ESG (environment, social, and governance) is a hot topic amongst for-profit companies and investors, but is it important for nonprofits and other social good organizations too? Today's guest thinks so. Tim McClimon, principal consultant for The Celeste Group, which specializes in corporate social responsibility and nonprofit management strategies and programs, and former head of corporate social responsibility at American Express, joined Rachel Hutchisson to discuss why social good organizations should view ESG as an operating strategy and as a way of being more transparent and accountable to their employees, donors, beneficiaries, communities, and the planet. Rachel and Tim also talked about what nonprofits can learn from companies, including Blackbaud, and how companies can help increase the focus on ESG in the nonprofit sector.
Topics discussed in this episode:
Join Meico Marquette Whitlock, founder and CEO of Mindful Techie, for an interactive training that will inspire you with mindful approaches for creating sustained balance in your life. Prepare to lower your stress level, focus on getting the important things done, and be more present for yourself, your team, and your family. Click here to listen to the full webinar from the Grantmaking Thought Leadership webinar series.
Topics discussed in this episode:
Resources:
5 Ways Grantmakers Create Work- and Tech-Life Balance
Quotes:
"When it comes to preemption, we want to be focused on creating a culture of care (...) that we are building in strong work/life boundaries and not depending on the individual to create those boundaries."
"Addressing the organizational and institutional action of this is a longer term proposition."
"Many of us are making assumptions of what is required of us, but something that is actually not being expected of us."
Rachel Hutchisson is joined by Chris Jarvis, executive director of Realized Worth, to kick off our CSR Book Club Series with an article from Stanford Social Innovation Review called “Fixing the S in ESG.” Listen to learn more about quantifying social impact and what the future of S looks like.
Chantal Forster, executive director of the Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG), discusses the top areas where grantmakers can make the most impact in 2022 and how technology can help them achieve that impact.
Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG)
Webinar: The Rising Role of Technology—and the People Behind It—in Advancing Philanthropy's Mission
How to Fund Nonprofit Tech: A Guide for Funders and Nonprofits
“Imagine if the private sector only surveyed its customers every three years.”
“If philanthropy doesn’t invest in tech infrastructure, then you are enabling inequity.”
Topics Discussed in This Episode:
-Is a remote audit what your organization needs?
-Plan for what an auditor will need to see
-Create a strong audit trail with documentation, naming conventions, and accessible details
-Gather what you’ll need and provide secure access to your auditor
Webinar: Be Audit You Can Be, Remotely: Preparing and Running a Successful Remote Audit
Blog: The Final Step of the Nonprofit Audit: Presenting Financial Statements to your Board
"As the auditee, you have the ability to mold this relationship however you want it."
"I think [hybrid audits] are terrific and I think that could be a good solution for a lot of you that want the best of both worlds."
"If we have an audit that's beginning the first week of May, we want to be able to hit the ground running."
There are a lot of ways to think about how technology impacts things, as well as how different constituent types interact with it and the relationships that it helps them build. In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing recent research on how technology improves the relationship between schools and parents.
Joining the podcast today is Chuck English, of English Marketing Works, and Linda Lawrence, of Ransom Everglades. Listen to the episode to hear what they have to say about the key findings of the recent Blackbaud study show, the expectations that people have about the technology they interact with, and how the technology profile at Linda’s school came about.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
Resources:
Using Technology to Bridge the Value Gap in Private Schools
Moving Forward: Enriching the Parent Experience with a Focus on Technology
Infographic: K–12 Independent Schools Parent Survey
Quotes:
“Technology has a huge impact on their experience as parents.” – Chuck English
“Parents have learned to become very nimble with what to expect, and we just find ways to ease into those situations at a moment’s notice.” –Linda Lawrence
“I think you develop alliances; you identify those super-users that can provide assistance.” –Linda Lawrence
What do you know about setting goals for yourself and your team and managing those goals? In today’s episode, you’ll hear an excerpt from the Skills UP webinar series. In it, you’ll hear Damaris Herron-Watkins discuss best practices for creating and managing your team’s goals. Listen in to hear what she has to say about the purpose of goal management, the different types of goals, and making goals SMART.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
Resources:
5 Keys for Achieving your Organization’s Goals
Quotes:
“A couple of reasons why goals are important is one, they help to prioritize your work and the work of your team.”
