On Sept. 19, more than 600 of the state’s most influential leaders — nonprofit executive directors and board presidents, corporate CEOs and elected officials — convened at the Phoenix Convention Center to learn about some of Arizona’s recent successful public-private partnerships and discuss the critical role of leadership in the state’s future. The third Arizona Leadership … [More]
Measuring Nonprofit Impact and Performance
As corporate social responsibility initiatives and social entrepreneurship have continued to grow in popularity — along with high-impact giving (giving aimed at making a social change in the world) — philanthropy has seen a worldwide upswing. With this increase in billions of dollars of philanthropic support has also come pressure on the nonprofit to measure the impact of its … [More]
The Nonprofit Board: Financial & Legal Best Practices
Remember Enron? Fallout from the company’s corporate abuse and accounting fraud can still be felt in corporate America more than a decade later — namely through the passing of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) by Congress, which aimed to rebuild public trust in the corporate sector. While SOX is almost exclusively aimed at corporations, a number of the law’s provisions have … [More]
‘Giving USA 2014’: Dispelling Myths about Philanthropy
Giving USA 2014 isn’t a magical handbook with superpowers, but the figures and historical insight contained within the report do dispel long-held myths about fundraising. Those executives sitting on nonprofit boards who understand the implications of the report’s facts and figures — and how to use them to their advantage — can optimize their organizations’ philanthropic … [More]
Coffee to Cash Flow
Coffee beans. Espresso. Fresh-baked goods. Granola. Garden-grown vegetables. Herbs … It may come as a surprise that these items are synonymous with the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center. Sold in SARRC’s Beneficial Beans® Cafés and through its catering programs, these products represent a growing trend among nonprofit organizations to diversify their revenue … [More]
Knowing and Doing: The Board Member’s Key Responsibilities
Being a board member — like being a business executive — boils down to two key responsibilities: knowing and doing. “Knowing the organization, believing in (and even being passionate about) its mission — that’s a primary responsibility for a board member,” says Shelley Cohn, board member of the Arizona Community Foundation, Childsplay and the Desert Botanical Garden. “Then … [More]
Shared Leadership
Corporate executives who find themselves sitting on the board of a nonprofit might initially wonder — in a boardroom filled with so much leadership talent — Who’s in charge? What role do I play? What role does the CEO of the nonprofit play? The answers have changed dramatically as nonprofit organizations have been forced to serve more people in need with fewer resources (due … [More]
Ryan House
“If this is the last moment, live life to the fullest” is the philosophy behind Ryan House, explains its executive director, Julie Bank. The organization offers children with life-threatening illness, and their family, a full range of respite, palliative and end-of-life care in an uplifting and child-friendly environment. At the Ryan House Community Breakfast on May 7, being … [More]
Chrysalis
One of Chrysalis’s core programs is a shelter, which can house women, children and male victims of domestic abuse. “‘Home’ is what encompasses safety,” says president and CEO Patricia Klahr. “They come to our home to escape the violence.” One in four women and one in seven men find themselves in an abusive situation. To celebrate the work that Chrysalis does in serving the … [More]
Southwest Human Development: Supporting Critical Early Childhood Development
Part fundraiser and part celebration, “Walk With Me 2014” on April 26 at Steele Indian School Park (7:30 a.m. to noon) is completely dedicated to the mission of Southwest Human Development — providing the strong foundation Arizona’s children need for a great start in life. The organization was founded by Ginger Ward in 1981 after having worked with Head Start while completing … [More]
notMYkid: Helping Teens Fight Destructive Behavior
NotMYkid conveys its message and programs to help youth deal with life-challenging stresses, which include addiction and bullying, by employing those who can connect best with its targeted audience — young people who have suffered but then combatted the problem themselves. Its staff includes about 40 young men and women who have at least one year in recovery and have completed … [More]
100 Club of Arizona
“This year’s Tribute to Heroes will be different,” says 100 Club of Arizona executive director Sharon Knutson-Felix, noting that in 2013 “we lost 22 officers and firefighters in the line of duty.” The Tribute is one of the organization’s two major fundraisers, supporting its efforts to “stand behind the men and women who stand behind the badge.” The event March 7th at the … [More]
Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council
The Girl Scout Cookie Sale is in full swing now, running from Jan. 27 to March 9, and Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council is running it all as direct sales — eliminating the pre-sale stage of previous years. Evidenced by the experience of other councils, eliminating pre-sales and doing direct sales only is expected to increase sales by about 15 percent, according to Heather … [More]
Jewish Family & Children’s Service
Changing lives is the core of what Jewish Family & Children’s Service is all about — and its 5th Annual Brighter Tomorrow Luncheon “is a chance for us to give a story or two about what JFCS has been doing in the community,” says Frank Jacobson, VP of marketing and development, who organizes the event. One spotlight story, shared as a video presentation, is that of an … [More]
The Clothes Cabin
“No More Chilly Nights,” being held Feb. 1, is the aptly named chili cook-off fundraiser by The Clothes Cabin, which provides clothing — and blankets — to people in need, including abuse victims who often can carry nothing with them when they leave their home. Begun as a sock drive under the name “One Small Step” (and still registered as a 501(c)3 organization under that … [More]
AZ Assistance in Health Care
Arizona Assistance in Health Care is turning New Year’s Eve revelry into a special opportunity to help cancer-stricken families overwhelmed with medical bills. A Night of a Thousand Wishes — Arabian Nights New Year’s Eve Gala, at the Scottsdale Resort and Conference Center, will start with the Bazaar Lounge for the cocktail hour outside before moving inside for dinner, a live … [More]
Thunderbirds
Last year’s Waste Management Phoenix Open enabled the Thunderbirds to give more than $5.5 million to Arizona charities. The venerable organization was founded in 1937 as part of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce to help promote tourism to the area. A committee of five was formed, and each brought on board another 10, and the resulting size of 55 active members remains constant to … [More]
ICAN: Play, Hope and Skills to Break the Cycle of Poverty
Christmas trees adorned with at least $2,500-worth of decoration is the centerpoint of ICAN’s Festival of the Trees fundraiser. Last year’s highlight was Chase Construction Company’s tool extravaganza — its tree came with a full assortment of Black & Decker tools — that was actually auctioned off four times. The trees are part of the live auction capping an evening of … [More]
