The same can be said for many nonprofit organizations. Like urban communities overcrowded with churches and liquor stores, there are many areas that are over-saturated with nonprofit organizations said to be ‘serving youth and families.’

But many of these communities still look the same as they did before the organizations existed.

So what changed my mind about Run the World? Beyonce’s live performance at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards. That one performance took a seemingly boring song and changed my mind. I mean, that girl rocked it. The outfit. The moves. The technology. The entire performance was exciting to watch.

I believe YOU can bring that same energy to your organization and to your community.

I challenge you to take the opportunity that the summer months provide and try something new. Some groups have a light load of clients during the summers. Other organizations have a full load of a targeted population (i.e. youth out of school for the summer).

What would it mean to try ONE NEW THING?

• Incorporate social media into your marketing
• Develop a youth council to get their feedback on your programming
• Hold a focus group of parents to identify some program gaps and service needs
• Produce a newsletter
• Hold a fundraiser
• Conduct a survey

Don’t say you can’t before you’ve even tried!

After Beyonce finished performing, I was reminded of something very important. At 29 years old, this southern girl has changed her world and that of many others because she dared to step outside of what was normal or expected or even comfortable.

So can your organization.

Do you really want to run the world? Do you want your nonprofit to be ‘that nonprofit’ – the one that people all across the city want to emulate? If your answer is yes, put one foot in front of the other and step out of the box your organization has been in.  Tell yourself that the only thing you have to lose is your dream of your organization creating lasting community change!

You can do it.

VCG

Most people who form nonprofit organizations do so because they see a need that they would like to address. Do you need to be a nonprofit to fill a need? I told our friend no.

In this economy and given his busy coaching schedule, I gave him different advice. I suggested that he test the waters by reaching out to some existing nonprofit organizations to see if a community partnership can be formed. This would be the perfect place to learn about how to run a nonprofit organization and how to develop a community program.

As a person with a professional skill and well-to-do colleagues and clients, our friend has the opportunity to bring resources and expertise to young people already being served by an existing nonprofit organization. Starting a nonprofit organization takes time and money that quite honestly, our friend does not currently have.

After an initial conversation, my friend agreed to at least explore the partnership idea. He is going to take six months and try to partner. If my friend does not find the right partner or if he feels he will have greater impact by forming his own organization, then we will begin the nonprofit planning process.

Do I sound like a dream-killer or a community-builder? That my question!
VCG

Writing is usually tolerable for me because I write with the same three people all the time – Me, Myself and I!

About a month ago I began working on a grant with a team of 5 people. The proposal was for a million dollars so needless to say we were serious about the work product. We had two months to plan, write and revise the grant — and it still ended up being a nightmare. Have you ever looked at a document that had track-changes from 5 different people?!?

Yesterday, while working on the grant I finally lost my mind.

Based on this experience, I came up with a step-by-step guide that I would use/recommend if I participate in another collaborative grant-writing process.

1. Have the entire team review the Request for Proposal (RFP) and come up with a list of questions and concerns.

2. Share initial thoughts about the RFP and the questions and concerns identified by the reviewers.

3. Have the team consider whether the grant builds upon an existing project/program area or if this will be a proposal for a new project/program.

4. Brainstorm ideas for this proposal and then organize the thoughts into a rough outline.

5. Divide the proposal sections up to the team members based on strengths (i.e. Who is good at finding data? Creating charts? Drafting letters of support? Writing an abstract/program summary? Drafting budgets?).

6. Set due dates and meeting times NOW so as to avoid meeting time conflicts as you get further into the process.

7. Pick an editor, one person whose sole responsibility is to organize the sections into a working draft.

8. Have the editor email the draft to the team and ask them to bring comments/edits to the next meeting.

9. Meet as a team to come to consensus and have the editor add the agreed upon changes to the draft.

10. Identify 1-3 people who are willing to review the updated draft and submit their comments to the editor.

11. The editor will share the reviewer comments with the team via email.

12. Meet as a team and make final decisions about the reviewers comments.

13. Have the editor make the final changes and prepare to submit the document.

Give yourself enough time to submit the proposal BEFORE the deadline. Double check the RFP for guidelines about postmark dates, online submission times and even submission via CD.

Have you ever written a grant with a team of people? If so, what do you think of the steps I outlined? What would you do differently?

VCG

While I don’t always update the Verge Facebook page daily, I am regularly on Twitter.  I have noticed that nonprofit organizations, outside of advocacy groups, are largely absent from posts and tweets about the proposed budget cuts here in our state.