“When we’re creating goals for our team, like I said, you have to make sure you know what your goals are for the year.”
“SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based.”
International Women’s Day is on March 8th, 2022, and it’s a good time to think about the state of women and girls worldwide, how current events may make violence and abuse even worse than they were, and how to move forward by empowering each other.
Today’s guest is Vesna Jaric, the Interim Chief of the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women. Listen to the episode to learn about Vesna’s role at the Trust Fund and how current events affect the state of women and girls around the world.
Topics Discussed in This Episode:
Resources:
Learning from Practice: The Impact of COVID-19 on Violence Against Women and Girls
UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women
UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women on Twitter
UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women on Instagram
Quotes:
“So far, the fund has supported more than 600 organizations in 140 countries and territories across the world.”
“I would argue that violence against women and girls is probably the oldest and most persistent problem the world is dealing with.”
“Women’s rights organizations have been the first responders.”
We are highlighting an excerpt from the Skills UP Webinar Series where Deb Taft, CEO of Lindauer Global, will be talking about the dynamics of hiring and how you can achieve success in effective retention. Listen to what she has to say about the Great Resignation, the rise of freelancers and gig workers, and the remote/in-person hybrid.
Topics Discussed in This Episode:
Resources:
Skills Up FREE Webinar Series for nonprofit managers
The Future of Executive Search
To Attract Talented Fundraisers of Color, Get Your House in Order
CASE xChange Podcast; President and CEO Sue Cunningham interviews Lindauer CEO Deb Taft
4 Keys for Attracting, Hiring and Retaining a Successful Major Gift Team
Quotes:
“I think one of the dynamics to think about is that there is very little loyalty.”
“So, hiring is on steroids, and if you are struggling to retain and hire, you are not alone.”
“I just need people to understand, that employees will choose you, talent will choose you, or not, depending on what’s possible.”
Public policy impacts decisions made around charitable giving. These policies can influence how people give, when they give, and how much they give. So what are the likely effects for 2022?
In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Brian Flahaven to learn how policies have impacted giving over the past few years and what’s ahead for the coming year. Listen in to hear what Brian has to say about his role in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and what they do, what current legislation is on the table, and whether Brian believes it will gain traction this year.
Topics Discussed in This Episode:
Resources:
Blackbaud’s Charitable Giving Report
Quotes:
“Having an incentive there, sending that signal, will encourage more Americans hopefully to give even more to charitable organizations during these difficult times.”
“In the tax world, it’s pretty much been a partisan game over the past few years.”
“A lot of institutions are actually creating their own giving days.”
Topics Discussed in This Episode:
Resources:
Quotes:
“When you’re identifying a mentor, be really upfront with them about why you’re asking them, why you thought of that person.”
“I also believe that the best mentors are always mentees themselves.”
“Look for the type of sponsor you want, the gender doesn’t matter.”
Giving doesn’t stay static. As things change and more innovations become available, giving changes with it, and that’s true for the upcoming year too. Today, you’ll be hearing about some of the changes and giving and how social good organizations and donors are affected.
Sonia Nigam, Co-founder and CEO of Change, and Amar Shah, Co-founder and President of Change, discuss changes in online shopping, how social good organizations are adjusting to cryptocurrencies and NFTs, and what’s going to happen going forward in 2022
Topics Discussed in This Episode:
Resources:
Quotes:
“I feel like one of the most interesting evolutions around giving today is how it’s becoming more experience-based.” –Sonia Nigam
“Social good’s really at the foundation of this ecosystem.” –Sonia Nigam
“I think one of the biggest things that’s going to continue is the increase in online giving, either via e-commerce or even via cryptocurrency.” –Amir Shah