Boost your organization's development capacity

How equipped is your organization to recruit and retain leaders for fund development? What can a nonprofit do to ensure sustainability in their development department and organization as a whole?

Explore this topic with the The Chronicle of Philanthropy during its Keys to a Development Director's Success: How to Recruit and Retain High Quality Fund Development Staff webinar on October 18, 2012 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. EST.

Join to learn:

·  Strategies for recruiting the right development director for your organization.
·  How to create a working environment that keeps your development director challenged and satisfied.
·  How to assess development staffing needs based on the size of an organization, its mission and budget.
· The factors that contribute to a development director’s effectiveness.

This Chronicle of Philanthropy webinar is designed especially for:

· Executive directors, chief executives and senior nonprofit managers
· Executive directors, chief executives and senior program staff at grant-making or funding organizations
· Private philanthropists
· Nonprofit board members

Click here to download the registration form for the webinar.

The official meetup location in Miami-Dade for the October 18th webinar is Catalyst Miami: 1900 Biscayne Blvd. #200 Miami, FL 33132.

Other host sites include the Greater Ft Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce and Palm Beach Rehabilitation.

Now More Than Ever, Miami Thrives

Written by Felix Acuna, Americorps VISTA

In a city that appears more divided than unified, the possibility of a collective movement among organizations working to improve the lives of people is now tangible. This possibility is the Miami Thrives Network, an initiative of Catalyst Miami that  brings service providers and advocacy organizations together in face-to-face dialogues as part of an effort to tackle the root causes of poverty.

Although there are many differences within the nonprofit world, most of us could agree that there’s a fundamental concern driving all of our efforts. It is enough to look at our organizations’ visions to intuit that, as Norman Riviera from the Alliance for Early Care and Education put it during one of the dialogues, “we’re all looking for the same thing.” And while our goals and deliverables are different, our vulnerability to financial hardships is shared. Even more importantly, we share the motivation and resources to change things locally in order to make Miami-Dade a more supportive and thriving county.

This may seem like an overly idealistic goal, but there are three things that excite us and give us hope. First, there have been no initiatives of this magnitude undertaken before. Second, the possibility of service providers acting as social change agents is already being discussed by nonprofit leaders. Three, these leaders are pumped! To get a better idea of the potential of this network, consider that the average service provider sees about 5,000 clients a year. This means that even if we only mobilize a small portion of our constituents in the actions we’ll take on collectively, the consequences and magnitude of such actions will be of a kind that has never been seen before in our city.

That said, it’s not surprising that those who have participated in the dialogues have left eager to stay involved. There’s a lot of work to do and we’re now seeing that we can best, and perhaps only, accomplish it together.

If you are a direct service provider and are interested in learning more about Miami Thrives, email Jacob Coker-Dukowitz at jacobc@catalystmiami.org.

Nonprofits Get Out the Vote

The nonprofit sector has an important role to play in getting out the vote this November, but how do we lead a nonpartisan voter engagement campaign? That is the subject of Nonprofit VOTE's upcoming webinar, which will take place Thursday, October 11 at 2 p.m. EST. The webinar will feature Michael Weekes, President/CEO of Providers' Council of Massachusetts; Maria Teresa Kumar, CEO/President of Voto Latino; Zachary Markovits, Manager of Election Initiatives at the Pew Center on the States; and others.  Click here to learn more or to register for the webinar.

Building Bridges Isn't Easy... But It's Getting Easier

A study released from the Columbia Business School last month found that mindfulness about our own cultural assumptions may be a key driver towards creatively collaborating with individuals from other cultures. According to the researchers, the trust normally experienced in working relationships is 'cognitive trust,' trust from the head--otherwise known as trusting somebody about as far as you can throw them. When we are habitually aware of our own cultural frameworks we are more likely to establish 'affective trust' with our colleagues—trust from the heart, akin to rapport. The study found that affective trust is key in creative partnerships, because the best and newest ideas tend to only be shared and expanded upon when that deeper trust is present.

Collaboration is one of our core values here at Catalyst. It isn't always easy—in fact sometimes it's downright frustrating—but the fruit born from effective collaborations are just too sweet to pass up. There certainly seems to be something sweet in the air this autumn! Maybe it has something to do with the wave of collaborative workspaces opening up in Miami. Whatever the case, we are happy to see more collaboration springing up in our hometown!

The Greater the Nonprofit Density, The Lesser the Unemployment Rate

The latest report from the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) reveals that metropolitan areas, states and communities with better civic health fare better during times of economic recession.

