I Have 12 Things to Say...

Kevin speaking at the 2024 Idaho Nonprofit Conference 

​Thoughts, observations, and stream of consciousness* on the nonprofit sector in Idaho from INC CEO, Kevin Bailey.

Last month, we held our annual Statewide Nonprofit Conference in Boise with almost 300 of our closest nonprofit friends. I opened the conference with a few remarks on the future of the sector and some insights from a 30,000 foot view that I think will be important for nonprofits to consider in order to ensure success and sustainability now and over the next 5+ years. Here are those insights:

1 – The key to solving our state’s biggest challenges will require collective action:

No single entity, whether a nonprofit, government agency, or for profit business, can alone solve a challenging issue like homelessness. However, when nonprofits, government, the business sector, and other stakeholders align around common strategies, goals, and funding mechanisms, real progress can be made. The future will require more of what we might call ‘collective impact.’ And there are already some great local examples to look to

• The United Way of Treasure Valley is leading the Idaho Community Schools Coalition around the state, bringing the community school strategy to dozens of communities across the state to help children and families access the resources they need to succeed.
• The Idaho Community Foundation, in partnership with the City of Boise have set up the Supportive Housing Investment Fund to help keep individuals and families out of homelessness in the Treasure Valley.

2 – Building new ways to lead in the nonprofit sector will be required:

One trend we are likely to see is an increase in the need for mergers or for tightly bound strategic partnerships like a fiscal agency or shared services structure. In many cases, organizations with similar missions can achieve far more together than they ever could alone. By combining resources, expertise, and networks, these organizations can amplify their impact and create new opportunities to meet the full demand for services and create new opportunities for growth, innovation, and the scale to meet the full demand on their services.
 
3 – The health and sustainability of the nonprofit sector 20 years from now will depend largely on building a bridge to engage today’s youth in philanthropy and our missions.
 
4 – We must continue to work hard to build a greater culture of philanthropy in Idaho:
 
With so many new folks moving to Idaho, we must find ways to connect and engage them in providing time, talent, and treasure to our sector. What nonprofits need more than anything else in order to meet the full demand on their services is access to more philanthropic giving from a variety of sources.

5-8 – During our guided networking session at the conference, we were asked to reflect with our tables about ‘why’ we do the work we do, not ‘what’ we do. Each person had one minute to share their ‘why’ and then the table group had a minute collectively to offer feedback or encouragement. I love hearing from other leaders about why they do the work they do and why they stay in the nonprofit sector. Below are a few of the ‘why’s’ shared at our table:

• I want to make a concrete difference in the world that my daughter will grow up in.
• My nonprofit subsector (the arts) has an inherent culture of curiosity that attracts people from such strong communities—like writers. Their collective passion keeps me interested and engaged.
• My work (in conservation) has always connected with my inherent interest in the natural world. The work we do carries the connotation for mattering in perpetuity, which matters to me.
• My why is centered around helping people find a place where they belong. Having a sense of purpose —what we are doing together— matters most to me.​

Some other tidbits from the field:

9 – Our State of the Nonprofit Sector report will be fully coming out later this month. This report includes the economic impact of nonprofits in Idaho as well as the top capacity needs of nonprofits.

10 – The top capacity needs for nonprofits in Idaho (data is collected directly from nonprofit leaders in Idaho) are 1) More financial resources to meet the full demand for services; and 2) Training and development of their staff.

11 – The report also shows that nonprofits are the fourth largest employment industry in Idaho, employing over 79,000 Idahoans. Additionally, Idaho’s nonprofits make up over 6% of Idaho’s economy. To put that in perspective, if all of Idaho’s nonprofits were to go out of business overnight, our state would be plunged into a recession/depression on par with some of the largest recessions in history.  
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12 – As the election nears, nonprofits play a key role in promoting participation in democracy. Charitable nonprofits (501(c)(3)s) must remain nonpartisan (i.e., cannot endorse candidates). However, nonprofits can help their stakeholders register to vote, participate in candidate forums, and educate the public on important policy issues related to their mission (e.g. the importance of affordable housing). To this end, we are excited to release the 2024 Nonprofit Voter Engagement Guide.

*inspired by Tim O'Malley's work. Go Notre Dame!

​Kevin Bailey, CEO

​Kevin joined the Idaho Nonprofit Center in July of 2021 after previously serving as CEO of the United Way of Southeastern Idaho. In his free time, he and his family love exploring the great beauty in the West by hiking, biking, and getting outside into nature. On Saturdays in the fall, you can find Kevin avidly cheering on his Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team!