Happy birthday, Erin!

Friends, thanks for sticking with us. We know we were MIA for the tail-end of 2011. The holiday season was good, but busy. Left us with little time for blogging.

But now? We’re back. With a vengeance!

Today, I’d like to wish half of the BGT Team the happiest of happy birthdays! Erin exemplifies what it means to Bring Good Together. She is a dedicated volunteer and is generous with her time. She is creative, and has shared that with several worthy organizations, both professionally and otherwise. She is talented and driven and a wonderful friend to many (including me!).

Happy birthday, Erin! Best wishes for a big and beautiful year ahead — a year of lots of good, brought all together.

– Sarah

Inspired by Steve

Yes, we’re writing a (joint) post about Steve Jobs — just like everyone is today. And yes, we’re going to act like we knew him personally. Because that’s the thing with someone like Steve Jobs: you DO feel like you know him personally. Or at least you can feel his creativity and innovation and drive and passion and be personally inspired by it all. His creative genius directly influenced how we live our lives today.

To be fair, we are both avid Mac users. Erin was converted at about the age of seven when she and her brother received their uncle’s super old green-and-black screened Macintosh. We loved that thing and played games on it for hours. Her uncle, a graphic designer, has used Macs since it was possible to design on a Mac. He swears by them. And he converted her with that small beige box of fun. Like just about everyone else who was saddened by Steve Jobs’ death, we are attached to our iPhones. And iPods. And MacBooks. Oh my.

But Steve Jobs didn’t just have a passion for technology. He had a passion for sharing his passion: he wanted everyone to find their THING. And that inspires both of us to continue using our talents and our creativity to pursue our passions – whatever those happen to be(come).

Steve Jobs is celebrated in part because he made what was functional, beautiful. What would our communities (and our nonprofits) look like . . . if we exercised just a bit of that creative genius?

Some of our favorite quotes from Mr. Jobs — fitting for a great inspiration post:

Your time is limited so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by Dogma – which is living with the results of other peoples’ thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

“Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.”

And settle we will not. Your legacy will not be wasted, sir.

Community in nonprofits

Community. It was evident when I arrived at work and checked my mailbox.

We’re in the middle of a big redesign of some major collateral. It’s a simple brochure, but we’re hoping it will have some longevity to it. So I tip-toed onto other organizations’ websites and whispered into their staff’s email boxes. I was looking for inspiration and wondered if these organizations wouldn’t mind sending similar brochures so I could dream a little bigger and our designer could get a feel for things.

I was shy and I didn’t think I’d get anything back. My emails were tentative . . . Could you? Would you? Please, if it isn’t too much trouble?

Community showed up in my mailbox this morning. Every organization I contacted sent something back. To our little org! In our little town! They didn’t even know me and they were happy to lend a hand. To all of them, I am grateful.

As nonprofit neighbors, couldn’t we do a little more of this? Couldn’t we stick our necks out for each other in pursuit of the greater good — in pursuit of bringing good together? I think we’ll find this nonprofit landscape a little less lonely if we do.

The neighboring concept

Neighboring. The word itself has such a lovely Mr.Rogers-esque ring to it, even if you’re not quite sure what it means – which, by the way, I wasn’t. Not until I started researching volunteering.

Those of you who have read this blog before might have stumbled upon my earlier post about the fabulous Hands On Network. Their site is where I first discovered this concept of neighboring. And then I realized that through my job, I’d been encouraging people to follow this concept for months!

According to Hands On, “Neighboring is an asset- and empowerment-based approach that engages underserved and under resourced community members to find innovative, sustainable solutions to address local challenges.”

Neighboring is a different, and in my mind, almost better, way to look at volunteering. Of course you should still volunteer outside of your immediate community if you feel led, but consider this: you community needs YOU.

Each person in a community brings unique skills. Maybe you’re a great writer or artist or teacher. Maybe you know a lot about plants or knitting or maybe you’re a great listener. You might have time. Or you might have resources. Every single one of these things can make a difference if you are open to sharing them.

My boss spent the summer talking to congregations that are struggling but really want to offer social ministries in their communities. They see serving their communities as a way to play a needed role and reach out to their neighbors. He encouraged them over and over that their communities have all they need, if they only take a minute to measure their assets. The assets are there – you just have to work for it a little bit. (And oh yes, a blog post about asset-mapping is in the future!)

