Self-advocacy: A critical step in the fight for gender equity in the workplace |
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Local leadership expert Jessica Gendron advises attendees of Indy Chamber women’s event to be proactive |
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by Shari Finnell, editor/writer, Not-for-profit News
Gender equity in the workplace — whether in for-profit or nonprofit sectors — is still far from a reality, based on the latest reports from various sources.
While women in the nonprofit sector historically have fared better than those working in the for-profit sector, discrepancies still exist based on gender, according to a Nonprofit Quarterly report. For instance, women make up 73 percent of the nonprofit workforce in the United States. Yet, they only represent 20 percent of the CEOs of nonprofits with annual budgets of $50 million and 45 percent of all nonprofit executives.
Another report, “Negotiation and Executive Gender Pay Gaps in Nonprofit Organizations,” found that executive compensation at nonprofits was 8.9 percent less for women than men when the executives had the option of negotiating their salaries.
Those were the types of gender equity challenges Jessica Gendron of The Center for Leadership Excellence recently discussed during Indy Chambers’ 2023 Women in Business Retreat. Gendron, one of numerous speakers during the two-day retreat at The Alexander Hotel in Indianapolis, outlined seven female leadership competencies that she compiled after interviewing women executives throughout the nation.
When she asked the executives what was integral to their success as a female leader, the competencies of self-advocacy, self-awareness, resilience, courage, intuition, communication, and relationships emerged as commonalities. However, she said, self-advocacy ranked at the top of the list.
“Self-advocacy emerged as the most important competency,” she said. “As women, we are taught to be nice, collaborative, and helpful. We will go to war for our friends. But we will not do it for ourselves because it’s considered as being selfish. That’s a behavior that we’ve been conditioned to avoid. There are all these negative connotations about the idea of advocating for yourself.”
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Does your board “get” your financials? |
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by Lauren Kreutzinger, senior manager, CPA, VonLehman CPA & Advisory Firm
Accurate, relevant, and timely financial information is key to making good decisions for nonprofit executives and board members. But do all your board members really understand the numbers they receive and what they mean to your organization? Here’s how to find out and what you can do to get board members up to speed.
Consider your audience
Your board members likely come from different backgrounds and different positions in the community. Some of them may have financial backgrounds, but many of them might not. And it’s this latter point you need to keep in mind as you supply financial data.
For example, don’t assume that everyone on your board of directors understands financial language. Provide them with some working definitions to help them along. Here are some commonly used financial terms and ways you can describe them in everyday language:
Board-designated net assets. These are net assets set aside for a particular purpose or period by the board, such as safety reserves or a capital replacement fund. Unlike ‘net assets with donor restrictions,’ these have no external restriction by donors or by law.
Net assets released from restrictions. The transfer of funds from donor-restricted to unrestricted status based on satisfying donor-imposed stipulations with respect to the timing or purpose of the contribution.
Change in net assets. The equivalent of the net profit figure of an income statement. A positive change in net assets indicates revenue exceeded expenses, a negative indicates the opposite.
Also consider providing your board with financial training. Bring in outside speakers, such as accountants, investment advisors, and bankers. Additionally, financially savvy individuals on your board — they may make up a separate finance committee — can be asked to share their expertise with the rest of the board.
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Re-released Donna Oklak, founder of the Meridian Foundation, and Jonathan Haag, vice president of innovation at CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, give their perspectives on what it takes to be innovative in the nonprofit sector. Listen
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INARF has promoted Katy Stafford-Cunningham to CEO. Stafford-Cunningham previously was executive vice president/chief operating officer for the organization. |
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The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites has promoted Eric Todd to chief operating officer. Todd previously was vice president of operations for the state museum. |
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The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites has hired Lisa Busse as vice president of development. Busse previously was director of major gifts at the United Way of Central Indiana. |
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Dove Recovery House for Women has named Shelly Falconer as chief clinical officer. Falconer previously was the director of behavioral health for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. |
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Indy Chess has hired Mike Chapuran as its first executive director. Chapuran previously was the executive director of Family Promise of Greater Indianapolis. |
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The Indianapolis Public Library has promoted Tisha Galarce to human resources director. Galarce previously was interim human resources director. |
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ArtMix has hired Sarah Jane Bryant as outreach and events manager. Bryant previously was a volunteer program manager at Best Buddies in Indiana. |
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Central Indiana Small Business Development Center has named Tressa Mazhandu as small business advisor. Mazhandu previously was an adjunct faculty member at Ivy Tech Community College. |
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The IndyGo Foundation has announced that it will receive a $240,900 grant from the Indianapolis African American Quality of Life Initiative to assist previously incarcerated individuals gain higher wages and stable employment at IndyGo as part of a two-year project. Learn more
The Mayor's Youth Leadership Council (MYLC), a group of young people who help amplify youth voices and provide youth perspectives, is accepting applications for its 2023-2024 cohort. MYLC has the mission to develop the next great generation of civic leaders in Indianapolis. Apply by May 1.
The Mind Trusts’ REV Fellowship, a new fellowship initiative designed to help emerging leaders in Indianapolis accelerate their professional journeys while expanding their impact on youth, is now accepting applications. Apply by April 28.
