September 24, 2024

By Sara Herschander for The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Local food banks with fewer volunteers. Community fundraisers falling short. Across the country, a sense that neighbors don’t help neighbors like they used to anymore. 

It’s a hunch corroborated by more than a decade of declines in American giving and volunteering trends that experts warn could have consequences stretching far beyond nonprofits’ bottom lines. 

The Generosity Commission, composed of 17 experts across the philanthropic sector, has spent the last three years dissecting Americans’ dwindling participation in formal charitable giving and volunteering. Their findings suggest that the decline in everyday generosity may be both a symptom of the country’s social ills, from social isolation to political polarization, and — if nonprofits can reverse the tide and embrace new forms of American generosity — a possible antidote. At stake, the commission argues, is not just the health of nonprofits, but the vitality of civil society itself. 

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By Kristen Schunk Moreland, President

In the fast-paced and increasingly complex world of organizational management, a strategic plan without well-defined metrics is like a ship without a compass—it may be moving forward but with no clear direction. The saying "what gets measured, gets done" holds particular significance when developing or refining metrics in a strategic planning context. Metrics play a crucial role in evaluating an organization’s effectiveness and ensuring that its efforts are aligned with long-term goals.

Developing or Refining Metrics

For metrics to drive organizational success, they must be measurable and directly aligned with strategic goals. Effective metrics provide a clear view of progress and offer objective insights into how well an organization is meeting its targets. Whether the aim is to increase community engagement, improve financial sustainability, or boost program efficiency, metrics ensure that progress can be quantified and tracked over time.

Key to the development or refinement of metrics is their measurability. Organizations should avoid vague or overly ambitious indicators that are difficult to track or quantify. Instead, they should focus on data that can be consistently gathered and interpreted. A good metric will answer a specific question, such as "how much?" or "how well?" and provide a reliable gauge of progress toward a defined goal.

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The Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) named David Sklar as executive director. Sklar was previously director of government affairs for the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter.

Dr. Anthony L. Heaven has been appointed Assistant Professor of Philanthropic Studies–Philanthropy and Justice at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Dr. Heaven previously served in positions spanning donor relations, fundraising, and philanthropic consulting. 

LaKoya Gardner has been promoted to director of the Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Gardner has served as director of programs and associate director of development for the institute for the past four years.

Orr Fellowship named Jesse Sherman as director of recruitment and events. Sherman was previously a math teacher at Victory College Prep. — Indianapolis Business Journal

Adam Teal joined Hope Academy High School as the director of outreach. Teal previously served as the senior program manager at We Bloom.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation named Michael Lockard as chief development officer. Lockard was previously executive director for Elevance Health CARES, Inc.

The Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP) appointed Vivien Carter as director of development. Carter was previously director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the Alzheimer's Association Greater Indiana Chapter.

Amanda Jamison has been promoted to chief program officer at the Foellinger Foundation. Jamison was previously a senior program officer.

Salesforce Inc. is donating $1 million to Indianapolis Public Schools to support a variety of programs for students in fifth through 12th grades. IPS will use its grant funding to give more students the opportunity to participate in college fairs and college campus tours, to expand a summer orientation program, and to allow all of the district’s fifth graders to participate in Junior Achievement’s JA BizTown program. Read more

The Mind Trust awarded $350,000 in School-Community Partnership Investments (SCPI) to 29 Indianapolis nonprofit or community-based organizations. These funds help local organizations provide high-quality programming to students and families at public charter and innovation schools in Indianapolis. See recipients  

The Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library received a grant from the Robert & Toni Bader Charitable Foundation to create a film trailer for A Journey of Faith and Love. The documentary is about Indianapolis trailblazer rabbis who made history through their dedication to social justice and interfaith cooperation.  

