Impact NW’s Post

Nonprofits cannot make a difference without partners. In my latest piece on Forbes, "Playing The Long Game: How To Find The Right Partner For Your Nonprofit", I explore corporate partnerships with the potential to transform how we pursue our mission.

The Generosity Commission recently released a report on the current status of giving and volunteering in America. One of the most striking trends is that volunteer hours and donations are increasing year over year... but with fewer volunteers and donors. Being deep in the nonprofit space, this gave us pause. How can we spark conversations with our currents donors to share the joy they find in being givers of their time/talent/treasure? How can we encourage more participation? What hurdles in people's lives do we need to acknowledge? Our modern world is hurried, rushed, and distracted. Budgets feel strained. Margin in schedules is thin, if nonexistent. God has called us to be generous, just as He's been wildly generous with us! We are even wired (see the recent brain research out there) to be generous. So, how can we remind others that on the other side of giving there is joy to be found? Here's the link to the report. If you have time, give it a read!

“What I love about the Collective Abundance Fund is the breathing room that it creates with the end goal being contributions to the whole of the community by giving to individuals." — Megan Minoka Hill, Harvard Kennedy School NDN Collective is helping more Native people put their wealth-building dreams into action through the Collective Abundance Fund. Check out this recent article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy to learn more about the direct impact it's having on Indigenous people in the region: https://bit.ly/4dk4ASy

Today is Giving Tuesday, perhaps the one day in the year where it is clearest that the word giving has been appropriated to almost entirely focus on financial donations by the nonprofit community. As an antidote I offer you this article from Forbes magazine. #VolunteeringIsGivingToo

The Housing Network: Keeping Our Community Members Housed! Partnerships between case managers, social workers, nonprofits, and housing providers like Embrace Home Housing are crucial in addressing homelessness!! ✨ The goal for many housing providers is not just to offer temporary relief but to help individuals achieve long-term stability. Nonprofits and social workers can offer programs focused on life skills, employment assistance, and savings plans, which are crucial in helping individuals transition from homelessness to permanent, independent living. Embrace Home Housing's mission includes supporting residents in seeking employment, improving credit, and saving funds for future growth—all areas that are strengthened by collaboration with case managers and nonprofits. Embrace Home Housing is committed to participating positively in the housing needs, social service and nonprofits communities!

HomeClub looks at hundreds of articles every day. We choose the best ones to share with our readers. This gives you a quick look at what's happening in the home improvement industry. The article below is one we picked. Community revitalization efforts can have a profound impact on local residents, fostering a sense of belonging and improving quality of life. Lowe's Foundation Hometowns program exemplifies this by awarding $10 million in grants to 100 nonprofits across the United States, as reported by Lowe's Companies, Inc.'s newsroom. These grants will fund diverse projects, from building tiny homes for veterans in South Dakota to creating a community garden in Detroit. By supporting initiatives that address specific local needs, Lowe's is not only improving physical spaces but also strengthening community bonds and providing essential services to vulnerable populations. This commitment to community development demonstrates the power of corporate social responsibility in creating lasting positive change. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dPQmdbTD Visit our website for more updates: https://hghomeclub.com/ #LowesHometowns #CommunityRevitalization #NonprofitSupport #CorporateSocialResponsibility #HGHomeclub

Hope for Homes Day: A Statewide Initiative to Combat Homelessness in Illinois Mark your calendars for July 18th, 2024 - a day when professionals across Illinois can significantly impact our communities. Hope for Homes Day is a collaborative fundraising effort uniting nonprofits throughout the state with one mission: to end homelessness. This initiative exemplifies the power of collective action in addressing critical social issues. Why This Matters to Professionals: -Corporate Social Responsibility: Demonstrate your company's commitment to community welfare -Networking: Connect with like-minded professionals and organizations -Leadership: Be at the forefront of social change in Illinois How You Can Participate: 1. Learn more about this incredible initiative 2. Set up a reminder to donate on July 18th and share this initiative with your professional network 3. Choose a nonprofit to support (we'd be honored if you chose us!) https://bit.ly/3zLIDNS Let's leverage our professional networks to create lasting change. Regardless of size, your contribution can help provide safe, stable housing for those in need. Together, we can showcase Illinois as a state where business success and social responsibility go hand in hand. Are you or your company participating in Hope for Homes Day? Share your plans in the comments below! La Casa Norte #ASafeHaven #HopeForHomes #CorporateSocialResponsibility #IllinoisGives #ProfessionalsForChange

Big changes in the Community Project Funding (also know earmarks) process for non-profits. 🚨 Nonprofits are now blocked from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Economic Development Initiative grant program, which is where lawmakers of both parties turned after earmarks were banned completely from the Labor-HHS-Education bill last year. Under the new guidance for the EDI account, only state, local and tribal governments are eligible, along with public colleges and universities. EDIs, which receive grants out of HUD’s Community Development Fund, were the largest single source of earmarks in final fiscal 2024 appropriations, at nearly $3.3 billion. Two-thirds of that amount, or $2.2 billion, originated in the House, CQ Roll Call found. Roughly $800 million of those earmarks went to nonprofits including shelters for victims of domestic violence, food banks and Habitat for Humanity grants to build homes for those in need. https://lnkd.in/evZmnxrp

The "Community Closet on Wheels" initiative, spearheaded by Daiyzah Glenn, exemplifies innovative outreach to address the urgent needs of the homeless population in Atlanta, Georgia. This project transforms a cargo van into a mobile closet that delivers essential items such as clothing and hygiene products directly to those in need, at no charge. These pop-up shops not only provide necessities but also promote dignity and foster community connections. More than a mere transportation tool, the "Community Closet on Wheels" stands as a symbol of compassion and a catalyst for community-driven change. It showcases the profound impact of combining practical solutions with heartfelt engagement and steadfast support. Significantly, the Pollination Project's seed grant has been instrumental in the project's inception. It facilitated crucial early developments, including the project's formal incorporation and attainment of 501(c)(3) status, enhancing its credibility and broadening its donor base. Additionally, the grant has expanded networking opportunities with organizations aligned in mission, thereby amplifying the project's ability to serve effectively. This initial funding has been vital, acting as a springboard that has allowed "Community Closet on Wheels" to secure broader attention and support, ultimately enabling it to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Atlanta's homeless individuals. Read more https://lnkd.in/dVjX25Us #philanthropy #grantmaking #grants #heartivism #changemakers #activism #nonprofit #volunteer #dignity #compassion #community #realchange

My first post-election action is simple: Double down on supporting the organizations and institutions I know are critical to the issues I am most connected to. As a new Board Member of Shelterforce I know their independent reporting on housing justice issues will be essential to understanding how the next four years will impact front line affordable housing and community development organizations. Please consider making a donation to this vital work. Until Dec 31, your donation is doubled by #NewsMatch. Please give today: https://lnkd.in/erK76R36  I have relied on Shelterforce: 🌟 As an educator: Assigning well-reported articles to undergraduate students new to the field who want to understand the housing and community development 🌟As a practitioner: Situating my local work within a broader national context and making connections to other places + organizations 🌟 As a grantmaker: Understanding the landscape of critical housing issues and who is doing innovative, solutions focused work