Nonprofits Assemble. Lessons from the Avengers.

“I still believe in heroes.” –Nick Fury

Last weekend The Avengers grossed $207.4 million – smashing box office records and inspiring  Americans to dress in costume, stay up late, and wait in lines.  Often times when expectations are that high, audiences and critics are left disappointed.  That was not the case last weekend.  By all accounts, The Avengers blew us away.  I was careful to observe the faces of my fellow moviegoers during the film and my heart warmed at what I saw – children with their mouths wide open in disbelief and adults smiling from ear to ear.  We were captivated.  We laughed at every corny joke.  We jumped at every predictable explosion. And when people were walking out of the theater, they seemed genuinely…happy.  Spirits were lifted.  Problems were forgotten.  For a few hours…things were awesome.

As Americans, we have a long-standing love affair with superheroes.  They speak to the very best in us - regular people touched by extreme circumstances who rise above and do good; self-made men who reinvent themselves; deeply flawed, deeply hurt individuals who face adversity head on and win the day.  Whether they build a metal suit, get exposed to gamma radiation or have an experimental serum injected by the military…they react in the way we hope we would.  They save the world, and they do it over and over again.  We all want to be something more than we are.  We all want to be superheroes.  That’s why the kids leaving the theater were pretending they could fly, and why the adults were engaged in conversations about what power they would most like to have. 

Times are tough and I think we have all gotten a little bit more cynical than we used to be, but the success of The Avengers and similar superhero movies reveals something about who we are and what we are craving. The good guys can still win.  Teamwork still matters. The world is still worth saving.  These notions may seem old fashion, but as human beings and as leaders in the nonprofit community…we need to still believe in them.  They inspired millions to view this film, and they can inspire even more to get excited, get involved, and make a difference.  Nick Fury is able to convince the Avengers to work together and fight for good by appealing to their sense of heroism.  It worked, and against all odds they saved the day.  While most people don’t have suits of armor or mythical lightening hammers, they still have a desire to contribute to a cause bigger than themselves.  Perhaps your nonprofit can offer them the opportunity they need to get involved.  Perhaps we could all benefit from this type of appeal.

-Nicole P

What Matters to You Matters to Us. Good News for Non-profits.

What Matters to You Matters to Us.

Good News for Non-profits.

Recently, I have been reading a lot about generations – their habits, their needs, their strengths and their shortfalls.  Market researchers study generations to better sell a product.  Firms study them to better recruit and manage employees.  Who we are matters.  And for Millennials (like myself), who you are matters.

First, let’s put this in some context.  Also known as Generation Y or Echo Boomers, we were born between the late 70’s and mid 90’s.  We are racially diverse, well-educated, and are known for a distinct and persistent optimism.  Growing up in the digital age has made us techno-savvy, excellent multi-taskers, and quick learners.  According to NASA, it also made us impatient (instant gratification, baby!), blunt and image-driven.

There are over 70 million of us – the largest generation since the baby boomers…and a lot of attention has recently been paid to our job search methods and our employment preferences.  How are we finding positions?  What are we looking for?  NASA’s recruitment efforts stress good income, challenging work, advancement and recognition (remember, we got trophies just for participating as children).  Sounds like a good deal to me.  There is something else though…something not in NASA’s study, but that I have seen and that really resonates with me…and I’m guessing a few of the other 70 million millenials.

Who you are and what your organization believes matters to us!   And since we are more hooked into one another than any previous generation, that information has become surprisingly available.  Ivy League graduates are beginning to choose non-profits and public service positions over Wall Street corner offices.  61% of 18-26 year olds answered that they would prefer to work for a company that offers volunteer opportunities. The 2006 Cone Millennial Case Study also cites that 79% of millenials want to work for a company that cares about how it impacts and contributes to society. A recent Washington Post article on how companies are changing said that “even as the economy has slowed, companies are expanding volunteer programs because these programs attract, develop, motivate and retain the most dynamic and passionate employees. The most innovative of these companies also understand these programs as critical to their bottom line.”

I graduated with a lot of smart people.  I’m lucky to be able to say that my friends are among the most intelligent, creative, ambitious problem solvers I know.  And where are they?  My childhood best friend is a missionary both at home and abroad.  My brilliant chemistry major husband strives to do the impossible and balance a state budget while saving the environment.  His roommate joined the air force after graduating suma cumlaude with a degree in biology. We care about what we do.  We genuinely want to make a difference…and maybe what truly distinguishes this generation is that we believe we can.  We’re confident.  We’re excited.  We crave a challenge…and we want to work for organizations that care.

This is all very good news for non-profits.

-Nicole P

Re-MEMBER

Re-MEMBER

I have the opportunity to interact with a variety of not-for-profit boards and board members on a daily basis and from a variety of perspectives –as a rank-and-file member, as a board member, as a staff member and as a consultant.  

There are a lot of similarities among boards with regard to structure, practice and governance, but there are significant differences as well.   You can tell a lot about an organization in the first few minutes of any board meeting.  The ones that are prospering have board members and staff who know and believe in their core mission, always keeping in mind that their purpose is to serve their members.  

It can be easy for any board to get bogged down in governance and political issues.  One simple tactic to help maintain focus is to regularly remind board and staff members of the organization’s mission.  I have had the opportunity to work with a great board that opens every board meeting by reviewing their mission and vision statements.  It’s a great way to direct everyone’s attention to the tasks at hand, and to remind them that they are there to make decisions that are in the best interests of their members and the industry they serve.

So even if you haven’t quite gotten around to developing that strategic plan (always a good idea), at least make sure your board establishes mission and vision statements, and then regularly communicate them to your members, board and staff. 

-Kim Robinson