What about where you live?  Do you have nonprofit organizations talking about how the budget cuts will impact their services?

In Texas the proposed budget cuts are astounding.  Health and Human Services is looking at a 24.6% cut.  $7 billion cuts from public education.  $1.7 billion cut from higher education, including scholarships to existing college students.  And most alarmingly to me, $150 million cut to community-based mental health care services to adults and children and community mental hospitals.  This only names a few!

And, these cuts do not completely account for the large cuts proposed to our federal budget will impact our most vulnerable citizens!

So, why isn’t the collective nonprofit voice being heard?  Organizations like Texas Impact, Texas PTA, Texas Association of School Administrators, Texas Protects, Texas Forward, United Ways of Texas and others are leaders in the Texas advocacy world.  They regularly speak up and speak out about community issues facing those populations nonprofit organizations serve.

Are local and regional groups in your state using their influence to educate about and fight against budget cuts? If not, there is still time.

Advocacy is simply speaking up about issues you care about.  It’s making a phone call, posting on Facebook or Twitter, sending a letter or email, or even visiting with elected officials that represent your area. Your elected officials must hear from you in order to know what you care about!

I think most folks are clear that budget cuts are going to take place.  Still, the voice of nonprofits serving local communities should be heard as discussions take place about what programs are eliminated or reduced.

Every nonprofit can teach their constituents to advocate for the services that are so desperately needed.  If we don’t speak up, we will find ourselves in a crisis unlike any in recent memory.   So, ask your supporters to make their voice heard and to say these three things:

1. State their name and zip code

2. Ask their elected official if they are supporting program cuts.

3. Say at least 1 way they/their family has benefited from a program being cut.

It’s a three minute task that can make a world of difference in local communities across our nation.  Nonprofits, stand up!

VCG

Republicans Propose Big Cuts in National Service and International Aid -http://www.tano.org/en/art/2148/

Congressional Republicans Seek to Eliminate Culture Grants – http://www.tano.org/en/art/2149/

Survival Strategies for the Arts – http://www.tano.org/en/art/1997/

In the Arts: Washington National Opera to Merge With Kennedy Center – http://www.tano.org/en/art/2150/

A Newly Powerful Grant-Making Force: Artist-Endowed Foundations – http://www.tano.org/en/art/2152/

VCG

Who: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a religious and community leader.

What: Dr. King had some distinct leadership roles in the nonprofit sector with organizations (faith and community-based) such as National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and Southern Christian Leadership Conference.  These two high profile organizations trained youth and young adults to register voters, engage in peaceful protest and promote policy changes during a critical time in our nation’s history.   Dr. King also shared his leadership experiences by authoring several books.

When: Dr. King’s public leadership began in the early 1950s and ended with his assassination in 1968.  This period of time marked Dr. King’s graduation from high school in segregated Atlanta and his graduate and undergraduate studies in the seemingly more liberal north.  Dr. King’s leadership was recognized on a national scale in 1955 with the famous Bus Boycott.

Why: While Dr. King’s passion for justice for all people was shaped from his experiences living in a segregated community, one cannot overlook the role living in the north and even having children of his own played in shaping his worldview.  Dr. King’s lead nonprofit organizations amidst community unrest, political pressure and high-profile media visibility.

How: Even though Dr. King has been deceased for more than 40 years his legacy of service is a permanent mark on our history.  Every nonprofit leader has the opportunity to pursue justice and to engage community members of all ages in that pursuit.  Visit the Corporation for National & Community Service to build your volunteer base, develop a service project or to highlight the role your nonprofit plays in honoring the legacy of Dr. King.

Recommended Reading:

• The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. – Clayborne Carson
• Letter from the Birmingham Jail – Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Strength to Love – Martin Luther King, Jr.
• A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. – Martin Luther King, Jr. and James M. Washington
• Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community: – Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Why We Can’t Wait – Martin Luther King, Jr.

VCG

Impact of State Budget Cuts on Nonprofits:

Social Services Dread the Budget Ax

Welfare Cuts Could Challenge Nonprofits’ Capacity

Nonprofit Sector Trends in 2011:

Three Nonprofit Predictions for 2011

Managing a Nonprofit Boom

MobileCause Leads Mobile Giving Market With 40% of Nation’s Top Nonprofits Moving From Disaster Relief to Fundraising

Corruption in the Nonprofit Sector

Family Connections Changed Nonprofit Sector

New York Nonprofit Director Charged in Corruption Probe

Much to her surprise, for my first post I have chosen to highlight Brandi Brown, founder and CEO of Waymaker Life Strategies, Inc.  Let me tell you a little bit more about Brandi so you can see why I chose to profile her as a nonprofit leader.  Enjoy!