This, oh reader, is the idea of neighboring. It is a way to start together in community, work side by side, and draw on the talents and resources within that community to strengthen it and allow it to prosper.

So how do you get started? There are so many ways. Of course, you could check out Hands On or any of the other volunteer resource websites for opportunities in your community. Or head to your church, your local schools, a community center or local nonprofit. They all need you. Or, if one of your talents is leadership, maybe you’d like to start neighboring directly to your actual neighbors by starting a community organizing initiative. Hands On has tons of resources about neighboring, so check them out!

Hunger Action Month

Did you know it’s Hunger Action Month?

Hunger Action Month is sponsored by Feeding America.  Formerly known as America’s Second Harvest, Feeding America leads the pack when it comes to hunger relief in the U.S. Feeding America affiliates serve people in every county from Puerto Rico to Alaska with various programs including food pantries, emergency shelters, soup kitchens, and after-school programs.

This month, Feeding America is asking everyone to step up and get involved to end hunger in the U.S.

Don’t think hunger is a problem in your community? Click here to find statistics about hunger and food insecurity in your area.

For example, according to Feeding America, 12.2% of people in Illinois are food insecure. That is over 1.5 million people in one state alone. In 2009, 50.2 MILLION Americans lived in food insecure households.

I don’t know about you, but these statistics baffle me every time. We have plenty of food in this country — more than enough to significantly lower these numbers. It will take work and generosity. And we’ll have to rethink how we supply, obtain and distribute food. It’s complicated, but it’s worth it.

Want to get involved? Click here to find your local food bank and Hunger Action Month events in your community.

 

What is a 501(c)(3)?

I spent the last few months working on a program that helped congregations build their capacity to run (better) social ministries. The congregations we worked with were (and are) great and super enthusiastic about addressing issues within their communities. These things vary from hunger to poverty to homelessness. They’re passionate. And that’s commendable.

But unfortunately, simple passion can only get you so far. Most organizations have to eventually land some funding. And that is where getting official 501(c)3 status is CRUCIAL. Many organizations and foundations, and especially the government, will not fund you if you do not have this status. In layman’s terms, it make you legit.

It has been a bit of a struggle for some congregations and organizations to understand the importance of making their social ministry program official with the feds. It’s daunting, yes. But the benefits — they’re worth it.

Just what is a 501(c)3, you ask?

501(c)(3) is the section of the IRS tax code that sets aside tax-exempt nonprofit organizations or corporations. According to IRS.gov, these orgs’ purposes “are charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition, and preventing cruelty to children or animals.  The term charitable is used in its generally accepted legal sense and includes relief of the poor, the distressed, or the underprivileged; advancement of religion; advancement of education or science; erecting or maintaining public buildings, monuments, or works; lessening the burdens of government; lessening neighborhood tensions; eliminating prejudice and discrimination; defending human and civil rights secured by law; and combating community deterioration and juvenile delinquency.” 

So, as you can see, it covers a lot of causes.

Think you qualify? The application process involves several steps. Don’t let it overwhelm you — take it one step at a time, and you can do it. You’ll be glad you did when you can land those crucial grants for your org.

(For more information and FAQ on how to start the application process, head on over to IRS.gov. And keep coming back: we may just blog about it in the future!)

Avoiding nonprofit burnout

Every field has its stressors, doesn’t it? Fatigue. Apathy. Frustration. Exhaustion. Burnout. 

I’ve been there before. Haven’t you?

No matter what profession we pursue, we’re likely to feel frustrated with our jobs at some point. Sometimes, the I’m-so-sick-of-this-job feeling lasts for just a few hours, or a few days. When it lasts for a season or more, it’s harder to shake.

Those in the nonprofit sector are frequently called on to make positive change in the world. And we’re often called to do it with fewer people and fewer resources. What do we do when we reach the proverbial end of our ropes?

Remember the mission of the organization. There’s a reason you went into this field, and a reason you are at this organization. Revisit the group and those it serves, and focus on those values as you move through your day.

Spearhead a new project. As if your plate isn’t full enough, right? Sometimes a new project can inject new energy into what feels like a lifeless pursuit. It’s a reason to show up at work and grow your skill set or put under-used professional muscles into play. Like exercise, it’s tough to get going and fantastic upon completion.

