What’s next?: Perspectives on how local nonprofits are moving forward in 2023 |
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Several nonprofit employees share their personal insights a year after NFPN survey |
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by Shari Finnell, editor/writer, Not-for-profit News
How is Central Indiana’s nonprofit industry evolving? What’s next for 2023?
More than a year has passed since Not-for-profit News engaged 500 Central Indiana nonprofit employees as part of a “How Are You Doing?” survey. At that time, we wanted to know how the people who make up the nonprofit sector were faring during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, stay-at-home orders, and social and racial justice protests.
In September of 2021, a significant number of survey respondents (54 percent) said they were thinking about leaving their jobs within 12 months. And 72 percent said that their nonprofit’s stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work impacted them.
Recently, we contacted several survey respondents who were willing to be interviewed about what had transpired since last year.
While the nonprofit employees’ responses varied, it was clear that the unprecedented events in recent years significantly impacted how their organizations will fare throughout 2023 — either positively or negatively. One person decided to leave the nonprofit field as a full-time career, while others decided to stay in environments experiencing high levels of employee turnover. For some, the pandemic strengthened their resolve to elevate their nonprofit missions.
The following includes an overview of their responses.
Nonprofit veteran decides to quit
25-year nonprofit veteran reported that she had decided to leave her job to launch a travel agency.
“I was not finding any value in working for this particular nonprofit,” said the employee. “I possibly was already on that course, but the pandemic escalated it. To me, this (travel opportunity) is more impactful than raising money for a scholarship or to keep the lights on. It’s filling my bucket, my sense of purpose. I’m encouraging people to travel to places they may not normally go. Writing fundraising copy just wasn’t cutting it anymore.”
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Insights for fundraising this fall and beyond |
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Back to The Fund Raising School |
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by Pat Danahey Janin, Genevieve G. Shaker, and Sarah K. Nathan
As many friends of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy know, Achieving Excellence in Fundraising (first published in 1991) has become a bedrock text full of solid, practical advice for fundraisers and philanthropic practitioners. The 5th edition, released last spring, is no exception. The editorial team has rounded up some insights from the book to help jump-start your fundraising this fall.
1. Be empowered through self-reflection and rejuvenation. Make it a regular practice to recharge by revisiting your personal mission connection and your unique contributions to the organization, while also finding ways to keep growing and learning as a professional. Organizational leaders can lend their support through regular recognition, affirmation, and budgeting for professional development.
2. Keep an eye on community alignment. Pay attention to whether and how current community and beneficiary needs are shaping the fundraising case for support. Do beneficiaries have opportunities to provide input and are they represented in respectful and meaningful ways? Make changes accordingly.
3. Plan, plan, plan. Then work the plan! Fall is a great time for organizations to plan and budget for next year. Think ahead about what’s needed in the next twelve months. The fundraising team should be part of the organization’s overall planning process to ensure the fundraising lines up with strategic efforts.
4. Keep doors of communication open within your organization and don’t get siloed. Be a bridge builder among departments. This will enable you to understand evolving organizational needs and respond, while developing key internal relationships to facilitate your work.
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Episode 22: Join Bryan Orander as he speaks with Damian Dunn of Your Money Line. Dunn shares insights about student loan forgiveness programs that could benefit nonprofit employees. He also talks about an innovative program that gives companies the ability to provide on-call financial advice and coaching as an employee benefit that enhances job satisfaction and retention. Listen
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Eagle Creek Park Foundation, Inc., has named Meghan Stritar as executive director. Stritar previously was community recreation manager at Brownsburg Park. |
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Marian University has promoted Kenith Britt to chief operating officer. Britt previously served as senior vice president of strategic growth and innovation and founding dean of the Klipsch Educators College. |
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OrthoIndy Foundation has awarded NeuroHope with a $1 million grant to support its programs for people recovering from neurologic injuries. NeuroHope plans to use the funding to expand its nonprofit rehabilitation and wellness center and offer services for spinal cord injury, brain injury and stroke. Read more
Indiana nonprofit organizations have an opportunity to create large-scale change and innovation in their organizations through the new Mapt Solutions Transformation Challenge. The winner will receive a $75,000 grant for strategic planning services with the Mapt team and an additional $25,000 in cash to support the organization in acting on its plans. Apply
The Milk Bank has opened a new facility at 8020 Castleway Dr., doubling the size of its previous facility. Due to a 185 percent increase in demand and with generous philanthropic support, the expansion resulted in additional lab equipment for pasteurization, along with the ability to add an on-site generator. Read more
Women & Hi Tech has awarded more than $50,000 in scholarships and 10 Leading Light Awards. These awards and scholarships recognize, elevate, and promote women and girls in STEM as well as male allies. Read more
The deadline to apply for the 2023 Class of the Mutz Philanthropic Leadership Institute is Oct. 27 at noon. Ideal candidates are senior leaders and board members in philanthropy, as well as those seeking to hold executive roles in the future. Previous participants have included public sector officials and high-potential individuals at foundations, corporations, and nonprofit organizations. Apply
Indiana Philanthropy Alliance has moved to the PNC Center, 115 W. Washington St., Ste. 950.
