This column from Brian Williams of Hands On Nashville and Lewis Lavine of CNM ran in today’s Tennessean:

Last year, Hands On Nashville set an agency record by connecting 34,000 volunteers with community service agencies. In a year when more people were struggling to make ends meet, it would have been understandable to see a decline in volunteerism. Instead, Hands On Nashville saw just the opposite.

This says something profound about our community. In a year when the need was at its peak and people were struggling with the economic meltdown, Nashvillians reached out to help each other.

With the creation of new opportunities for citizens’ involvement, this year is shaping up to build on that record-breaking trend. In January, Nashville was awarded a “Cities of Service Leadership Grant” from the Rockefeller Foundation; the Mayor’s Office announced a program that allows city employees to trade work hours for service in public schools; and the Attorney General’s Office released a new “Guidebook for Tennessee Nonprofits” for board members.

Hands On Nashville and the Center for Nonprofit Management are keeping the volunteerism trend rolling by launching OnBoard, an initiative that connects prospective board members with nonprofits in need of their skills.

OnBoard gives individuals the opportunity to learn about the nonprofit sector and key topics and trends within it from the center’s expert trainers. Participants will walk away from the training session understanding the purpose and leadership responsibilities of board members, the financial practices of nonprofits, and their roles in the community as spokesmen and fundraisers. Then, Hands On Nashville will work to place them with agencies in need of their specific skills as board members.

OnBoard keeps alive the spirit of this special year of service, and it meets a community need. Area nonprofits frequently tell us that they are searching for skilled board members of all ages and backgrounds to help guide their organizations in this unique volunteer capacity. OnBoard gets individuals ready for immediate service; it complements and supplements the work of the Young Leaders Council, which prepares young adults for board service through extensive training and internships.

These volunteer programs and initiatives are all coming together because of the Middle Tennessee community’s unique spirit. Hands On Nashville, the Center for Nonprofit Management, and the Mayor’s Office all see what Nashville can become if we harness our energy to increase the community’s vibrancy. Take advantage of the myriad of opportunities to give back, and help us make 2010 the Year of the Volunteer!

The Center for Nonprofit Management and Hands On Nashville have announced OnBoard, a new program that will train and place community leaders who want to serve on nonprofits’ boards of directors.

“We are pleased to work with Hands On Nashville to introduce this important program,” said Lewis Lavine, president of CNM. “OnBoard offers nonprofits the opportunity to fill their board openings with trained individuals ready and willing to serve. For those who are looking for a governance involvement with a local agency, OnBoard makes the connection.”

The OnBoard program gives individuals the opportunity to learn about the nonprofit sector and key topics and trends within it from CNM’s expert trainers. Participants will walk away from this session understanding the purpose and leadership responsibilities of board members, the financial practices of nonprofits, and their roles in the community as spokespeople and fundraisers.

Following the educational component, OnBoard participants will complete a survey that identifies the issue areas they seek to address through service—from homelessness to environmental protection. Hands On Nashville will then work to match these individuals with organizations seeking qualified board candidates.

“In the last year, Hands On Nashville placed or referred a record 34,000 volunteers to community service agencies. A handful of these volunteers who have interest in deepening their community investment have asked us to refer them to agencies where they can volunteer at the board level. We are honored to partner with CNM to create a formal program that provides this opportunity,” said Brian Williams, Executive Director of Hands On Nashville.

The first OnBoard session will be held April 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at CNM. The inaugural class will have up to 20 participants accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a one-time participation fee of $295, which includes the training, assessment, and placement. Click here to register.

In addition, CNM and Hands On Nashville will take the training and assessment directly to a business at a time convenient to its managers and employees. For more information about this option, contact Sarah Townsend at sarah@cnm.org.

Coverage of the OnBoard announcement ran in the Nashville Post and the Nashville Business Journal.

The Center for Nonprofit Management and the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office have released a guidebook for nonprofit board members. From the Nashville City Paper:

“What Every Board Member and Officer Should Know” is a product of coordination among the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office, the Department of State and the Center for Nonprofit Management.

It is designed to serve as a reference tool for board members and officers of Tennessee nonprofits. It is available online at the Attorney General’s website at http://tn.gov/attorneygeneral.

“We believe the principles and practices in this guidebook can help board members and officers fulfill their duties and enrich their experiences,” Attorney General Bob Cooper said.

The three entities collaborated to develop the guide because each has a particular role in the nonprofit business operation. The Attorney General has broad oversight and authority over Tennessee’s nonprofit sector, including public benefit hospitals.

The Tennessee Department of State is responsible for processing documents filed under the Nonprofit Corporation Act and administers and enforces the Tennessee Charitable Solicitations Act and Charitable Gaming Implementation Law.

The Center for Nonprofit Management provides a range of services and guidance to nonprofits, including workshops, training and networking with other nonprofit organizations.

Kim Carpenter Drake has over 20 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations on everything from fundraising to cause related marketing. She is also a CNM trainer and consultant conducting  a workshop on February 4 entitled, What Sponsors Really Want: Successful Sponsorship Strategies; register today to ensure you have a spot! In the following blog post, Kim analyzes the value of reputation when trying to acquire corporate support:

The Value of Reputation

Benjamin Franklin said, “It takes many good deeds to create a good reputation and only one bad one to lose it.” This is so true, especially in the world on consumer culture.

