Association of Fundraising Professionals
WASHINGTON CHAPTER
WASHINGTON STATE MEMBER E-NEWS UPDATE:
Summer 2007 edition
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Table of Contents
- Diversity--Here for Good
- Book Notes
- Charitable Solicitation Requirements Take Effect July 22
- A Creative Way to Say "Thank You" to Your Volunteers
- IRA Charitable Distribution Survey Results
- Calling All Volunteers!
- New Job Listings on AFP WA Website
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Diversity--Here for Good
JoAnn Yoshimoto, CFRE, The Alford Group, AFP WA Vice President for Diversity
Unlike the hula hoop, bell-bottomed pants, or disco music, “diversity” is a popular idea that shows no signs of disappearing from the social scene. Au contraire, it is only growing in relevance in our changing society.
Diversity Facts of Life
Currently 30% of the American population is comprised of diverse racial groups. By 2050 the population will shift to approximately 50% white and 50% all other minorities, bringing America to the brink of being a “majority-minority” country for the first time in its history.
At the local level, we are definitely experiencing this demographic shift. In 1990 the population of King County was 83% white and 17% non-white & Hispanic. Within a decade this profile changed to 73% white and 27% non-white & Hispanic. Particularly striking are the population statistics for Bellevue and Redmond, communities that are traditionally considered ethnically homogeneous, at 28% and 24% non-white & Hispanic, respectively.
Many minority populations are growing in numbers, influence, and wealth. Old assumptions are being debunked, particularly the idea that minorities are recipients of services rather than providers or contributors. This reality holds great promise for fundraisers: in our region, some minority groups represent disproportionately high levels of wealth. Technology-sector workers born and raised in foreign countries come immediately to mind.
The Diversity Change Process
In order to attract a diversified funding base, a non-profit must first serve a diverse client base. Ideally an organization will also reflect the community’s diversity within its board and staff.
A diversity change process can be viewed as a five-step initiative, as identified by Robert Hayles and Armida Mendez Russell in The Diversity Directive: Why Some Initiatives Fail and What to Do About It.
- Creating awareness involves guiding an organization through the learning process, and providing a forum for discussion and sharing of concerns. An important component of raising awareness is dealing with backlash, through participation, inclusiveness, and two-way communication.
- Transition is facilitated by understanding and tracking change, strategic planning, a comprehensive initiative, and continuous adjustment to fit the needs and culture of the organization. This is the period during which shared values become actual behaviors. Because change is difficult for everyone, it is advisable to “over communicate” during this stage.
- Acceptance of diversity change is the stage at which individuals within the organization realize that diversity is not just a passing fancy, it is a reality that will not go away. It involves maintaining the commitment, personal diversity work, and ongoing assessment and feedback. During this period, the diversity initiative is understood to be an ongoing process, a fact of life, rather than simply an isolated workshop or program.
- Institutionalization is evident when large numbers of people are involved in diversity work, individual reactions are generally positive, all systems reflect diversity, and there is ongoing education, training and measurement.
- Alignment is achieved when day-to-day behavior is values-driven, leaders and managers model appropriate behavior, and diversity is monitored as an integral feature of individual and institutional strategies. This stage is the goal of organizational diversity efforts.
In Conclusion
Ethnic and other forms of diversity within American society are here to stay. Working to reflect this diversity in non-profits is the right thing to do for many reasons: a diverse workforce contributes to long-term organizational success; non-profits must serve and attract an increasingly diverse community and funding base; and, most importantly, embracing diversity is the first critical step toward achieving social justice. Here to stay. Here for good.
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Book Notes
Jeanne Thorsen, King County Library System Foundation
According to David Allen’s book, Getting Things Done, I should not be writing this review, or at least not until my most important items are crossed my list today. Setting priorities, making decisions, delegating actions, and moving non-essential items off the work area are all excellent suggestions – suggestions that most of us ignore.
Subtitled The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, this older book (2001) offers basic ideas for defining and accomplishing life, home, and job activities. It is definitely worth a look, even if only to read the sidebars and quotes (in that spare two minutes a day). Here is my favorite, from Julia Louis Woodruff: “Out of the strain of the doing, into the peace of the done.”
Taking an entirely different approach, A Perfect Mess, by Eric Abrahamson and David Freedman, advocates that a little disorder trumps neatness. The authors compel us to ask ourselves whether the cost of neatness overrides the ability to be flexible and creative. And, to ponder what opportunities are wasted while taking time to totally clean off a desk?
One of my favorite chapters is titled “Messy People” – with descriptions of the entrenched messmaker, order phony, mess pervert, orderly procrastinator, mess savant, order hero, order bigot, and mess-iah. You’ll recognize yourself and your colleagues.
Understandably, these authors are not fans of productivity gurus David Allen and Stephen Covey, who emphasize lists and time management rules. As the pendulum, it’s good to recognize that clutter and disorder are not mortal sins, and total organization will not make you a better person.
Subtitled, How Crammed Closets, Cluttered Offices, and On-the-Fly Planning Make the World a Better Place, this book will help you assess the right amount of disorder for any system –life plan, management goals, office environment, or hallway closet.