VCG

Who: Brandi Brown – BA in Psychology, MA in Counseling

What: The signature program of Waymaker Life Strategies is Houston’s Youth Program for Enrichment (H.Y.P.E.) a 6-week summer program utilizing the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools literacy model.  The program has operated every summer since it’s founding and has served nearly 500 children.

When: Brandi founded her nonprofit in 1999 after she was unable to find an organization who believed in her vision to start her own summer program.  Brandi knew that if she applied for nonprofit status she could receive tax-deductible donations and apply for grants on her own.

Where: The H.Y.P.E. program operates in the Sunnyside area of Houston.  Nearly 40% of Sunnyside residents live below the poverty line.  This distinction comes with high infant mortality rates, low academic rates and a host of other social challenges.

Why: While Brandi talks about the importance of receiving 501c3 status to her fundraising abilities, her passion for Sunnyside comes from the fact that she was raised in the community by a single parent.  Brandi remembers what it was like for her mom to struggle to find summer learning opportunities for her and her twin sister.

How: Brandi can be reached via email.  She welcomes you to ask questions about her work and to get involved in her program.

Thankfully, there are many free resources available to help guide you in your quest to be better leader in your organization.  The best part is that you can learn from your office or at home   Here are a few pages and people to check in on regularly.  Kick back with your laptop and enjoy!

VCG

1. Beth’s Blog – http://www.bethkanter.org/

Beth provides awesome, timely information for nonprofit organizations seeking to become more knowledgeable about social media.  Beth makes sure you understand Facebook, Twitter, Analytics, RSS feeds a bunch of other terms that help nonprofits increase their visibility.

2. The Nonprofit Quarterly – http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/

This publications focus on the management of nonprofit organizations covers hot topics including boards of directors, fundraising, ethics, and much more.

3. Board Source – http://www.boardsource.org/

Speaking of boards…let’s just say that ANYTHING you should ever want or need to know about boards can probably be found on this site.

4. NP Talk – http://socialnicole.com/nptalk/

Nicole Harrision (AKA Social Nicole) runs an amazing weekly Twitter ‘meeting’ called NP Talk.  Each meeting has a them and nonprofit professionals from all over chime in to share their two cents.  If you’re on Twitter Wednesdays at 2pm #NPTALK is the place to be.

5.Pamela’s Grantwriting Blog – http://www.pamelasgrantwritingblog.com/

Let’s just say that if you don’t regularly read Pamela Grow’s blog you are clearly not interested in raising money for your nonprofit.  Pamela has timely, practical information especially for folks with little fundraising experience.  Make sure to check out her Free Grantwriting Course!

6.  Shoestring Marketing – http://www.jessicaswanson.com/

Jessica Swanson’s blog, webinars and ebooks provide all the information you need to learn how to market your nonprofit.  Let Jessica’s tips on developing your business help you put your nonprofit at an advantage in this difficult economy.

Currently, I am working on two LOI’s.  One LOI we were asked to submit by the funder.  This particular funder no longer accepts unsolicited proposals.  We would not have known this except for the fact that we met with the funder to discuss our project before submitting a renewal application.  The second LOI is recommended but not required. We have decided to submit the LOI as a way to tighten up our writing for this proposal.

My first draft of an LOI is usually way too long.  You mean I cannot give every little detail of my project?  I have to talk about our amazing work in 1-2 pages?  Who came up with these rules?!?  Geesh.  Thankfully, once I get going, I think about all the essential things one must know about the project and its impact.  Then I hit my groove.  After a few rounds of edits I have a LOI that is worthy of an outside editor.  I NEVER submit a final product without an independent set of eyes looking the document over.

Generally speaking, the LOI process allows the funder to know who is actually considering a submission.  It is also an opportunity for a funder to let you know if your project is outside of their priority area known BEFORE you submit a grant. Think of the LOI as an insurance policy that your ‘claim’ will at least be considered.

Here are a few examples of LOI’s for those of you who will use the holiday weekend to work on grants.  I will spend Black Friday (after my shopping) working on my LOI drafts.  How about you?

VCG

P.S.  Happy Thanksgiving!

http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/faqs/html/letter.html

http://www.ehow.com/video_4950109_write-letter-grant-money.html