Maximus Foundation’s Post

It's interesting to see what happens when you speak out. In this case, it’s an invitation via Tim Eby to join the board at the St. Louis Civic Pride Foundation and the honor that comes with serving. The Foundation is an education non-profit, part of Explore St. Louis, our local convention and tourism bureau. The mission: to energize St. Louisans to support their community. Here’s where I editorialize. This is an example of passion + need = opportunity. I'm passionate and vocal that each of us needs to SHOW UP to improve the cities we live in, for ourselves and the generations to come. And my home town, which has so much potential and resources, also has many challenges. Improving civic pride is one of dozens of things needed to address those challenges. Which leads to opportunty: when someone comes knocking, asking for help, in my experience you find a way to help. Bottom line: just say yes! I’m excited to join my fellow board members, roll up my sleeves and get to work!

A vision serves as a beacon of the future. Junior Achievement of South Florida, has a vision for our organization. “That all youth will be empowered with the knowledge, ability and confidence to navigate their futures, drive our economy and lead our community.” But I think it’s also important for each team to create a vision that supports the company’s. This gives each team a common purpose and clearer sense of direction. Yesterday our program/project teams did some “visioning”. Their goal was to create a statement of what the future looks like for their program. Here are some of the questions they considered: ➡️ what does the future look like for the students we serve? ➡️ how do we want our stakeholders (donors, building/event guests, teachers, students, volunteers) to feel when they are involved with JA? ➡️ what does it look like when we go our best? ➡️ how does our vision align with our values? ➡️ what are our aspirations? It was inspiring to hear their vision statements and to feel their passion to create the greatest impact for those we serve. What’s your teams vision?

It’s difficult to express just how much I appreciate Megan Crowhurst. Whether it’s serving our team or our clients, she has a way of making sense out of all the random challenges we send her way and she does it with a positive, can-do attitude and a smile! #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #nonprofits #retainedsearch #recruiting #executivesearch

Do you know about the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at RMU? They build a stronger community by helping to build stronger, more knowledgeable nonprofits. Check out their offerings if you are looking to strengthen your nonprofit!

Hey #nonprofit #coalition leader, sometimes you just need a little help to get started. Confused about logic models? Can’t tell an input from an output from an outcome? I got you. And can I just say I HATE the words input and output? Let’s just say inputs are your ingredients, outputs are what you bake, and outcomes are the satisfaction and yummy feelings you get from sharing your Christina Tossi Milk Bar inspired cake. Link in the comments. #nonprofits #evaluation #logicmodel #template 

Excellent analysis of the best of the social benefit space.

Alumni Spotlight: Alberto Morales '16 MPA Alberto Morales, a 2016 graduate of Watson’s Master of Public Affairs program and first-generation college student, founded his own consulting firm two years ago with the goal of creating a more equitable philanthropic sector. "Being first-generation is crucial to my identity. It has shaped my understanding of the world and provided me with a sense of urgency." Read more about Alberto: https://ow.ly/vpHl50Q7Uy8

Did you miss the August session of Disrupting White Supremacy Culture in Nonprofits? In the three years since the murder of George Floyd, many nonprofit leaders have taken action on the prevalence of white supremacy culture in our organizations, yet many issues remain. We can't take our foot off the gas now. If you're concerned that your organization's commitment to its values is weakening, join me, Janedra Sykes and Catherine Shieh for an exploration of how white supremacy culture shows up where we least expect it. With 600 years of learned oppression in our history, white supremacy culture manifests itself in nearly every aspect of nonprofit work. In this interactive session, we'll introduce the characteristics of white supremacy culture (as outlined by Tema Okun) in nonprofits. We'll also review examples that are all-too-common but often misunderstood. There will also be opportunities to apply the learning in your context. Finally, we'll offer next steps to continue the process of disrupting white supremacy culture, both personally and systematically. We facilitate this session about six times per year. While it's free, the spaces go quickly! There are a few spots left for the September session on September 28 at 9:00 am Pacific. Learn more and RSVP at https://lnkd.in/ga_Mpg2U #DisruptWhiteSupremacyCulture #DEI #Justice #OrganizingToWin

Sharing this opportunity with my network, taking place on May 2nd, 2024: "Nonprofit Bootcamp for Directors and Senior Professionals at Columbia Law School The environment for nonprofits has never been more challenging. While navigating a shifting legal and societal landscape, nonprofits grapple with a host of knotty problems stemming from economic inequality, growing social and political fragmentation, challenges to free speech, rapid technological change, climate change, and other existential threats on a global scale. To advance their missions in these challenging times, nonprofits depend on board members and senior professionals for effective leadership. Join us for an intensive training session on how to be more effective. This program is designed for new and veteran board members and senior professionals. Our experts will share insights, lead lively discussions, and introduce you to other distinguished nonprofit trustees and professionals. Key topics: What are the newest and most pressing challenges facing nonprofits? What are my and my institution's legal responsibilities? What landmines can lead to institutional or personal embarrassment or liability? How can I help allocate resources wisely, innovate, and cut costs? How can I help enhance my nonprofit’s fundraising? What is the right allocation of responsibilities between board members and professionals?" https://lnkd.in/e_mZ2dCm

When disaster strikes, Bates White responds. Whether a natural disaster or humanitarian crisis, employees are quick to implement fundraisers for relief organizations including World Central Kitchen, Aloha United Way Fund, GlobalGiving, and more. Learn more about how Bates White employees give back: https://ow.ly/HKj950Q5g9T #beyondexpertsbetterexperience #givingback #7daysofgiving