Friday, December 28, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Happy Holidays!
Thanks to an invitation proffered by Stoller Foundation, Executive Service Corps of Houston enjoyed learning about Capacity Building at the Houston Grantmakers Forum yesterday. Capacity building is a term frequently bandied about that the group agreed can mean anything from building the capacity of individual donors to group capacity building to community capacity building (i.e. how is the agency meeting community needs). Kudos for the subject matter!
It was helpful to hear how the nonprofit consulting industry is faring at year-end from veteran agency representatives, Cynthia Nunn, President and CEO, Center for Nonprofit Management, Dallas, Matt Kouri, President and Executive Director, Greenlights for Nonprofit Success, Austin, and Dr. Will Brown, Associate Professor and Director, Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, as well as hostess, Ronnie Hagerty, VP, Community Relations, United Way Houston. Times are difficult for nonprofits as has been reported throughout the year by Chronicle of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Times. Funding has remained steady or increased only slightly with little hope of change. The fiscal cliff debate will affect how donations will be deducted and the thought strikes fear in charities who are reliant on donations for survival.
The sector is composed of optimists, and we frequently put the best face out to keep morale and income up. It is time for further assistance, however, according to these specialists and their peer, ESCH, from grant makers to help fund the education and training needed to make the nonprofits more self-sufficient and sustainable. Without vocal leadership from the funders, agencies will continue the same "bad" habits that keep them coming back for funding that might be avoided. Grantors need to follow-up on requests to assure board diversification, strategic planning and funding diversification. Budget reductions and creative collaborations are embraced by leading nonprofits to strengthen the organization's core and keep the body healthy. Grantmakers have an opportunity to offer guidance to and assistance through these various resources and locally, we would add University of Houston David Underwood Nonprofit Leadership Alliance and Rice University's Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership, as well as Association for Fundraising Professionals, as educational resources.
This will take creativity, dedication and hard work from both sides to be ready to find ways to evaluate mission achievement and improve reporting so that funding justifications can be more easily made. We run the risk of losing some of the more needed charities, often too mission-focused, that do not take the time to plan and adequately review.
ESCH applauds and respects those funders who help keep nonprofit boards "feet to the fire" and focused on best management practices. We, like all of you, are striving to improve our bottom line of mission success. It is our challenge to help you become more successful and report on those of you who are as a result of working with our professionals. In doing so, we must become more relevant, flexible, responsive, consistent and educated about our own nonprofit community. If you have suggestions, please do not hesitate to share them. We are listening.
It was helpful to hear how the nonprofit consulting industry is faring at year-end from veteran agency representatives, Cynthia Nunn, President and CEO, Center for Nonprofit Management, Dallas, Matt Kouri, President and Executive Director, Greenlights for Nonprofit Success, Austin, and Dr. Will Brown, Associate Professor and Director, Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, as well as hostess, Ronnie Hagerty, VP, Community Relations, United Way Houston. Times are difficult for nonprofits as has been reported throughout the year by Chronicle of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Times. Funding has remained steady or increased only slightly with little hope of change. The fiscal cliff debate will affect how donations will be deducted and the thought strikes fear in charities who are reliant on donations for survival.
This will take creativity, dedication and hard work from both sides to be ready to find ways to evaluate mission achievement and improve reporting so that funding justifications can be more easily made. We run the risk of losing some of the more needed charities, often too mission-focused, that do not take the time to plan and adequately review.
ESCH applauds and respects those funders who help keep nonprofit boards "feet to the fire" and focused on best management practices. We, like all of you, are striving to improve our bottom line of mission success. It is our challenge to help you become more successful and report on those of you who are as a result of working with our professionals. In doing so, we must become more relevant, flexible, responsive, consistent and educated about our own nonprofit community. If you have suggestions, please do not hesitate to share them. We are listening.
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