A contender for the best title ever, Destructive Goal Pursuit: The Mount Everest Disaster, is sure to capture your attention. Christopher Kayes identifies the tragic case of the 1996 Mount Everest climbing expedition that left eight climbers dead, to illustrate the detrimental, even tragic, consequences of goals and the goal-setting process.
Kayes uses the term goalodicy – the idea that goals can stifle progress – to remind us that ambitious people may seek to accomplish seemingly insurmountable goals by pushing themselves – and others – to the limits of their capacity. Goalodicy emerges when leaders ignore new information, especially when this information contradicts current beliefs. Therein lies the conundrum: Goals motivate leaders and lead to achievement, and Goalodicy occurs when additional efforts create detrimental results.
Developed as a research paper by an experienced climber, this is not an easy read. For anyone who sets goals, works in teams, pursues the unattainable, dances with risk-taking, contemplates unethical behavior, senses warning signs, or shares a common purpose, this is excellent information. And, a must read for anyone interested in realizing the positive effects of goal setting and avoiding their unintended consequences.
Fellow AFP Board member Andrea John-Smith recommended reading The Soul of Money, and now I want to pass it along to all of you. Published in 2003, by global activist and fundraiser Lynne Twist, the subtitle is ‘transforming your relationship with money and life.’ Through personal stories and practical advice, we learn how our attitudes toward money – earning it, spending it, and giving it away – can offer insight into our lives, our values and the essence of prosperity. We learn how we can replace feelings of scarcity, guilt, and burden with experiences of sufficiency, freedom, and purpose.
“Money is the most universally motivating, mischievous, maligned, and misunderstood part of contemporary life.” Sit down with the book, step back and assess your relationship with wealth and well-being, and see where new ideas lead you.
These books are available through the King County Library System, www.kcls.org.
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Charitable Solicitation Requirements Take Effect July 22
Lynn Schrader, CFRE, The Schrader Group
SHB 1777, as adopted by the Washington legislature and signed by the Governor, makes numerous revisions to Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 19.09, the Charitable Solicitations Act. The purpose of the Act is to provide citizens of the state with information relating to persons and organizations who solicit funds from the public for charitable purposes and to help ensure the proper use of contributions. The revisions signed into law this past spring represent the most significant changes to the Act since it was originally created in 1987. Two new purposes that have been added to the Act are 1) the goal to improve transparency and accountability of nonprofits that solicit funds from the public; and 2) to develop educational programs for charitable organizations, board members and the general public.
Most notable among the changes is the requirement that nonprofit organizations ensure that their board has reviewed and accepted financial information submitted to the Secretary of State. It is makes charitable organizations liable for material misrepresentations of financial information that they report to the state. The bill also repeals the consolidated filing option for parent organizations and their chapters, branches, or subsidiaries. In addition, several key terms are re-defined to better reflect current practices.
The bill authorizes the Secretary of State Sam Reed to adopt rules under the Administrative Procedures Act. Many of the changes in SHB 1777 will not take effect until the rules are developed. The bill authorizes the Secretary of State to create a charitable advisory council to advise the Secretary on the new rules, as well as educational and training needs.
SHB 1777 and a summary of legislative changes may be found at: http://www.secstate.wa.gov/charities/. A detailed analysis of the changes, by Putnam Barber, Senior Public Policy Consultant of the Executive Alliance, may be found at: http://www.exec-alliance.org/PublicPolicy.html.
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A Creative Way to Say "Thank You" to Your Volunteers
Are you looking for a creative way to recognize your volunteers and donors for their invaluable contributions to your organization? You know who they are: maybe it is an unsung hero, a board member, or a superlative donor. We invite you to say “thank you” in a special way at National Philanthropy Day.
You can accomplish this by recognizing your outstanding volunteers as "Stars" at this year's National Philanthropy Day luncheon on November 16th. Invite them to sit with you at the event, and honor them for only an additional $10 per ticket. As a "Star" your volunteer will:
- Be recognized in the program next to your organization’s name
- Have their name scroll on the screen during the luncheon
- Receive a special lapel pin as an ongoing reminder of how much their commitment to your organization is appreciated
To purchase a ticket for the National Philanthropy Day luncheon and a special “Star” designation for your stellar volunteers click HERE.
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IRA Charitable Distribution Survey Results
As of June 4, 4,193 individual distributions were reported in the National Committee on Planned Giving survey, with a total value of more than $75 million. The Ways and Means Committee has already taken notice of the results, and is pleased with both the quantity of gifts and the relatively low average distribution. This would be a good time to log into the Government Watch Center and e-mail your representative in Congress to express the value that tax-free charitable IRA distributions have to your organization and donors.
Because lawmakers are paying attention to the NCPG IRA Gifts survey, we’re asking you to please remember this survey each time a charitable IRA distribution is received. The survey was just shortened to make it even easier to take. Please click here to take the survey and view a detailed analysis of the results thus far.
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Calling All Volunteers!
Master Chorus Eastside is looking for Board members with expertise in one or more of the following areas: development, audience building, marketing. Please call Board President Annette Kiper for more information at 425-766-0660 or visit www.masterchoruseastside.org.
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New Job Listings on AFP WA Website
Boys & Girls Aid, Open Arms Perinatal Services, The Northwest School, Group Health Community Foundation, Conservation Northwest, Saint Martins University. Visit the jobs page to view these jobs by clicking HERE.