TV and the Web have become the natural leader, role model and gospel of truth for most people.  Yes, that’s right electronic machines are what people depend upon for setting their beliefs, priorities and actions.  The initial reaction to any information is that every thing is true.  The problem is that if a statement or action is not true, the harm is already done.   Today, information flow is immediate and so is the reaction.  Leaders of nonprofits have to understand how to use these channels of communication to maximize its impact, promote and protect its message.  There may be a time where leadership may have to be sacrificed to save the nonprofit organization even when it is not fair. 

John Hancock was not liked by England. He had lots of ships and signed the constitution.  England called him a bad guy.  Our country called him a good guy.  He is such a good guy I did my project on him.  He was a wise leader. He had lots lots of money.  He had lots of jobs and made more money.

George Washington fought a lot and was the first president.  He led lots of people in fights. No not fist fights.  Big huge battles.   He was so good he won our country.  He decided to share with everyone.  As the leader of the country he was a wise leader.  Everybody listen to him.  My friends and I called him the big cheese. 

From Papa:

The one pattern that is consistent in history is the victor writes the official history.  The other two factors is that time does heal and economics is ultimately the strongest influence to move anyone individual or group towards the desired outcome.

John Brown - The famed abolitionist leader would probably be labeled as an “Insurgent” and a terrorist by our current government and those labels would be repeated by the many media sources without much critique or analysis.  Whether one believes the fact that he was fighting against injustice for the rights of oppressed people, his resistance would be intolerable.  Therefore, I ask you to wonder how many leaders are considered marginalized “Insurgents” in their field of work today.  I further challenge you on whether the discomfort of any particular insurgent might be remembered more fondly in the future, as some remember the noble fight of John Brown.   Strives in societies evolution did not occur with the acceptance of the norm, but with individuals willing to be first.  As a leader or in selecting leadership consider whether the risks of being first are worth it, if ultimately society is better off?    As a leader or in selecting leadership consider whether the risks of evolving the nonprofit are worth it, if ultimately society is better off?

For more detailed information on John Brown check out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Brown_(abolitionist)

Lord Jeffery Amherst who is reputed to have given blankets contaminated with smallpox to the Native Americans in hopes of wiping him out, thus making him one of history’s first Bio-Terrorists. Regardless of whether that actually happened, Lord Amherst is known to have endorsed the concept and called for the “extirpation” of Native Americans in his own writing. Despite that history, he is admired by many Americans even to this day. His name adorns some great institutions and several towns and counties in the United States and Canada. I highlight his legacy because of his connection to both government and a nonprofit education institution. The second reason I highlight his legacy is that the past can come back to haunt an organization. There are many businesses that have been identified even presently of links to war time actions of their past former leaders and their actions required the companies to make financial arrangements in response in present day value. While today it may be difficult to prove that the wealth of a nonprofit was built upon the funds earned by inappropriate actions of a former leader, just the accusation can cause sufficient financial harm if the assets of a nonprofit are not large enough to weather the furor. It is better to be up front and take action once information is known.

For more history on the evolution of Lord Jeffrey Amherst’s reputation check out : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Amherst

Recently the Boston Foundation released a study on the state of nonprofits in Massachusetts.  While the report  focused on Massachusetts I recommend it as a resource for every nonprofit.  I would suggest that while reading the report you consider four questions.

1. How can outsourcing maximize the organizations assets and resources and lower its costs?
2. How could being part of a cooperative maximize the organizations assets and resources and lower its costs?
3. What is the status of the organizations strategic plan?
4. What succession planning has been completed by the organization?

You may click on link to the report to go to the Boston Foundation web site and download the report.  Please note the report is PDF and is over 100 pages.

A Man Said to the Universe

A man said to the universe:

“Sir, I exist!”

“However,” replied the universe,

“The fact has not created in me

A sense of obligation.”

Stephen Crane (1871-1900)

A nonprofit or non governmental organization is only as strong as its leadership. A nonprofit organization’s quality is only as good as its employees. When recruiting from the for-profit sector remember its not the compensation that should be the first draw to your organization but the organization’s mission and vision. The attitudes and expectations set by the leadership ultimately set the tone of accountability of any organization, including government. The type of incorporation does not create leaders. Recently the election process would seem to have recognized everyone. True leaders will continue to recognize those they serve even after they get the job.

When not in school keeping busy keeps me out of trouble. When I am bored things just happen. When I have plans it helps me wait. When I have no plans I get in trouble. My parents have signed me up for stuff. Most of the time I like the stuff. Not all my friends parents at school know about signing up for this stuff. I tell them to call my parents. Oh, I just told Papa they might get calls.

From Papa: So far we have been lucky its only been parents in the school yard where we have been asked to share information. Thanks Chris for promoting your parents to summer programming coordinator.

The use of summer interns is a very easy inexpensive way to run summer and school vacation programs. It also provides to a nonprofit organization a way to identify in advance potential employees to recruit, promote the brand and communicate to the community the nonprofit.

Have the space to put in at least one classroom to have childcare on site?  What a great recruiting tool.  What a great way to ensure that there is a place for employees to obtain childcare, work and not have to worry as much about getting to the child care center on time.  Traffic can be such an unpredictable problem.  How many times have you heard, got to run to pick up my child at child care.  I have make sure I have two hours to make sure traffic does not interfere with getting there.

How about running a school vacation and summer program?

These options bring in revenues, increase productivity, lower costs of recruitment, staff turnover, and allow you to pay lower wages due to the on sight benefits.    You can competitive with benefits other employers do not offer.

Access to child care, access to adult care, access to coordinating care, access to after school programs, access to higher education, access learning environments and the list goes on.  In your community have you conducted a needs assessment of the services needed, what assets of the nonprofit are underutilized and how you can offer a service at price that private and publicly funded individuals would pay.

For-profits are building more child care capacity, more companies are opening adult care services, new schools are being created at all levels,  and many after school and summer programs require early enrollment.

Success does not come to those whom wait for it to happen.  Success takes time and vision.  Success takes energy and effort.  Nonprofits have strengths that most individuals do not realize can make them very competitive.   The strengths of a nonprofit organization just need to be identified and used strategically to tap into positive cash flow ventures.

There is a tremendous need for affordable housing not only for the community at large but for many of the employees whom wish to work in the nonprofit field.  Nonprofit organizations are constantly looking for affordable space to deliver their programs.  There are several means to utilize both needs to accomplish both.  An organization may choose to use its scale to develop its own  plan.  Some nonprofits will find it beneficial to partner with other nonprofits and/or for-profit entities.

Nonprofits have access to funding sources that for-profits do not.  Therefore, with sufficient planning, design and the right partners nonprofits can make a huge impact in the affordable housing area.   These affordable housing ventures done right can  within five years generate revenues for nonprofits to pay for a level of program costs.