Everyone Should Have a Budget. Period.

Over the last year and a half, as I’ve been meeting and speaking with small business owners and nonprofit leaders, one thing has amazed me. I’m always surprised to learn how many businesses do not have a budget. Either they are small enough that they don’t see the point. Or they have never had one, so why start now? One for-profit business told me that their entire purpose is to make money and who needs a budget for that? Maybe most concerning is when the leader has a strong understanding of the finances, but they just keep it all in their head. 

Allow me to explain why I believe everyone needs a budget. This goes for nonprofits, for-profits, and even your home finances. A budget is simply a plan; with numbers. Most business leaders, whether they write it down or not, have a plan for their business. They know that they want to grow, maybe add a staff person, possibly expand into new markets, etc. In order to do all these things and more, you need a plan. And more specifically – you need a budget. 

Why Avoid Budgeting?

It seems that many leaders avoid the budgeting process because of a fear of numbers. People decide early on that they are “not good at math.” And that leads them to steer clear of anything with numbers. This is why it can be helpful to think of a budget as a plan that you assign numbers to. With modern technology, a simple Excel or Google Sheets workbook can be designed to do all the math for you! If that’s too techy for you, a piece of paper and a calculator will do the trick too. 

Another reason leaders disregard budgets is that they do not want accountability. A budget tells you what you should be bringing in and what you should spend. That creates stress and frustration for some. Keeping in mind that you’re the boss of your business can be reassuring. YOU are the one holding yourself accountable! 

Along the lines of accountability, people will forgo a budget because they think they need to be able to predict the future. Meteorologists can’t do that, and neither can you. Fortunately, no one actually expects that of you. However, based on your knowledge of your industry, of your business, and of trends, you CAN be expected to make educated assumptions. If you’ve been growing steadily for 3-years, it can be reasonable to expect that trend to continue. If you’re in a more volatile industry, you might have to work harder to see trends, or plan for ups and downs. It’s not predicting the future, it’s developing a plan based on your expertise. 

Creating and following a budget will empower you in the following ways:

  • Making sound decisions
  • Educating you on what is really going on in your business
  • Helping you control your spending
  • Identifying problems
  • Being proactive

Making Sound Decisions

Business leaders make decisions every day. Everything from the epic to the mundane. Your ability to make really good decisions will likely determine how long you stay in business and how successful you will be throughout your career. Fortunately, you have at your disposal a super-power-like tool that can help you to make great decisions. And, you guessed it, that tool is a budget. 

Think you need to add a staff person to improve production? A budget will tell you if and when you will have the finances to make that addition. Thinking about expanding a product line? Your budget will tell you if that’s a good idea or not. Want to give raises to your amazing employees? A strong understanding of your revenue and expenses will make it clear when and how much will be appropriate and responsible. 

If nothing else, the process of creating and monitoring a budget will give you a strong understanding of where your money is coming from and where it is going. With super-powers like that, confidence in your decision making abilities will go through the roof!

Educating You on What’s Really Going On

As stated above, a budget puts your finger squarely on the pulse of your money’s comings and goings. It will tell you which product lines are kicking butt and which ones are under-performing. The amount you spend on staffing will become crystal clear; not just in terms of salaries, but also taxes and benefits. You will understand the true cost of doing business. You can even break it down so you know how much it costs to produce each item or service you sell. 

Over time you will be able to see if your business is going in a positive direction or a negative one. As you develop your budget you will be able to see how things look for your year. From there you can make decisions that can help make your year look better. If your budget for the year doesn’t show revenue covering expenses, you know this up front and have the ability to change plans. You can also build-in decision-making check-points. For example: If things are still trending up after the first quarter you may want to plan for additional investments. 

Helping You to Control Your Spending

If you are not tracking your expenses, you are definitely losing money. There’s an old saying: What gets measured gets managed. It might not be much. A few dollars here, a few there. Not knowing where your money is going can really add up. A great example is the daily coffee many people indulge in. Even if you go econo-coffee from the local convenience store, this likely amounts to $5 to $10 per week. Left unchecked, that’s over $500 a year! What would it look like if you saved or invested that money instead? 

