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Monthly Update | November 2023
A Message from our CEO
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Hi friends and colleagues,
Tema Okun’s words resonate for me in this scary time: “White supremacy wants us to attack each other as the problem. As we fight with and among each other, we fail to identify the actual problem.” It is not lost on me who stands to gain from the conflict raging in the Middle East: manufacturers of weapons, war profiteers, and other structures that undergird white supremacy and the status quo.
I have turned to the work of Okun and Kenneth Jones during this painful phase of world history. Their work highlights the 13 characteristics of white supremacy culture that prioritize, reward, and insist on (among others):
1) either/or thinking
2) perfectionism
3 and 4) paternalism and [nation-state] individualism (for me, that looks like British and American leaders, believing they alone were capable and ordained to solve Middle East issues between Israel and Palestine back in the 40’s)
5) defensiveness and denial
1, 2, and 5 have us Americans locked in a battle of oversimplification and finger pointing regarding who is on the side of right or wrong. We are quick to demand perfect responses and mount our defenses to ensure that our own positions are beyond reproach. We are eager to align with who knows the most (and most accurate version of) history as we desperately search for which experts we should turn to and trust in order to promote and guide our thinking.
As a Black American woman, it’s dizzying and disorienting being called to step out with simple stances on centuries-old, delicate, and complex conflicts. At the same time, white supremacy culture seeks to deter us from speaking up at all. Even so, many of us know that silence in the face of injustice, hate, and violence does nothing to keep any of us safe—nor does it feel right. Or allow us to sleep soundly at night.
Like many of you, I step into the holiday season with a heavy soul. My heart breaks as I fear we are watching idly the genocide of a people in real time. I bear witness as their elected leaders have disregarded the will of the people and transformed into a terrorist regime, Hamas, that perpetrates violence on their neighbors. My heart weeps also, watching a people who have had to fight for a land to call their own standing strong across their diaspora in its defense. I can also recognize how their government leaders use a level of aggression and tactics with little care to discern the difference between terrorists and civilians. I won’t try to step much farther out of my depth to wax on about Israel and Palestine, but from where I stand, it seems those things can be true at once.
We cannot afford to stay quiet or to attack ourselves from within. We have to hit a reset button of sorts—find the humanity in ourselves that recognizes the same in others. We don’t have to expect perfection in views or actions at this time. It may be enough for us to work collectively to put the thread back on the spool rather than cut it altogether. I do know that escalating violence is not the way.
We would do well to receive the lesson from The Cuban Missile Crisis and find a way to de-escalate before taking actions we are unable to recover from—particularly in a land that so many consider holy. I don’t have an answer, nor do I suggest that it is easy. I invite us all to dream and be open to TALK with each other - even imperfectly, and even when it is uncomfortable - about what that might look like together.
In the midst of all of this, beloved community, I am elated to share with you all the good work that CEN accomplished in our annual Nonprofit Community Impact Report and introduce you to Class XVII of Leaders Institute, our executive cohort program. Take a moment to celebrate with us. As each of us goes about our work to make the world a better place, rather than feel disheartened or overwhelmed, may each of us remember and feel the importance of World Kindness Day on the 13th, International Day of Tolerance on the 16th, and Giving Tuesday on the 28th.
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In peace & solidarity,
-Shana Peete, Chief Executive Officer
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CEN touches over 10,000 nonprofit leaders (boards members, executives, staff, and community) through programming, networking, and consulting opportunities. Each fiscal year, we update our annual Nonprofit Community Impact Report to share the reach and growth of our programming. | |
Introducing CEN’s 17th Leaders Institute Cohort! | |
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We are excited to introduce our 17th Leaders Institute cohort, a diverse group of Executive Directors/CEOs that serve in a variety of organizations and missions all around the greater Bay Area (and beyond!).
Leaders will come together on a monthly basis to share experiences and to participate in full-day, high-impact professional development sessions that are guided by our deeply held commitment to IDEAL (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, Liberation) principles. After 8 months, the cohort graduates with a strong peer support network and the techniques and resources needed to sustain an effective organization.
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Here at CEN we believe in continuous improvement. As we evolve, we are putting our membership program on hiatus. We work hard to balance our financial sustainability with ensuring that our programming is accessible to our community at every budget. If you need financial accommodations or assistance to participate in our programming, please contact us at information@cen.org. | |
Each month we share articles/resources that challenge the way we view work and inspire a new way to effect community impact. | |
It's that time of year again. Giving Tuesday is right around the corner! Be sure to mark your calendars for November 28, 2023. If you're interested in becoming a Giving Tuesday Ambassador for CEN click the button below. | |
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CEN offers virtual training opportunities that merge fundamental leading practices with resources and opportunities for peer-to-peer connections and support. Additionally, we offer special discounts and payment plans to make these programs increasingly accessible during this challenging time, so please reach out!