These findings have major implications for those living, working and engaging in Florida—a state with the third highest rate of unemployment and the highest foreclosure rate.The discussion surrounding civic engagement has recently permeated the nonprofit sector, so we have to ask what role engagement plays in building healthier, stronger, and more prosperous communities.

Not only do nonprofits assist individuals and families by tending to immediate needs, but they also pave unique avenues for employment. Groups that provide services, hold regular meetings and convene people for decision-making are likely to contribute to social fabric that bolsters employment both locally and nationally, according to the NCoC study.

In Miami-Dade, nonprofits have provided thousands of jobs with fair pay and employee benefits, all while offering direct services at projected growth each year. In 2010, a survey of 42 organizations in Miami-Dade revealed new employment opportunities for over 2,000 individuals that provided direct services to over 200,000 clients. 66% of the organizations surveyed offered competitive salaries and benefits and employed 37% of their personnel full-time.

Thanks to organized efforts of the Penny Wise Campaign, which has curtailed budget cuts and preserved programs and services offered by nonprofits throughout Miami-Dade, the idea that “short-term cuts could have long-term consequences” took hold in 2010.

The same rigor is needed to preserve our nonprofits today. Even in light of an economic recession, it is important to consider the role nonprofits play in strengthening civic health and lessening unemployment rates in our communities.

Connecting people to jobs through the nonprofit sector strengthens local employment and bolsters civic engagement. Nonprofit organizations play a key role in creating avenues for social cohesion, increasing networks, and providing training opportunities for employees and constituents alike. 

Zambrano Foundation Champions Democracy

Written by Daniella Levine, Catalyst Miami President/CEO

The Zambrano Foundation is passionate about democracy, in the US and beyond. The wonderful leaders of the Foundation believe that the US is at the forefront of civic engagement, but they know that even here our democracy needs to be nurtured. Real public education and engagement is critical to a robust democracy. If we don't use it we will lose it. Immigrant populations and the many transplants from Central and South America need extra support to link to US civic life. The foundation exists to serve as a bridge for these communities' civic involvement and to develop the leadership needed to sustain democracies at home and abroad.

It is a real honor to have been recognized by the Zambrano Foundation as a partner in promoting democracy. Catalyst Miami received a donation to support our work with voter registration and education, using the TurboVote tool. Our ceremonial check presentation is recorded in this photo taken on Monday, October 2 at the foundation's Aventura offices.

Check out the wonderful work of this new organization and come to their conference on Democracy in the Americas to take place November 15-16 at University of Miami. I am confident that you will find the Zambrano Foundation's values and programs inspiring and uplifting.

One Year Since the Start of Occupy, Much Work Still Needs to Be Done

Written by Daniella Levine, Catalyst Miami President/CEO

One year anniversaries are momentous occasions. A first birthday party or a first wedding anniversary hopefully bring joy and happy reflection. So why does the one year anniversary of Occupy Miami seem like a distant dream? 

Image by Brian Tatosky

The Occupy Movement was born in New York City from a deep rumble of dismay and discontent. What was wrong with America? How could those with wealth be doing so well while the heralded middle class was no longer in the middle? The steady but gradual shift away from opportunity and equity in America was going largely unnoticed. Until the occupations began, first in New York, then in cities across the country. The 99% called out the 1%, and America stood up and listened.

Occupy made it safe to acknowledge the obvious: we were increasingly becoming two Americas, the rich and the poor. The American Dream was becoming all too distant for too many. 

What has happened in this past year and how has Occupy influenced the course of events? We are locked down in a death rattle election, in which once again we are pitted against each other in America: the 53% who "produce" versus the 47% who "mooch." Yet we have also been once again awakened to a stark but formerly hidden reality: inequitable tax policy in America. The wealthiest in fact get the biggest handout from government, while those in the "middle" pay the highest effective tax rates. And Congress has stalled on deciding who will get to continue with lower tax rates: just the rich or everyone? 

With a skyrocketing deficit and our nation in hock to China, can we afford to let the rich continue to get richer? What do we get for our unequal policies? An abysmal record on child well-being. High incarceration rates. Little social mobility. All of this is driven by that very inequality which fuels discontent among all people.

Oh Occupy, we cry for thee. It seemed for a few brief months that America would listen and learn. But we are once again harshly divided, with those most affected by our gaping wounds oblivious to their own self- and shared-interests. No birthday candles for you, Occupy. Your brief but illuminating flame was obliterated by the power of partisan politics and increasing manipulation of public opinion by the champions of polarization who benefit from our many divides.