If a daily coffee is important to you, keep it in the budget. This is not intended to anger the coffee drinkers! The purpose of a budget isn’t to take away things you need or really want. Rather, it shows you where your money is going. You are likely spending money without realizing how quickly it adds up, or considering what you can do with that money with a little bit of planning and intentionality. A budget brings bad habits to light and allows you to do something about them.

Identifying Problems

In addition to teaching you what you are spending money on, a budget can help you find problems. This is how embezzling is discovered! Does something seem off, but you can’t put your finger on it? The power of a budget will help you figure it out. By comparing the amount that should be coming in with the actual revenue you can find discrepancies and dig in. If spending seems off, your budget will help you root out the source of the added expenses.  

As this suggests, it’s not enough to just create a budget. You have to put your eyes on it. A monthly review is best. Once a month look through and see if your actual revenue and expenses are on track with the plan you created. If so, do a little happy dance! If not, you will be able to make decisions that will get you back on track. (This monthly comparison also allows you to monitor changes in trends so you can make great decisions.)

Being Proactive

Finally, a budget gives you the power to be proactive about the future of your business and your life. Whether this is in the area of saving for emergencies or planning for your retirement, a budget makes saving possible. A survey from Bankrate.com revealed that over 80% of people are not saving enough for retirement and 20% are not saving anything at all. 

A mistake often made is that people “plan” to save “whatever is left over” after all expenses are paid. As you may have guessed (or experienced), that’s not a plan at all. With that approach, nothing will ever go into your savings. And when there is an emergency, your business may not survive. By putting together a budget, and planning to save for emergencies and retirement, you are much more likely to invest in your future and the future of your business. By including ALL of your expenses in your budget, you will know what it really costs to run your business and support your life. 

Numbers do not lie. They are not there to make you feel good or feel bad. Using a budget makes you knowledgeable and in control of your business and your life. Wield it as such. 

I am not necessarily a “numbers person.” But I do love a good plan and a solid spreadsheet. I also love making good decisions with as much information as possible. This is why I’m a budget superfan! If you are interested in receiving a budget template, email me at Kim@Athena-CoCo.com. I can also help you to transfer your plan into numbers and set you up with a budget that works for YOU. Let’s connect!

Kim Stewart

Kim is a mom, wife, lover of being active and the outdoors,
and helper of small businesses and nonprofits.
kim@athena-coco.com

Our Similarities Outweigh Our Differences

Our similarities outweigh our differences. This is true in every aspect of life and relationships. Today’s article is going to focus on the similarities between nonprofit organizations and small businesses. The way I see it, there are many more similarities between these two business types, than there are differences. Before I get into the similarities (and a few differences), let’s dig into what we’re talking about here. 

People often become disillusioned by large, “corporate” nonprofits. They see the leaders making big salaries, and make assumptions about the philanthropy or integrity of the agency. Let me be clear – that level of nonprofit organization is not what this article is focused on. Additionally, this article is not about the Amazons or WalMarts of the world. 

97% of nonprofit organizations have annual budgets of $5M or less. Furthermore, 92% work with an operating budget of less than $1M, and 88% get by with less than $500,000. Similarly, of the over 30 million small businesses in the US, only 9% of them make over $1M in revenue. Small businesses with 20 or fewer employees make up 89% of all business in America. These are local organizations and businesses working hard to meet local community needs. And these are the focus of this article. 

Differences

Obviously there are some differences, otherwise there would be no reason for different classifications. The only difference that always exists in every situation, is the IRS tax status. What makes a business a nonprofit is the fact that they obtain a tax exempt status. Businesses are awarded a tax exemption in exchange for the work they do to address critical social issues in their community. 

Another key difference is related. Part of their tax exempt status requires a nonprofit to reinvest their profits back into the organization. This can be in the form of staff salaries, professional development, equipment, technology, investments, and more. They can make a profit, but it does not go to benefit an owner. While I’m filing this under differences, the difference is really in the IRS requirement. I say that because, in reality, there are many small businesses that do the same thing. They are not required to, but they invest their profit right back into their business. 

