I Have 5 Things to Say...

Thoughts, observations, and stream of consciousness* on the nonprofit sector in Idaho from ICF's, Kevin Bailey.

​1 - The Overhead Myth: Recently, I gave a presentation to Chamber Leadership group and whenever I do these kinds of talks, I like to put up an anonymous “Ask me anything” poll that folks can submit questions to via text. It struck me that this time around, a handful of questions were: “What is a good nonprofit overhead rate?” 

This is one of the most important questions I frequently get from groups like this. I like to sum up my response to that question with two main points:

• ‘What is your overhead?’ is probably the wrong first question for any donor to ask. They should instead be focused on: What is your impact?
• If donors are conflating overhead with money that supports staff salaries, then we have some more myth-busting to do. 

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​Staff salaries are not inherently “overhead” in the way that many donors think when they ask this question. Staff who engage in programmatic work (e.g. the forklift driver at the Foodbank Warehouse) are expenses that are necessarily wrapped up in delivering that program. When donors say, ‘I only want to fund the macaroni boxes’, they are hamstringing a nonprofit’s ability to fully carry out the program which requires buying the food, storing the food, shipping the food, and distributing the food in an organized way to a family in need. 

People are at the heart of what makes that program go and people cost money. We like to say: “People are the programs.”

2 - Who do we want to be? This was a question that I posed in a panel earlier this month in Ketchum with other sector colleagues. I think our state and our communities are asking this question right now whether they realize it or not. 

​Communities are facing so much uncertainty and change and are wrestling with this question about the future of their community. This question ends up touching so many domains of our work in civil society: Are we a place that embraces growth and change? Do we welcome outsiders and new or diverse points of view? Are we building communities that are divisive or bringing people together? 

Nonprofits have an answer to this question. They are the ones doing the work and showing us the best of what Idaho can be: providing a hand up, providing a hot meal, welcoming the stranger, engaging in dialogue, seeking to unite and not divide. 

Nonprofits are the ones getting it done and showing us what our values are grounded in, giving us an answer to the question: Who do we want to be?

​3 - MLK: I had the chance to attend a national convening in Memphis with the National Conference of Nonprofits this month. It was my first time visiting the site of MLK’s assassination. It was surreal to stand in front of the balcony where he was killed and I felt inspired that nonprofits are a part of carrying on his legacy with the work we do to create civic dialogue, mutual understanding, and love for our neighbor. 

4 - Nonprofits preserving history: As I walked around the MLK site in Memphis, it surprised me to learn that the site was almost demolished and lost to history. But thanks to a group of nonprofits, the site was saved in 1982 from foreclosure and became America’s first civil rights museum. Nonprofits get it done!

5 - Snow: One of the nonprofits that most impacts my quality of life during the winter months is our local nonprofit ski area: Bogus Basin. I am especially grateful for their skilled instructors who now have two of my three boys up and competent on skis so that we can make lifelong memories together. I know my own limitations as a ‘coach’ and thus have chosen not to try and test my patience by being my kids’ primary ski instructor. Now we just need a few massive snowstorms to make up for the lack of snow across the state!

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

​​Kevin Bailey, VP of Impact

​​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!