, Suite 151
Redwood City, CA 94065
650-517-5855
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