Mission: Impact

In episode 39, Carol Hamilton looks back at the last year and a half of Mission Impact. Using clips from interviews with Tip Fallon, Nyacko Perry, Carlyn Madden, Kristin Bradley-Bull, Keisha Sitney, Rosalind Spiegel, Stephen Graves and Nathaniel Benjamin, she examines:

• How the nonprofit sector is not exempt from the larger systems of capitalism, white supremacy culture and patriarchy
• The toll code switching and the requirement to assimilate costs
• What steps organizations can use to start to make their organizations more equitable and inclusive.

Important Links:

missionimpactpodcast.com

Learn more about my featured guests:

• Tip Fallon https://www.linkedin.com/in/tipfallon/
• Nyacko Perry, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nyacko-pearl-perry-msod-ab726917/
• Carlyn Madden, https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlynmadden/
• Kristin Bradley-Bull, https://www.linkedin.com/in/rootstocanopy/
• Keisha Sitney, https://www.linkedin.com/in/keisha-sitney/
• Rosalind Spigel, https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosalind-spigel-msod-1694751/
• Stephen Graves, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sggraves/
• Nathaniel Benjamin, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanielhbenjamin/
• Plus my guest host for the culture fit episodes Peter James Cruz, https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterjcruz/

Resources mentioned:

• 1619 project: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/1619-america-slavery.html
• Jeanne Bell – Hire By Hire report https://www.compasspoint.org/sites/default/files/documents/Hire_by_Hire_Report.pdf
• Robert Gass – Art of Transformational Consulting: https://atctools.org/

Transcript:

In Episode 42 of Mission: Impact, Carol and her guest, Marla Bobowick discuss:

• The major misconceptions people have about boards and governance
• How staff and board can shift to shared leadership
• Why boards need to focus more on the future than just talking about the past

Guest Bio:

Marla Bobowick is an independent consultant based in Washington, DC, has served as a Senior Governance Consultant for BoardSource since 2008, and is also a Standards for Excellence® licensed consultant. She has more than 30 years of nonprofit experience and a history of creative problem solving. Specializing in nonprofit management and leadership, she has extensive experience with board governance, strategy, and publishing. She has worked with nonprofit organizations of all types and sizes, including regional healthcare and social service providers, educational institutions (independent schools and colleges and universities), family and other private foundations, and local and national offices of federated organizations and professional associations. Previously, Marla was Vice President of Products at BoardSource, where she oversaw publications, online products, and research. During her tenure at BoardSource, she was an active consultant and trainer, developed educational curriculum, managed regional capacity building projects, oversaw the global program, and coordinated the annual conference. While at BoardSource, Marla managed Leading with Intent: A National Index of Nonprofit Board Practices. She was also a member of the working group for The Source: Twelve Principles of Governance That Power Exceptional Boards (BoardSource © 2005). She managed “Governance Futures: New Perspectives on Nonprofit Governance,” a multiyear research project that culminated in publication of Governance as Leadership: Reframing the Work of Nonprofit Boards (John Wiley & Sons © 2005). She is co-author of Assessing Board Performance: A Practical Guide for College, University, System, and Foundation Boards (Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges © 2018). Previously, Marla was an acquisitions editor at John Wiley & Sons, where she developed Wiley’s Nonprofit Law, Finance, and Management Series and the Association of Fundraising Professionals Fund Development Series. Marla holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Amherst College, a master’s degree in business administration and a certificate in nonprofit management from Case Western Reserve University. She is a past board chair of Maryland Nonprofits and a past board member Calvary Women’s Services.

Important Links and Resources:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlabobowick/
• http://www.bobowickconsulting.com/
• The AGB Book Principles of Trusteeship
• An AGB Article: “What Kind of Board Member Are You?”

In episode 93 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Pooya Pourak discuss the importance of transparent, impact-centric fundraising, the use of technology for efficiency, and the necessity of fair compensation for nonprofit employees. They delve into the nuances of donor engagement, exploring how to shift from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance and collaboration. They also discuss the potential of AI in the sector, while maintaining the human element that is essential to nonprofit work.

Episode Highlights:

09:40 - Donor Engagement and Trust:

Pooya presents statistics on donor engagement and trust, highlighting the disconnect between nonprofits and donors, and the strategies to improve transparency and communication.

12:00 Language and Fundraising:

The conversation shifts to the language used in fundraising and how it affects donor relationships. They discuss the importance of genuine, mission-aligned connections over transactional interactions.

14:00 Shifting Status Quo Assumptions:

Carol and Pooya discuss how nonprofits can break free from counterproductive practices and adopt strategies that promote long-term sustainability and diversified fundraising sources.

16:30 Nonprofit Ecosystem Complexity:

Pooya reflects on the complexity of the nonprofit ecosystem, including the roles of various stakeholders, from other nonprofits to donors, foundations, and policy.

22:00 Testing Hypotheses in Fundraising:

Pooya details the testing of two hypotheses aimed at increasing generosity and online giving, including the influence of unrestricted donations and the effectiveness of matching gifts.

