The Rundown - September 2, 2022
The latest news and notes from the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors
The Labor Day Edition
This week, we kind of put away the pool noodles and the margarita machine and get out the pumpkin spice and the long sleeved sweaters. With Labor Day, it’s the unofficial end of the Summer season and we celebrate it with one last blast. I don’t know about you, but we always celebrate those that work, by not working. I have always found that interesting.
When Does Advocacy Turn Into Defamation?
This news release from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education really caught my attention. It’s not my normal practice to share press releases; I feel more comfortable sharing reports and stories from journalists in different publications; at least one makes the assumption that there is some level of research to talk to multiple subjects on a written piece. Editors, publishers, journalists all work together to try to provide some sense of a balanced approach to sharing news and ideas. Press releases rarely do that, they are simply one side of a story. So, it is with that grain of salt that I present this story.
I think the story is important almost every nonprofit engages in some type of advocacy work by talking about the general conditions our clients are living. I know in the nonprofit I work at, we have long conversations about those that come to the doors of our food pantry and we talk a lot about issues that face our clients: transportation, child care, etc.
We rarely, if ever, identify a certain individual or institution in our work, but NeuroClastic, an autistic-led advocacy nonprofit, researched an organization and was appalled at what they found. When NeuroClastic called this organization out, it was met with with the threat of litigation. The litigation is coming from that organization, that I am going to assume is better funded and better resourced.
All this is important to nonprofit leaders because we have to be careful in our advocacy efforts. When we see large problems, we may very well be able to hang those problems on another organization. But, we also have to remember when we are going after another organization, they may very well come after us. Like I said, there is certainly more to the story, but there is a cautionary tale in this press release, we have to be careful who we throw stones at; they might throw them back at us.
Food Pantries Get A Remodel
This was a great article on the website FoodTank talking about how the group Wellfare is changing the food pantry distribution model in New York City. In a community where 13% of the city is food insecure (quick math says that is over 1.1 million people), they are finding new ways to get food to those that need it.
“You need to completely flip the model because it’s not working. The food pantry model is based on the old bread lines of the Great Depression, and we’re still doing that in 2022,”
This quote from Cole Riley, the entrepreneur who started Wellfare, is pretty spot on.
And it’s spot on even in rural communities as well. One of the challenges leaders in rural and suburban nonprofits often feel is pressure to emulate what is happening in more urban areas to the suburban environment. Fewer funding partners, economies of scale and longer distances sometimes make it very challenging to easily replicate an urban solution to a rural/suburban problem.
But, one of the things we have been able to do here at our nonprofit is create a mobile food delivery program. While we only complete a few deliveries a day, this program has been critical in a community where transportation (especially for older residents) is seen as a huge issue. Getting foods to them is a much better system than requiring them to come to us.
And overall, the system works. Not only has it changed the way we do things here at New Path, it has also allowed us to secure new funding partners for this activity; the local county government is funding this effort using American Rescue Plan Act dollars until the end of 2024.
Question of the Week
Monday is Labor Day here in the United States and I really want to know if you get the day off work or not.
Registrations now open for Paul G. Duke Academy for Community Leadership!
Registrations are now open for continuing education offered by Edison State Community College in Piqua for the Paul G. Duke Academy for Community Leadership! I have been a proud alumni of both programs and have even been asked to help present sessions and teach classes. It’s an amazing program and I would encourage you to be a part of it if you are in the area! You can register here.
The Paul G. Duke Academy for Community Leadership 1.0 is a series of workshops designed to develop more effective directors, leaders, board members, staff and volunteers of nonprofit organizations. Course topics include the fundamental practices of board recruitment, planning, staffing, budgeting, evaluation, board meetings and community awareness. The classes are designed to help individuals make a difference on their boards and in their community.
The Paul G. Duke Academy for Community Leadership 2.0 has been created and designed specifically for experienced executive directors of nonprofit organizations and alumni of the Academy for Community Leadership 1.0. This challenging and intensive Academy is coordinated by the Academy development team and participants. Advanced participants will conduct original research and exchange results via reports and discussion. Participants will help to further develop the foundational agenda for each of the four monthly sessions that will explore nonprofit organizations—based upon their backgrounds, experiences, pressing issues and needs—through self-analysis, organizational analysis, guest speakers, best practices, resource review and in-depth discussions. At its conclusion, Academy 2.0 participants will be immersed in the annual Mosaic of Community Leadership Conference, both as participants and presenters. Academy 2.0 is the latest collaboration between the Paul G. Duke Foundation and the Edison State Community College Center for Leadership Development.
Now a word from our sponsors!
We recently learned about a new tool called Collective Cause. Collective Cause offers a method of donation, powered by surveys. It provides a way for supporters to donate without using their own money. Supporters take surveys, and in exchange for their time, Collective Cause donates directly to the cause. 100% of the funds generated will be donated to a specific non-profit (Take a survey = Donations to charity).
Set up is quick with no coding or software development required. Essentially, Collective Cause would create a custom campaign and provide a URL to be promoted however the nonprofit chooses. This could be via the organization’s website, social channels, email marketing to current/past supporters, etc. Supporters click the link and take a survey. There is no sign up process and there is no cost to partner with Collective Cause.
To learn more, send me an email at pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com and we can get you in touch with a member of the Collective Cause team!
We are Trying Something New
Perhaps you read our last “Deeper Dive” where we talked about the amazing power of Youtube as a Social Media platform. Well, a reader challenged me and said hey, “Why don’t you start your own channel?”
Okay, challenge accepted. Here is our channel with our first four videos. We had some readers share them on LinkedIn (THANK YOU!) and the response has been positive. Check it out and let me know what you think! Feel free to drop me a line at pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com or just comment below!
Here is a link to our YouTube Channel!
Check Out Some New Resources
Pinnacle Strategies has created a new resource! Check out our store here on the gumroad platform. These are the three most popular tools that I am hit up for. Take a look at these tools and of course, if you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact me at pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com.
What Can We Work on Together?
Did you know that Pinnacle Strategies works individually with nonprofit and public sector leaders to help them solve problems, achieve goals and gain confidence in their roles?
Why?
Because, this work is hard and it’s often a lonely road. Our nonprofit and public sector leaders need people that they can talk to to get solid advice and encouragement to do the work that is in front of them. If you feel that this can be of value to you, or a member of your team, please reach out to pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com and let’s talk.
A Quick Note of Thanks!
Thank you all for subscribing to this newsletter. The subscription numbers continue to grow and from what I am learning, this side job seems like it has “sticking power”. I am not getting inquiries and calls from literally all over the world wanting to partner and work together to create value for you, the non profit and philanthropy leader. I feel very excited about the future of this newsletter and if you have any ideas or comments, please feel free to share them with me at pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com
I know many of you have shared this with your friends and colleagues and I am very grateful. Thank you! If you haven’t shared it yet…..well, here is your chance….
Ready to Learn Something New?
One of the prettiest cities in Fall is Indianapolis and travelling there can open a perfect opportunity to sharpen your skills and meet new professionals in the field. I would encourage you to look at some of the offerings of The Fund Raising School at the Lilly School of Philanthropy at Indiana University’s campus in Indianapolis. The professional development school has great programming both on-line and in-person both in Indianapolis and at other sites across the country. Take a look at their course offerings here!
Other Ways to Connect
Our coaching practice has openings starting here in 2022. If you are interested in working with me to get your nonprofit organization on a track to achieve the big missions you have for your organization, please reach out to me at pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com.
Here are some other ways you can keep in contact with Pinnacle Strategies!
Check us out on our LinkedIn Page
Check us out on the Celebrating Leadership Facebook Page.
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