By Kim Ellsworth, Marketing & Communications Director, Idaho Nonprofit Center

​​​"Marketing and communications within nonprofits – especially at smaller organizations–  always seem to take a backseat. This makes sense as the priority should go to achieving individual missions. However, investing even a little time and money into marketing will make a big difference and will ultimately help your bottom line."

​By Kevin Bailey, CEO, Idaho Nonprofit Center

I just finished reading Brad Stulberg’s The Practice of Groundedness and one line in the first few pages just hit me right away with that “Oh da** that’s me!” feeling.

“They tell themselves how much they want to turn it off...And yet when they do, they feel unsettled and restless, fluctuating between aimlessness and angst. They know that always being on isn’t the answer, but they never feel quite right when they are off. Many men describe it as a cumbersome need to be bulletproof, invincible. Many women report feeling like they must be everything always, continually falling short of impossible expectations.”

Dear Idaho Nonprofit sector,

As we venture into 2022, like all of you, I have spent some time reflecting on 2021 and my first five months as CEO of the Idaho Nonprofit Center. The first word that comes to mind is: gratitude.
  
“For all that has been. Thank you. For all that is to come, Yes!” – Dag Hammarskjold.

This quote has really resonated with me as we turn the page and enter the new year with (admittedly) a fair amount of trepidation about what the future holds. It may also sound odd to be in the business of “thanking” all that has been in 2021. But in our sector, once again, you have all risen to the occasion, pivoting once again to meet the needs of our communities. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Idaho’s nonprofits are truly made up of everyday heroes. 

​My entry into the nonprofit sector was both unexpected and serendipitous. Looking back, it makes perfect sense how I ended up where I am now with the Idaho Nonprofit Center - and I couldn’t be happier. My decisions in life have always been guided by my passions and growing up in a household of musicians naturally led me to an interest in the arts. Following in my parent’s footsteps, I began performing and teaching guitar at a young age. 

As my passion developed, I began seeing how I could share this interest with others. Whether it be performing at local fundraisers or cultivating others’ passions through teaching, I loved how impactful the music could be. I knew from this that I wanted a career where I could enrich the lives of others.

By Kevin Bailey, CEO, Idaho Nonprofit Center

Even as someone who has spent my whole career in nonprofits in various capacities it had never really occurred to me just how much nonprofits touch every aspect of our lives as Idahoans. Previously, I had always thought of the nonprofit sector as the mortar that fills the space between the bricks in our society. However, I think that analogy has got it exactly backwards.
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Nonprofits are the bricks themselves that great communities are built on. In short, nonprofits are essential to our way of life in Idaho. Of course, you and our friends in organizations across the sector inherently know this.

The Idaho Nonprofit Center has evolved over the last twenty years and continues to look toward the future with its current search for a new CEO. Sheila Hennessey was recently appointed as Interim CEO to lead the search for a permanent leader and to direct the team of five staff members during the transition.

 “We have an important year ahead of us as we celebrate our 20th Anniversary and plan for our next chapter of statewide growth and impact. Sheila has stepped in to lead the Idaho Nonprofit Center’s transition marvelously, just as the board and team knew she would,” says the Center’s board president, Emily Border, Senior Marketing Manager at Cradlepoint.

​I want to send greetings and good wishes to the members, stakeholders, and supporters of the Idaho Nonprofit Center. I have the honor of leading the Center for the next few months as its Interim CEO, providing management oversight as well as leading the search for the Center’s permanent CEO.
 
As Amy Little writes in her piece in this issue of CenterView, the decision to hire an Interim CEO was an intentional and well-considered plan for successfully navigating this leadership transition. While we have all been humbled by change and uncertainty in the last year, we have also seen organizations and individuals use this time of transition to reassess, to innovate, and to emerge stronger. 
 
I like this quote by Idaho’s own Kristin Armstrong:

​As I am closing in on my final hours at the Idaho Nonprofit Center, I wanted to circle back and review the transition plan with the community, in the hope that our experience might be a useful guide. The one thing I committed to doing at the Center was to always share what we learn as an organization. 2020 was a challenging year for all of us in the nonprofit sector, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it leads to staff changes. It is not why I left, but burnout is often a factor when deciding to move on.
 
But first, a story. Once upon a time, in an organization far, far away, an executive director gave their notice. The staff was reassured that a transition plan was in place and would be executed. Unfortunately, as the executive director slowly stepped away from their role, the plan was clearly not followed or even reviewed.

Amy Little, current CEO of the Idaho Nonprofit Center

I’ve often repeated this phrase to colleagues from time to time, and it is one of many principles that I believe deeply in: every leader has an expiration date. There comes a time for all of us when – in taking a deep breath and a long look at where we are and most importantly where we’ve been – we realize that a new leader with fresh ideas and a different skill set is needed to take our organization to the next level.

It is with a mix of sadness and excitement that I share this news: that time has come for me at the Idaho Nonprofit Center. I’ve accepted a position as the business consulting manager with MoFi in their Boise office. The past five years here at the Center have been one of tremendous growth both personally and professionally but mostly in our team’s collective achievements.

I am beyond proud of where the Center is today and I know that in the hands of the next capable leader, this team and board will take this amazing organization to places I never could have dreamed. I receive a lot of credit for being a great leader, but in all honesty, it is the team here at the Center and our incredible board of directors who share in the credit. We succeed as a team, always. 

So this is it – that moment you can't really prepare for, even though you know the day will come. It's the day when one of your team members takes that next step in their career, and that step is outside of your organization.

I never, ever expect my team to stay with me forever. Not only is that unrealistic but unless there's unlimited potential/opportunity in my organization (there are only seven of us, so no, there really isn't much) then it isn't fair to expect them to stay.  ​

Hello Friends!
 
When I began at the Idaho Nonprofit Center 4 ½ years ago, I had no idea what to expect, as I was new to the role, new to the nonprofit sector and even new to Boise.  I was super excited to become involved with members, sponsors, and funders. But what I really wanted to do was to make friends with them all.

​The Idaho Nonprofit Center’s mission is to educate, advocate and collaborate in support of stronger nonprofits.  We care deeply about our nonprofits AND the communities that we serve. 

As an organization that serves the diverse nonprofit community of Idaho, we firmly believe there is no place for racism, injustice, and inequality. 

We are saddened and outraged by the recent acts of violence and racism in our country.  

We are committed to being a leader and working with the nonprofit community to raise awareness, and educate ourselves and develop policies and practices to better address diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

​Today marks one entire month since our Idaho Nonprofit Center staff were together in our office. I made the decision to close our office and move to remote work on St. Patrick’s Day. It is hard to imagine that it has been a full month. As my favorite meme says, this week has been the longest year of my life.

We are in such a strange time right now, where the days fly by so quickly as we all rapidly respond to the crisis at hand in our own mission-centric way. And yet it seems like years since life was even close to “normal.” Perhaps that’s because of the added difficulty of adjusting to working in my sweatpants with teenagers and a husband all working and attending school from home at the same time. 

​I find it hard to believe that it has been almost a month since I sent my first communication as the very first coronavirus case in Idaho was announced. So much has changed and so much is still uncertain. This week I want to highlight how we continue to support our fellow nonprofits and to illustrate what is certain in our world right now.  

What is certain is that the nonprofit sector in Idaho is stepping up and stepping in to lift our communities - whether on the front lines supporting those most in need or fulfilling your mission in new and different ways.