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Applied Wisdom - Insights for Leadership | In this workshop, CEN will guide attendees through James C. Morgan's renowned book Applied Wisdom for Nonprofits: Eight Practical Tools for Leadership (“Applied Wisdom”). We’ll provide a framework for continued use of the booklet and its principles, as well as the IDEAL lens in the future. Participants will also leave with tools that encourage community building and networking to create an ecosystem of support and accountability. | |
Preventing Burnout: Self-Care in a Selfless Sector | |
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Workplace stress is unavoidable, especially in the nonprofit sector where compassion fatigue runs rampant, and we see high rates of turnover and burnout year after year. Ultimately, the industry and institutions must do a better job of caring for its employees. While CEN continues the fight for organizational and systemic change, we also recognize the immediate need for external resources and support for you, the individuals working within these dysfunctional systems.
This course provides space and tools to help you lean in without burning out. Participants will join in productive conversations that explore new strategies and coping skills while gaining tangible resources to identify workplace stressors, end self-deprecating talk, build communicative workplace structures, and calmly deal with change at any level in an organization. As a result of this session, participants will be better equipped to effectively manage daily upsets, foster healthy relationships with coworkers and clients, and increase happiness and satisfaction in day-to-day work life.
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Understanding Nonprofit Financials | |
Gaining a true understanding of your organization’s financials and making strategic decisions as a result can increase your long term impact, perhaps more than any other leadership skill. 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. In addition, we will review basic "financial jargon" and will discuss the nuances of accounting in the nonprofit sector. Participants walk away with an understanding of how they can use this financial information to make timely, strategic decisions. | |
Organizational Consulting | |
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Our organizational consulting program combines IDEAL principles with leading practices to offer tailored consultations that meet an organization's unique needs. Whether an organization is looking for a basic refresher on board roles, a custom-designed staff or board retreat, or a long-term engagement on organizational effectiveness (IDEAL work, strategic planning), CEN can provide a solution to meet both your needs and your budget. Once we agree on a scope of work, we begin with an organizational assessment (recommended assessments vary by project but include resources such as the DEI Spectrum Tool and our board self-assessment survey based on BoardSource’s Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards).
Armed with a baseline for expectations, we work in partnership with organizations to set new goals for improvement. Each engagement is customized for our clients based on organization size, goals, and need and is delivered in a format that appropriately fits the scope of work. These customized consultations are conducted by CEN's nonprofit experts on staff and can range from a 1-hour onsite facilitation to an 18-month long, in-depth engagement that involves the entire staff and board in an organizational evolution.
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We offer customized coaching using an IDEAL framework to support individuals at any stage of their leadership journey, working within organizations of any size. Coaching provides the opportunity for professionals to take a closer look at their current challenges as well as short and long-term professional goals. This process will help individuals develop skills, implement new strategies and create new practices to maximize their impact and the impact of their organizations. Rooted in IDEAL, individuals who enter into a coaching partnership with us will develop skills to help uplift inclusion, celebrate diversity, and create equitable programs and systems that lead to greater access and liberatory practices for the organization and communities being served. If you have a need for coaching, please reach out to us by clicking on the button below for a no-cost
30-minute consultation.
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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:
$40 | CEN Discount Price
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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Is your organization located in or serving Santa Clara County? Thanks to generous funding from the Applied Materials Foundation, all staff and board members of nonprofits that are located in or serving Santa Clara County can still take advantage of deep discounts on any of CEN’s nonprofit professional development workshops! Through this partnership, nonprofits located in or serving Santa Clara County can access these workshops at the discounted rate of:
$40 | CEN Discount Price
Visit the registration page of any workshop to learn more and register! Thank you to the Applied Materials Foundation for this opportunity!
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CEN has revamped its sponsorship program. Sponsorships provide you or your company with a unique opportunity to gain widespread visibility among CEN's community and partners. CEN works to provide a variety of sponsorship formats including funding for general operations, special events, and targeted programs.
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Thank You to Our Sponsors | |
Interested in becoming a sponsor? This is a great opportunity to share your services with our community of nonprofit leaders and to support CEN's ongoing efforts! Please email development@cen.org.
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Nonprofit Sector Job Openings | |
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ThinkingAhead - Major Gifts Officer
The ideal candidate will be a highly collaborative thinker, experienced in raising contributed revenue from similar nonprofit entities such as museums, educational organizations, science organizations, and/or organizations with a social justice mission. Prior experience with raising funding and managing capital campaign programs highly desirable, and experience with soliciting major gifts is essential.
Using the moves management system, identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors and prospects with the capacity and philanthropic interest to make outright gifts of $25,000 or more annually and the capacity to give $50,000 or more to the Capital Campaign. The Major Gifts Officer will work closely with the Chief Development Officer and the development team, the Executive Director, and Board members to move donors through the fundraising cycle
Please send cover letter and resume to Ryan Rasmussen, Executive Recruiter at rrasmussen@thinkingahead.com.
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SAGE Compassion for Animals - Executive Director
SAGE Compassion for Animals (SAGEC4A) is a 501c3 non-profit serving the San Francisco Bay Area. Our Mission is that we provide financial assistance for veterinary care to help companion animals in crisis and educate communities about ways to prevent and reduce illness. Our Vision is that we believe animals are amazing and that you love them as members of your family. We envision a world where you have access to the health care and education you need to give them their best lives possible. The Executive Director will drive the work of the non-profit as directed by the Board of Directors in support of the mission, vision, and values of SAGEC4A.
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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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