31:00 The Future of the Nonprofit Sector:

Looking ahead, Pooya anticipates the growing role of AI in the sector and emphasizes the need to balance technological advances with maintaining the sector's human-centered approach.

34:00 Fair Compensation

The interview concludes with Pooya advocating for fair compensation in the nonprofit sector and encouraging a shift from competition to collaboration to enhance collective impact.

Guest Bio: Pooya Pourak

Pooya is co-founder and CEO of MatchNice, a social impact tech startup on a mission to connect the nonprofit ecosystem and maximize social impact. His team is working on a new kind of impact-centric fundraising platform to increase transparency, engagement and accountability in digital fundraising. Pooya brings 15+ years of experience leading digital transformation across business, government, and now the nonprofit sector. He is the Host and Producer of The Nonprofit Lab, a podcast dedicated to the journey of discovery in the nonprofit sector with an aim to uncover and shake up the status quo. Pooya runs his own consulting practice where he helps our government listen to the needs of diverse stakeholders and put their feedback into action to inform large-scale systems delivery. Pooya holds a Bachelor of Science from Georgia Institute of Technology in Industrial & Systems Engineering and is also a certified yoga instructor.

Important Links and Resources:

https://www.matchnice.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pooyapourak/

Charity Vest https://www.charityvest.org/

Google for Nonprofits https://www.google.com/nonprofits/

Be in touch!

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😀 Connect with Carol Hamilton ➡️ LinkedIn

In episode 103 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton, Tip Fallon, and Stephen Graves explore the nuances of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), exploring the differences between inclusive and equitable leadership. The conversation highlights the importance of not only representation but also the behavior and mindset of individuals within organizations, emphasizing the need for fairness and addressing power imbalances.

This episode provides valuable insights for nonprofit leaders seeking to cultivate more equitable and inclusive organizations, emphasizing the importance of self-reflection, systemic change, and embracing humanity in leadership.

Episode highlights:

Defining DEI

[00:8:08]

• Defining DEI: The conversation begins with an exploration of what diversity, equity, and inclusion mean to each participant and how their understanding has evolved over time.

Equitable Nonprofit Leadership

[00:08:50]

• Inclusive vs. Equitable Leadership: Distinguishing between inclusive and equitable leadership, emphasizing the importance of fairness and addressing power imbalances.
• Equity's Challenges: The challenges of equity, particularly in recognizing and confronting one's own complicity in perpetuating inequitable systems.

DEI is more than Representation

[00:13:44]

• Representation and Behavior: The disconnect between representation and actual behavior within organizations, noting that diverse representation does not guarantee equitable or inclusive practices.

[00:21:30] - Practical Strategies for Equitable Leadership

Concrete examples to create more equitable hiring practices.

Piloting inclusive structures and the importance of leaders doing their own self-work to understand their privilege and responsibility.

00:28:30 - Hippy Dippy or Innovation

The resistance to DEI initiatives and the perception of these efforts as "soft" or "extra."

The financial implications of not addressing DEI, including lost productivity and customer base.

Questioning the fundamental purpose of organizations and the costs of maintaining exploitative practices.

00:38:30 - Embracing Humanity in Leadership

The cultural barriers to embracing emotions and humanity in the workplace.

The need for leaders to create psychologically safe environments and to see employees as whole human beings.

Guest Bios:

Tip Fallon partners with leaders and teams to create effective and equitable organizations. He became interested in leadership and creating inclusive cultures at a young age, growing up in an area that had substantive racial, ethnic, and socio-economic diversity, and as the son of an immigrant in a multiracial family. Coming from a predominantly working class neighborhood, he also saw the impact any leader can have at all levels of society and particularly the effects leaders have on those who are most marginalized. These life experiences inform his philosophy that good leadership is equitable leadership. Tip has worked with dozens of organizations ranging from community based nonprofits to organizations with international reach including the Federal Aviation Administration, Annie E. Casey Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy. He has taught as an adjunct faculty member for ten years in Organization Development and DEI programs at American University and Georgetown University. He holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering (B.S.), Organization Development (M.S.), and is a Certified Professional Diversity Coach (CPDC).

_____________________________________________

Stephen Graves

Born in Greenwood, South Carolina to a pair of faith-driven educators, the values of service and lifelong learning were instilled in Stephen Graves from an early age. These values, coupled with spiritual lessons from an upbringing in the Black Baptist church, shaped Stephen’s social consciousness for understanding the inherent worth every person has in life and addressing the historical and present injustices inhibiting people from fully realizing their worth. With this awareness, Stephen pursued a mission-driven path, ensuring people have a sense of respect, dignity, and belonging to live and thrive in a multicultural world. For over a decade, Stephen has consulted and advised leaders and organizations of all sizes and sectors on focus areas such as People & Culture, Leadership & Professional Development, Language Access, Health Equity, and Patient Advocacy. Stephen earned his Master in Health Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina. He holds an Executive Certificate in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion from Georgetown University.

Important Links and Resources:

🔗 Tip Fallon

🔗 Stephen Graves