I Have 8 Things To Say...

Thoughts, observations, and stream of consciousness* notes on the nonprofit sector in Idaho.

1 – As the presidential election season heats up and we are served a daily dose of unhealthy division across political lines, I can’t help but be reminded that local civic organizations are still the heartbeat of democracy where healthy dialogue can thrive. I think of Rotary clubs, Chambers of Commerce, and nonprofit boards as places where folks are not defined by political party affiliation but rather are focused through a community-centric lens where the main question is not "how do we defeat our adversaries?" but instead "how can we make an impact on our community?" These local civic groups are some of the last institutions where people from different backgrounds and affiliations come together with a common purpose to drive positive change in our communities. Let’s continue to lift these groups up. ​

​

2 – As we wrapped up our Idaho Leads opening retreat last month –with nonprofit executives from organizations all over the state– I was reflecting on the question of "what are the most important characteristics and common denominators that make up good nonprofit leadership?" I kept coming back to consistency. There is very little correlation between how charismatic a leader is and how well their organization performs. To me, how consistently a leader shows up is what matters – can your team and stakeholders trust you day-to-day to show up in the same ways, to follow a common vision, and to do what you’ve promised to do? 

3 – Recently I was on a fundraising panel with fellow nonprofit leader Lori Fascilla of Giraffe Laugh. We were asked about donor visits with higher level contributors. Lori gave great advice about what content to share during these visits by framing her response with the following three items: 

• Wins: here are the three things we are most proud of right now
• Challenges: here are the three biggest barriers we are facing right now
• Call to action: asking the donor to help you address the challenges and keep the wins coming

4 – In early July, I am heading on a week-long vacation with my family and I'am bringing along Cal Newport’s latest book, Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout. Burnout, as most nonprofit leaders know, is a huge retention problem in our sector. The basic principles of Newport’s thesis are:

• Do fewer things
• Work at a natural pace
• Obsess over quality

I am anxious to see if these principles are something the sector can achieve or if they are at odds with the pace of nonprofit work and funding/funder demands, etc.  

5 – The latest Giving USA report for 2023 was just released which is the annual benchmark for charitable giving statistics nationally. The news isn’t great. Giving by individuals dropped 2.4 percent. Our sector is going to need to figure out a way to address this issue or the financial consequences are going to be difficult to manage and will lead to organizations consolidating, closing, or cutting back services. 

6 – “People are the Programs.” This is a phrase we utter often in our office and on our soapboxes in front of funders and Rotary Club type audiences. We know that people are the greatest assets in our sector. Effective, community-changing programs don’t happen without qualified, fairly compensated staff. To that aim, we are proud to release the latest Nonprofit Compensation and Benefits Report which we hope will help nonprofit leaders, boards, and hiring managers find ways to recruit and retain the most qualified talent possible. 

7 – Our Statewide Nonprofit Conference is coming up at the end of August (27–28 in Boise). Registration is open and we are excited to welcome Kishshana Palmer as our opening keynote speaker and Salome Mwangi as our day two keynote. Additionally, Steve Patty, representing the MJ Murdock Charitable Trust will do a plenary session on How Nonprofit Capacity Will Shape the Future of Communities.

8 – Finally, we are excited to launch a new program later this summer called 'Ascending Leaders'  for mid-level managers and leaders at nonprofits serving Idaho. This will be a cohort learning program that is a semester long. More details and a registration link can be found here. 

*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!