Network with other professionals. Most communities have nonprofit professionals groups, and some even have groups for your area of emphasis. Check out the Association of Fundraising Professionals or Young Nonprofit Professionals Network, both of which have chapters in most communities. Some communities offer networking opportunities through community foundations or the United Way. Locally, identify networking and professional development groups in your community — a simple Google search should help you find the group.

Identify a mentor in your organization or in one you admire. This is a person you can call on when you need advice or guidance and meet for lunch or coffee every few months. A good mentor has experiences from which you’d like to learn, and a certain vivaciousness about his or her field. He or she might offer just the inspiration you need.

Or, if you’re in the position to do so, consider becoming a mentor yourself. Hearing others’ aspirations and goals can remind you of your own. It takes little time and you may find you gain more than you’re giving.

How have you combated burnout in your job — nonprofit or not? Share with us in the comments section. We could all use a little inspiration!

5 awesome things about community gardens

To say community gardening is a trend would be an understatement. All over the U.S., community and urban gardening is taking off as people realize the benefits of eating locally grown food. The cost-effectiveness doesn’t hurt either.

Five awesome things about community gardens:

1. Community gardens provide food not only to local farmers’ markets and restaurants, but also to local food pantries and food service organizations.
2. Community gardens teach children AND adults how to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
   

Last year, I wrote a story for Glenview (IL) Patch about how local citizens and businesses were working to be more “green.” In my story, I featured The Organic Pantry Project (TOPP). Below is an excerpt that talks about what they do:

“The Organic Pantry Project (TOPP)…works to support and create community gardens. The first garden supported by TOPP in Glenview was at Pleasant Ridge school. For years, students had been gardening at the school under the guidance of teacher Dave Jones, who used his own money to buy supplies. Last year, students donated more than 350 pounds of organic produce to local food pantries.

Jen Roberts and Laura Heyser, founders of TOPP, said they wanted to do more to help Jones and his students.

‘We wanted to create something to raise funds for him to support and continue the garden,’ Heyser said. ‘We wanted to make sure we’re supporting our community in a way to teach our kids something healthy and to get involved in something that matters.’

TOPP also helped plant a garden at Glenview Community Church. With the help of the congregation, an Eagle Scout project and donations from grocer Whole Foods and others, the church’s garden came together in about a month, Heyser said.

Since June, TOPP has donated more than 324 pounds of organic produce to the Northfield Township Food Pantry to help those in need.”

TOPP is a great organization – but I’m learning in my work that there are other wonderful organizations all over the country that are working to provide local food for the hungry and teach nutrition and gardening to new (or old) generations.

3. Community gardens often make use of space that would otherwise to go waste.

A professor from Trinity Lutheran College in Washington state saw some unutilized space from his office window every day: the top of a parking garage that was never filled to capacity. So he, along with local volunteers, created a rooftop garden. The garden features plants of all kinds, and many vegetables grown go to the college’s student meal plan and local food banks. (To read more about the garden, click here.)

The Chicago Honey Co-Op has its apiary in an abandoned parking lot in an old industrial area of the city. (It also fits in with awesome thing number 4 below – the Honey Co-Op started as a job training program.)

4. Community gardens empower local populations with job training opportunities.

Growing Power’s Chicago Lights Urban Farm, an urban farming and community garden project launched in Chicago in 2003, offers numerous youth programs that educate young people. Youth participate in the daily process of running an urban farm by keeping records, working at local farmers’ markets, planting, leading information sessions, and everything in between.

Gateway Greening in St. Louis offers a 10-week intensive on-the-job training in horticulture for veterans.

5. Community gardens educate their communities about nutrition and food justice.

Milwaukee Urban Gardens developed a curriculum to teach students about the connections between cultures, food systems and sustainability.

Urban Harvest in Houston has education programs on all levels that work with children and adults to not only learn how to garden, but also to learn the value of healthy food.

Community gardens are doing great things all over the country. To check out one in your area, visit the American Community Gardening Association’s website.

Reflections on our first month

Bringing Good Together has been live for a month, and what a month it has been! We’re big believers in reflection and we decided to reflect on our first month of BGT. Erin and I spent some time chatting about what we’ve learned so far.