The 11th annual Iron Eagle Paddle & Run had more than 150 participate in a pair of 2.6-mile trail runs through wooded terrain between the beach and the marina with a 1.5-mile loop on the reservoir aboard canoes or kayaks. The proceeds will be used to support the Eagle Creek Park Foundation. See video

Leadership United, a United Way of Central Indiana program that trains community leaders to serve on nonprofit boards, is accepting applications. The nine-month program will meet every other week from Jan. 15 to Aug. 20. The cost is $1,600. Apply by Oct. 25

Are you on a leadership team? If so, sharing valuable resources with your team and Board of Directors is an important part of your job. Have you told them about the weekly Not-for-profit News? They can subscribe and stay up-to-date on all the important happenings in the nonprofit sector. 

Indianapolis Gives 2024 info sessions on Sept. 25 from 2–3:30 p.m. at 8909 Purdue Road, Suite 140, or Sept. 26 from 9:30–11 a.m. at The Conrad, 50 W. Washington Street. Indianapolis Monthly magazine is proud to present Indianapolis Gives, a powerful combination of both a charitable registry and an online giving challenge designed to reach passionate, engaged philanthropists and donors while generating a significant monetary impact for our nonprofit community. Presented by Indianapolis Monthly magazine. Cost: Free. Register

Fundraising data: Answering who to engage and how webinar on Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. Who you should be engaging, and how you can best engage them to ignite their giving passion. Presented by Johnson, Grossnickle & Associates. Cost: Free. Register

A guide to government partnership: Learn to master scaling webinar on Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. Participants will be provided with frameworks to develop programmatic alignment with government policy. Presented by Stanford Social Innovation Review. Cost: $79. Register

Building scholastic bridges: Fostering education equity online meeting on Sept. 27 at 8:30 p.m. Join us as we convene educators, administrators, and nonprofit professionals to discuss educational inequity in Central Indiana, sharing strategies to shatter these barriers and support our students. Presented by United Way of Central Indiana. Cost: Free. Register

What’s working? Utilizing program evaluation to improve service delivery and outcomes on Oct. 5 at 10:30 a.m. at Central Library. This session introduces basic program evaluation strategies and activities to help you understand if your program is meeting goals, operating effectively, and making an impact in your community. Presented by the Indianapolis Public Library. Cost: Free. Register

The nonprofit labor market: Attracting & retaining talent webinar on Oct. 7 at 3 p.m. Discuss when and how to hire employees, identify how to pick a suitable candidate for the role, and describe how to retain top talent. Presented by Forvis Mazers. Cost: Free. Register

Deliber8: An ethical training program for leaders on Oct. 7 at DePauw University, 2961 W County Road 225 S., Greencastle. Promote a culture of ethical responsibility within your businesses and organizations. Presented by The Prindle Institute for Ethics. Costs: $15. Register

Philanthropy Leads dinner on Oct. 8 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Indiana Roof Ballroom. Join a fireside chat on public health with the 20th U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams and IPA CEO Claudia Cummings. Presented by Indiana Philanthropy Alliance. Cost: Starts at $100. Register 

Indiana Women in Need Foundation (IWIN), a nonprofit that gives one-time grants to Hoosiers facing breast cancer, is seeking board members. IWIN has a great history of 24 years, but they need commitment, energy, and fresh perspectives to celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2025. Learn more and apply

Safe Park Indy is looking for volunteers to help with evening and morning lot check-ins. Safe Park Indy provides safe overnight parking, basic amenities, and a connection to social services for the unhoused in Indianapolis living in their cars due to homelessness. Apply

Nonprofit employees often can’t afford basics, new report finds

A study reveals that 22 percent of charity workers struggle financially, highlighting a crisis in a sector dedicated to helping others.

Donor engagement models for the digital age

Do you have trouble resonating with today’s donors? Traditional fundraising models focus too much on money (and can make donors uncomfortable). Our new resource reimagines them to prioritize meaningful connections. Explore DonorPerfect’s redesigned funnel, pyramid, loop, and network for stronger relationships.