Art Garcia, MPH’s Post

This fall, a new Learning Cohort connected staff, board members and volunteers of small and grassroots nonprofits to essential resources and networking opportunities. The Cohort was designed to help build sustainability within organizations with no paid staff or fewer than five employees. “We left with key takeaways to help guide our work and we look forward to applying these tools and resources,” said Lacey Becker, Executive Director of Teacher Store. “We are also grateful for the valuable connections made with the Community Foundation and fellow local nonprofits.” learn more about this cohort and other learning opportunities here: https://buff.ly/3YYiDrN Front: Kris Kolz and Doris Agyemang, Yenko; Robin Brunner, Ecumenical Community Center Foundation. Back: Rochelle Naylor, Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation; Pat Kadlec and Lacey Becker, The Teacher Store. Not Pictured: Jacqueline Buchman, St. Vincent de Paul; Ruth Hart, Building Better Beginnings; Linda Kanyere, Paradox Foundation; Amy Hockett, Chain Reaction Bike Hub.

“You know that the work you’re doing makes a difference anecdotally, but to see it on paper – we were in the kitchen crying to see that verified.” Read our latest blog post to learn what our state agency and nonprofit partners have to say about how LINC data is changing the lives of Coloradans, strengthening organizations, and boosting efforts to advance equity. https://bit.ly/47HhVDi

WWW alert (webinar worth watching) My key takeaways: 1) Cookies and creative 'tag days' aren't helping to create a culture of philanthropy. Instead, we need to focus on building trust with the students who engage with us. 2) We do a great job with broadcast communications but not so good with seeking input from our supporters - we can and should do better. 3) The point of an event is not an event. (MIC DROP) No truer words have ever been spoken which is why I always insist we start with the outcomes and reflect on the outcomes.

At the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance's Philanthropy Leads Conference today, Aaron J. Zeiler (he/him), our Director of Partner Strategies, shared how persona-building can help foundations connect meaningfully with the communities they serve. In a field often met with misunderstanding, Aaron emphasized that knowing your audience’s values, worldviews, and identities is key to bridging the gap. Here’s what he covered:  👉 Telling better stories requires taking the time to better understand the people you want to reach  👉 Using research-driven personas to be specific about who you’re reaching—and how  👉 Building trust with clear, relatable language, based on insights from Philanthropy’s New Voice, our report with the Council on Foundations Want to communicate with more clarity and purpose? Explore Philanthropy’s New Voice for further insights: cof.org/better-stories #IPACon2024

At Philanthropy Northwest, the values of place and joy are at the heart of our mission. My family’s history in the Northwest—from my Japanese grandfather’s immigration to first Alaska and then Seattle over a century ago to my great-grandmother’s work in the strawberry fields of Vashon Island—shapes my perspective on these values. In my recent blog, I delve into how we at Philanthropy Northwest embody these principles and share personal experiences that highlight their significance. I invite you to take a moment to read it and explore the importance of place and joy in our work!

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been taking customer data, putting it into HighTide, and sharing it back with our users. This is their first reactions to seeing their data come to life. So cool. You think you know what you’re building. You map it out, design it, and test it—but there’s nothing like the moment when the people you’re building for interact with it. That’s when you truly see its potential—and its impact. I’ve always heard other software leaders say stuff like “I can’t wait to see how people will use _____”. And now I get it. It is truly exciting to see nonprofit leaders‘ creativity using a tool that you and your team have built.

Chattanooga-Area friends, I'll be speaking at the Association of Fundraising Professionals Southeastern Chapter April Meeting - come by and say Hi! April Topic: Trust Me! I'm a Fundraiser: Cultivating Trust in a Distrustful World. To move our missions forward, trust is essential. Yet, trust isn’t often at the center of discussions on strategic direction, storytelling, and fundraising.  What does it take - from ourselves, our organizations, and our boards - to build trust with donors and stakeholders?  Together, we’ll discuss some practical tools, some big ideas, and creative ways to earn confidence from your community. Registration link in the comments. 😎

✨ Practical tips for building your philanthropic legacy with confidence. My newsletter is always a quick read with tangible next steps on how to improve your giving. Subscribe so you don’t miss the next one! https://ow.ly/o3mW50SQpLb #ConfidentGiving #Philanthropy #TrustedAdvisor

✨ Practical tips for building your philanthropic legacy with confidence. My newsletter is always a quick read with tangible next steps on how to improve your giving. Subscribe so you don’t miss the next one! https://ow.ly/vefF50SNweZ #ConfidentGiving #Philanthropy #TrustedAdvisor

Beyond business acumen, instilling a philanthropic spirit and strong sense of mission can be key to inspiring and integrating the rising generation into the family business. Here are a few ideas for how to start: https://bit.ly/3B52SHu