Erin: So, Sarah, what have you learned in this first month of blogging?

Sarah: Keeping a calendar! I won’t speak for both of us, but I know I may have fallen off the bandwagon without planning post topics ahead of time.

Erin:  I definitely agree. I think planning out our topics made a big difference. But also allowing ourselves flexibility was helpful — for example, The Interrupters review.

Sarah: Absolutely. Isn’t that what they say, strike while the iron is hot? I’ve also been overwhelmed by how sweet people have been to us about it. We’ve gotten positive feedback from many sources and it’s flattering . . . but also makes me realize that we have a niche to fill here.

Erin: That is so true! It’s amazing how many topics fit into our theme — both on the business side of nonprofits AND the public “look what they do” side. And I don’t know about you, but I’ve really enjoyed writing about both.

Sarah. To echo that, it’s been almost a miniature professional development course. Nonprofit work is great, but there’s so little money to go around and professional development can fall by the wayside sometimes. So we’re not getting funding to go to conferences, to take classes, attend lectures, etc. We kind of have to teach ourselves if we want to get better at what we do.

Erin: I think while trying to inform others, we’re going to learn even more ourselves. Also, I don’t know about you, but it feels so so great to write again. I missed the process, and the learning that comes along with it.

Sarah: Absolutely! I had coffee with a friend who’s still a college student and she’s an English major. And we talked and talked and talked about being “writers” — even though we’re not real writers by any stretch, it felt good to talk about the process.

Erin: I also missed creativity, and the writing plus my recent endeavors in designing a logo for us, the creativity is flowing once again.

Sarah: Challenges, though . . . It’s not easy to balance being an effective blogger with everything else we’re up to.

Erin: Oh! Another great thing I learned — good news IS everywhere! It just gets so bogged down, and often we don’t know it when we see it. It makes me so happy to share good things nonprofits are doing. But yes, challenges. I would say balance is difficult. But not impossible by any means, especially with good planning and compromise.

Sarah: Personally, it’s been a struggle to keep myself honest and balanced. There’s a tendency to promote those in the nonprofit sector as the worker bees that keep society running . . . a holier-than-thou type promoting. At the same time, there’s a certain complaining that happens too — underpaid, overworked, underappreciated. So it’s been healthy for me to stay in between the two and recognize both what’s good about the nonprofit community and what can be improved.

Erin: Definitely. And I do think it’s fair to point those things out — they’re certainly not secrets. There are downsides to every job, and we shouldn’t have to avoid them. If there was a topic, say, about working in nonprofits, you could certainly talk about funding problems or lack of professional development opportunities, etc.

Sarah: Absolutely right. And hey, we have to give ourselves a hand for Month One.

Erin: I can’t believe it’s already been a month!

Sarah: It’s been an awesome journey with you so far, friend!

Erin: Ditto, friend. I can’t wait to see where it takes us!

And we’d be remiss without a thank you to those who read Bringing Good Together. Thanks for sticking with us so far! We have so much planned for the future of BGT, and we’re grateful to have you with us on this journey.

Reason to run

I have never been a runner. Don’t get me wrong – I ran. I ran for soccer, for basketball, for softball, and even when I was a thrower on the track team. But running to run? Hated it.

Turns out when I run for a reason, I actually enjoy it.

Beginning in March, I started training in hopes of running a 5K for a favorite Chicago charity in July. Unfortunately, a June full of weddings and other busy-ness left me way behind in my training program.

Thanks to some energetic coworkers and another great cause, my training did not go to waste. As a team, my coworkers and I have been training to run in September.

The 5K Freedom Run  will take place September 10, 2011 in Chicago. The run is a way to raise money and awareness about the work of TraffickFree. Their tagline of “run because they can’t” — well, that really stuck with me.

From the site:

“Running from human trafficking is not as simple as it seems – mental manipulation, physical bondage and threats keep Chicago victims from finding freedom. 

Victims may not be able to run, but you can.” 

TraffickFree works in the Chicagoland area to raise awareness about human trafficking and to take steps to end it altogether. According to their website, there are more slaves now than ever before in human history — approximately 27 million around the world — and Chicago is a major hub for trafficking in the United States.

If that couldn’t get me running, I don’t know what could!