A product or company lives by its reputation. To survive in a competitive environment, smart business people distinguish their offerings from the competition. Wal-Mart is the best value. Armani is the best quality. Southwest Airlines is friendly and efficient.

These are all excellent values but how do companies take this one step further? They enhance their reputation by aligning themselves with another success story. Often, these take the form of celebrity endorsement. In the last ten years, the “new” celebrity – the celebrated cause – has taken a higher profile. Breast Cancer Awareness, AIDS research, hunger relief, and homelessness are but a few of the causes with which corporations have aligned themselves to improve their consumer image AND their bottom-line.

Continue reading ‘CNM Trainer and Guest Blogger Examines the Value of Reputation’

After a wildly successful pilot program of four events last fall, CNM has begun a new initiative to help young nonprofit employees of Generations X and Y get to know each other and develop a voice for their generations in the nonprofit community and beyond. This will be a unique opportunity for participants to shape their careers, network of support, and commitment to the social sector.

Events are open to the public, but purchasing a membership gives participants a 50% discount off the price to attend. Purchasing a $60 membership means you will be registered for all twelve events (one per month) in 2010 at cost of $5 per event. Nonmembers may register to attend individual events for $10 each. This membership is on an individual basis and is exclusive of CNM’s Excellence Network membership for nonprofit agencies. Membership may be purchased by visiting the “Products” page at www.cnm.org.

The first event, “Taking Charge of your Career: The Importance of Professional Development,” will be held on January 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This event, along with all other monthly programming, is listed on CNM’s workshop calendar at www.cnm.org.

For questions about the Young Nonprofit Professionals Membership, please call 615.259.0100 or e-mail sarah@cnm.org. 

Meredith Libbey is now the assistant to the director of Metro Nashville Public Schools reports today’s Nashville City Paper:

Libbey, a parent of two Metro schools students, is a communications professional with more than 20 years’ experience. She will join MNPS Feb. 1.

She comes to Metro from Ford Motor Credit where she is global communications manager with responsibilities that include media relations and internal communications for the company’s North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific & Africa regions.

“The Board and I believe that every student can achieve at high levels. Meredith is committed to helping us engage and communicate with families and community organizations that are our partners in meeting our goals for academic excellence,” Director of Schools Jesse Register said. “Meredith’s experience in developing strategies and communicating with diverse audiences will serve MNPS well.”

 The Tennessee Foreign Language Institute is offering a special discount for CNM Members that want to learn a foreign language in the new year:

SPRING 2010 TERM: January 25th – April 24th EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT ONLY $325! (REGISTER BY DECEMBER 25)

After December 25th, Tuition prices for 12 weeks:

New student: $400
Returning student: $375
Current/Retired Federal and Metro employees, Seniors (65+) and 501c3 (non-profit) employees: $350
State employees(FT): Free with State Fee Waiver

LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE IN A NEW YEAR

Visit www.TFLI.org to view the schedule and enroll.

Is your nonprofit board functioning smoothly? Or are there some rough edges?

The Center for Nonprofit Management is prepared to help you smooth out those rough edges through a program designed just for you. Our expert consultants are now prepared to spend forty-five minutes with your board- at its meeting-at your location. After a brief preliminary needs assessment, the consultant will address your agency’s needs through one of the following topics:

• The roles of your board and its members;
• How board meetings should flow;
• How a board should be organized to move your agency forward;
• The board’s role in fundraising;
• How to recruit strong and effective board members;
• How to create strategic alliances with other nonprofits.

In a fast-paced world, this is the most effective way to impart new skills to your board and your agency.

The cost for this refresher is an affordable $195.

If you want additional information about this opportunity, please contact Lisa Pote at 259-0100 (lisa@cnm.org).

We look forward to helping you make a difference in the effectiveness of your governance-and in the operation of your nonprofit.

That’s the argument that author Dan Palotta is making in a recent article posted on the blog for Harvard University’s School of Business. The article argues that nonprofit employees are often expected to trade a competitive salary for the “psychic benefits” of nonprofit work. Palotta turns that argument on its head with the following points:

1. People in other industries also feel good about the work they do: Palotta gives the example of a people that build environmentally friendly cars, medical researchers, and book publishers that all feel they are giving back to the world and are not asked to sacrifice quality of life.

2. Nonprofit employees are in cubicles just like everyone else: Palotta argues that nonprofit employees are often working in typical office environments and are not the volunteers on the front lines helping the community. Therefore, the majority of nonprofit employees are not getting the feel-good benefits of daily service.

3. Volunteers from the for-profit world have the opportunity to be philanthropists: Board members have considerable power over nonprofits while they have for-profit employment. They are getting to experience service without sacrificing their income.

This article is part of a larger picture that Dan Palotta paints for the future of the nonprofit community in his book, Uncharitable: How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential. The book questions the separation of capitalism and the nonprofit sector and how that business model is harming nonprofits, and the communities they serve.

Let’s Talk About it!

Let us know what you think in the comments section and save the date for CNM’s Bridge to Excellence conference on May 18th where you can hear conference keynote Dan Palotta in person! Stay tuned for more information on this exciting event.

Yesterday at CNM’s monthly CEO Network meeting, the Nashville Shakespeare Festival  presented a sampling of their Shakespeare in Business Workshops. Thanks to the great folks from the Shakespeare festival, participants learned how role playing can stimulate insight and how facilitated reflection can promote growth. 

Nonprofit CEOs learning that “all the world’s a stage.”