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MVMT10K app launch week reception on Oct. 24-28, from 5:30-7 p.m. at The English Foundation Building, 615 N. Alabama St., Ste. 300. Learn more about the app launch of an anti-racist movement of 10,000, which aims to create a more equitable and anti-racist community. Presented by The Indianapolis Foundation. Cost: Free. Register
Grantmaking considerations and trends webinar on Oct. 25 at 11 a.m. As foundations consider how to align their grantmaking with mission, identifying trends and shifting priorities can raise questions about how to assess the financial health of grantees. Presented by FORVIS. Cost: Free. Register
Cyber security 101 for nonprofits on Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. Learn the data security tips needed to protect your organization again cyber threats. Presented by Blue Avocado. Cost: Free. Register
Equity report card for the city of Indianapolis Part 1 on Oct. 27 from 9-11 a.m. online or at WFYI Public Media, 1630 N. Meridian St., Reuben Room. Gain some insights about initial metrics on equity and provide input about what to measure and how. Presented by SAVI Talks. Cost: Free.
The Racial Equity Institute’s (REI) Groundwater Approach virtual interactive training on Oct. 28 at 9 a.m. Examine characteristics of modern-day racial inequity. Presented by The Indianapolis Foundation. Cost: Free. Register
Fearless asking: How to build an individual giving program on Oct. 29 from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St. Learn about the current fundraising environment and overcome the fears that get in the way of asking for the support your nonprofit needs. Presented by the Indianapolis Public Library. Cost: Free. Register
Building your company's C-suite with fractional advisors on Nov. 2 from 3:30-6 p.m. at COhatch Broad Ripple, 6151 N. Central Ave. A panel experts will discuss how a fractional executive can help organizational leaders creatively solve problems, leverage opportunities, and move their organizations towards profitable growth. Presented by VonLehman CPA & Advisors. Cost: Free. Register
Festival of philanthropy on Nov. 15 from 5:30-8 p.m. at Ritz Charles, 12156 N. Meridian St, Carmel. Nonprofit executive directors, board chairs, and other leaders are invited to a collaboration on how to advance Hamilton County equitably. Presented by Hamilton County Community Foundation. Submit participation request by Oct. 25.
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RightFit afterschool program needs volunteers who are passionate about helping youth in various programming areas on weekdays from 3-6 p.m. Volunteer opportunities include physical education, health and nutrition, homework help, social and emotional learning. Contact Jamie Johnson to learn more. |
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GoodwillFinds, a newly incorporated shopping venture, has about 100,000 donated items available for online purchase. Proceeds from the new platform is expected to boost donations needed for job training, youth programming, and other community-based initiatives. ShopGoodwill.com
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The Ice Bucket Challenge helped fund a new ALS drug. According to the ALS Association, $2.2 million of the funds raised from the 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge helped the development and trial of a new drug recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The drug will be used for treatment of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Read more
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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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Coworking memberships available
Nexus has month-to-month memberships available for open desks and dedicated desks in a shared coworking space. Memberships include free meeting room credits, access to high-speed internet, free copy, scanning, and printing, and free coffee in a community of small business owners and nonprofit employees. Monthly memberships range from $59 for lite memberships to $149 for a dedicated cubicle. Learn more and sign up
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CHARITABLE ADVISORS
FEATURED JOB POSTINGS
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Job Seekers, what do you think of Charitable Advisors’ new job board? We moved our job board to HiringOpps in late April. Now, we are anxious to find out how the new system is working as a job seeker. If you have applied for a job using the new system, could you please take 2-minutes to let us know how it is going?
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Executive Leadership (CEO/ED/COO)
Fund Development/Marketing/PR/Advocacy
Admin Support/Clerical
Finance/Accounting/HR/IT/Facility
Programs/Program Support
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