Check to see if you or your team members qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, a federal government initiative specifically designed to assist public and nonprofit employees with student loan debt. Nonprofit employees with federal student loan debt may be eligible for PSLF. Review PSLF resources.
The Indiana Public Health System Review is a comprehensive report recently released by researchers at the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI. The report, which provides an actionable framework for improving public health in Indiana, gives recommendations for a more robust public health system that ensures core services are provided to all communities. Read the report.
Individuals and organizations, including nonprofits, can now access stock photography with an Indianapolis angle. The Life In Indy Library provides free use of license-free photography and videography, showcasing the nine-county Indianapolis region. Explore the new Life in Indy library
Read the Indiana Youth Institute's 2023 Indiana KIDS COUNT® Data Book to gain the latest insights about the well-being of young people throughout the state of Indiana. Download the book.
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The power of emotionally inclusive practices in education and youthwork webinar on April 5 at noon. Explore a framework that is used to integrate emotion into every part of the educational experience. Presented by Aspin. Cost: Free. Register
How to maximize donor retention and raise more for your organization webinar is on April 18 at 1 p.m. Learn the best strategies and approaches for gaining the most return on your fundraising efforts and maximizing donor retention. Presented by Nonprofit Tech for Good. Cost: Free. Register
Greenspace assessment for Marion County presentation on April 20 at 9-11 a.m. Greenspace is an important component of many cities, serving to improve quality of life. This presentation will demonstrate a new tool developed for SAVI, centered around greenspace in Marion County. Presented by SAVI. Register
Using SAVI data in other GIS tools: ArcGIS online workshop on April 20 at 1 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Learn the foundational skills necessary to use ArcGIS Online. Through a series of hands-on activities, this session guides you through the process of creating new maps and sharing them with others. Presented by SAVI. Register
How to identify and prioritize key donors and prospects webinar on April 20 at 2 p.m-3:15 p.m. Learn from the experts on how to identify key people who have the capacity and inclination to give generously to your cause. Presented by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Cost: $69. Register
Emotional intelligence: The key to conflict resolution presentation on April 21 at 9 a.m.-noon at the Johnson County Armory, 325 Minuteman Way. Learn how to effectively handle conflict within organizations, groups, and personal relationships. Presented by Leadership Johnson County. Cost: $59 members/$69 nonmembers. Register
Register for yesterday, today, and tomorrow – Sexual assault awareness and prevention month conference on April 25-27 from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Presented by Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault & Human Trafficking. Cost: Free for Rape Crisis Center staff, $75 for non-Rape Crisis Center attendees. Register
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Preparing your board for the next ED/CEO Leadership Transition webinar on April 19 at 11 a.m. As younger leaders replace long-term leaders, we find the commitment is often three to five years. Join Charitable Advisors’ Bryan Orander as he shares his knowledge from over 100 successful nonprofit ED/CEO searches. Whether you are in the midst of a transition or want to be prepared when the next one arrives, this webinar provides invaluable insights. Presented by Charitable Advisors. Cost: Free. Register
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United Way of Central Indiana is recruiting volunteers and projects for its third Go All IN Day, an organized day of community service across the region. This year’s event will be held June 23 throughout United Way’s service area of Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, and Putnam counties. Nonprofits, grassroots organizations, and community groups interested in hosting a project can sign up for more information.
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As a small nonprofit, it can be difficult to know where to start with fundraising for target programs. And achieving your goal can be more challenging when your nonprofit is located in a disadvantaged community.
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An author shares how she uses the free artificial intelligence platform to draft fundraising letters and press releases by providing a few prompts to ChatGPT. Within seconds, she receives copy to support her communications strategy.
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Our sponsor marketplace serves to further connect our readers with our advertisers who are focused on serving nonprofits. To learn about each sponsor's nonprofit services, click on its logo.
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FUND DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGIC PLANNING
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BANKING/
ASSET MANAGEMENT
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Nonprofit office space in great location (Butler University area)
Indiana Interchurch Center, which is centrally located in Indianapolis at 1100 W. 42nd St., has available office spaces ranging from 200 to 1,600 square feet for 501(c)3 organizations. Free parking, utilities, high-speed internet, and shared meeting rooms are included. The facility is home to a diverse group of nonprofit and church organizations that are making an impact in the community. Contact Kris Keys or call (317) 923-3617. |
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Coworking office memberships available (Northwest side)
Enhance your productivity and meet like-minded people at Nexus’ shared coworking space. Nexus offers month-to-month memberships for open desks and dedicated desks. Memberships include meeting room credits, access to high-speed internet, and free printing, and coffee. Besides having a great place to work, you’ll connect with small business owners and nonprofit employees that care about making a positive difference in their communities. Coworking office memberships range from $59/month to $149/month. Learn more
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Executive Leadership (CEO/ED/COO)
Fund Development/Marketing/PR/Advocacy
Admin Support/Clerical
Finance/Accounting/HR/IT/Facility
Data/Research/Quality Assurance
Programs/Program Support
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