Aging and Voting with Grace

Written by Daniella Levine, Catalyst Miami President/CEO

I am in Dallas right now attending the annual meeting of OWL, the national organization that promotes the voice of midlife and older women. I joined OWL's board of directors when I turned 55, and now at 57, membership in OWL is helping to remind me that as I age, I am proud. While there are many new challenges that come with age, there is also a wisdom and serenity for which I am supremely grateful.

So, reading in today's OWL e-newsletter about the recent YWCA survey of women's concerns, I was struck by how these concerns resonate. Eighty percent of women, across all divides and regardless of political affiliation, agree on 80% of the issues.

Top concerns among women across the board include (quoting from OWL):

• Disappearing middle class
• Social Security and if it will be there when they retire
• An unaffordable medical expense for themselves or family
• Health insurance that is affordable and secure for their family.
• The economic downturn continues to loom over women. Its consequences are writ large in their concerns:
• 41% of women have been the primary breadwinner in the last four years.
• Women report hardships ranging from postponing medical care to losing a job or falling behind in rent or mortgage payments. Most importantly, even women who have not personally experienced these difficulties express concern about these issues.

These are also the concerns of Catalyst Miami and our constituents. These are the motivators for our work. We seek to end poverty through civic engagement, connecting people to opportunities to make a difference.

I am so very proud of my affiliation with both OWL and Catalyst Miami, two organizations that focus on ways we can protect and promote the best of our democracy: civic participation AND economic opportunity. I urge you to consider these issues as we countdown to election 2012 in six short weeks. Who are the elected leaders to help us with these pressing concerns? What is the pathway to a more prosperous and engaged future?

Where the people lead, the leaders will follow. Most important: learn the issues, discuss them with friends and neighbors, and participate! Democracy is not a spectator sport and we at OWL and Catalyst are excited to provide tools and connections to help you to participate with wisdom and grace. You don't have to be 57, or a woman, to care about these issues. We are raising up civic leaders every day to show the way.

Keeping it Catalyst at the Office

Bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-95 and Metrorail delays are no surprise to anyone traveling to work Monday through Friday. Catalyst staff confront these and a host of travel factors when heading into downtown Miami during the work week. Even with the best intentions of being on time, each one of us is bound to experience that moment when easing into the office a few minutes after the “estimated time of arrival” is coupled with a hope that no one notices our tardiness.

Not to worry. Rather than harsh reprimands for late arrivals, the Catalyst Miami family has started a unique tradition. 

Walk into a meeting late and you may be asked to lead the team in the chicken dance, speak in a British accent or perform an impromptu tap routine in front of everyone in the office.

Sneaking in without notice isn’t an option thanks to this tradition, which was introduced by Chief of Civic Engagement Gretchen Beesing. What started as an idea during a team meeting turned into a longstanding practice in which the entire meeting group votes on something funny a latecomer has to do.

These quirky requests lightly admonish people for being tardy and fit the culture of the organization, where ice-breakers, team-building exercises and get-to-know you activities are common.

Gretchen found that people were less likely to be tardy when they had to face some sort of embarrassment if they did. Staff have reacted favorably to this tradition mentioning all the fun it's been watching their colleagues perform an impromptu dance or speak in various accents. The takeaway is that it's possible to have a little office fun while reiterating the importance of punctuality in the work place.

After all, better late than never, but never late is always better.

Ring the Alarm. SoundOut is Here.

For the second consecutive year, the Family Leadership Training Institute (FLTI) will provide an opportunity for teenagers in Miami-Dade to have their voices heard on issues that matter most to them. On Tuesday, September 25^th, the youth component of FLTI, “SoundOut” will welcome its fifth class at Booker T. Washington High School.

“SoundOut,” which is facilitated by Catalyst Miami staff, Public Allies and VISTA AmeriCorps members, will provide a space for teenagers to explore issues related to community involvement, education and school improvement all while enhancing the students’ leadership, project design and development skills during the 22-week series. This year, students will address issues surrounding stereotypes, decision-making and so much more.

The after-school “SoundOut” series will also be held at Miami Beach Senior High beginning October 10, 2012. We are looking forward to hearing all that the students have to bring to the conversation this year! For more information about this and other Family Leadership Training programs, contact Santarvis Brown at santarvisb@catalystmiami.org or Lizabeth Verjano at lizabethv@catalystmiami.org.