The third difference has to do with ownership. A nonprofit organization is essentially owned by the community, with a volunteer Board of Directors responsible for its leadership and operation. In newer nonprofits, the founder often behaves like an owner. This person usually holds the vision for the business, gets others excited about it, and develops the board, programming, funding, and more. And this brings us to the similarities portion of this analysis.

Similarities

There are differences in the leadership; nonprofits are led by a volunteer board, sometimes with a paid Executive Director running operations. Small businesses are generally led by an owner, partners, or a family. In either case, those business leaders have a LOT in common. 

Small businesses and nonprofits both struggle with never having enough time, money, resources or people to do everything they would like to do. This means that their leaders need to be hardworking, scrappy, creative, and dedicated. They tend to be driven by a passion greater than a paycheck. Whether it’s the mission, a desire to create something great, a commitment to serving their community, or a dedication to meeting the needs of their customers; these leaders are intrinsically motivated. 

In order to be successful, both sets of leaders need to have a strong connection to their community. By having their finger on the pulse of the community’s needs, they are able to identify issues and gaps in service. In knowing what is important in the community these business leaders can find their niche and remain relevant. Additionally, this connects the business leaders to the people in their community who will need their products and services. People do business with those who they know, like, and trust. 

This brings us to mission. Nonprofit organizations have a mission that drives their work in meeting a critical social need. While for profit, small businesses may not be driven by a mission, that does not mean that they don’t work hard to meet the needs of their community. People need groceries and gas and insurance. They need someone to help them buy and sell their house, and they like to go out to dinner. While these things (and more) do not necessarily qualify as mission work, they are definitely community necessities. 

The last two similarities (which initially seem to be differences) are fundraising and board management. A small business does not have to do traditional fundraising; however, they often seek investors and raise start-up capital or funds to develop new services and products. Likewise, a small business with investors reports to them as an Executive Director reports to their board. This involves educating them, building strong relationships, and managing communication. 

I spent 30 years working in the nonprofit industry and the last 18 months as a small business owner. In networking, developing, and growing with other small business owners it’s been so interesting to see the similarities between these two worlds. I’ve discovered, not only that the two industries have a lot in common, but we have so much to learn from each other!

I love helping business leaders to grow and develop professionally. If you’re looking for leadership, team or board development, mail me at kim@athena-coco.com to connect for a free 30-minute discovery call.

Kim Stewart

Kim is a mom, wife, lover of being active and the outdoors,
and helper of small businesses and nonprofits.
kim@athena-coco.com 

Nonprofit November Week #5

Here we are, the final stretch! Thank you to those of you who have been reading along with Nonprofit November, and also to those who skim to find what appeals to you. This final week has proven to be educational, but also difficult to connect with people during the holiday week. 

In full transparency, it’s because of the holiday that two of this week’s agencies were not actual interviews. The first is the YMCA. I did not interview anyone from the Y, and they are not really a small organization. However, I believe they are largely misunderstood, and I thought I would take this opportunity to share a little of my knowledge from working for the Y movement for over 30 years. The second is Tri-Lakes Cares. I have met with their Exec, I serve on their board, and I distributed Thanksgiving meals with them last weekend. However, I did not technically interview them specifically for this project. But, it’s my project and I’m going to share about their great work anyway! 

I hope you enjoy reading this final edition of Nonprofit November agency spotlights. I also hope that it has helped to spark an interest in you, to find a cause where you can make a difference in your community. If not, here’s your last chance . . . 

 

The William Stanley Foundation

This is the only foundation I have interviewed during this project. A foundation varies from other organizations I’ve highlighted in that it serves as the funding source for work being delivered through other nonprofits. They work to address a critical social need through a variety of programs or agencies. 

My friend, Bill Stanley, founded his foundation just one year ago. Having had several successful careers, Bill decided that he didn’t want to leave all of his assets to his children. Instead, he wanted to leave a legacy. While Bill is very philanthropic, he doesn’t choose to give through larger organizations. He wants his giving to go straight to recipients or to programs directly serving individuals. He loves to be able to see the impact of his contributions. 

The William Stanley Foundation works to address education, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship in our young people. Bill is building his network of nonprofit agencies in order to connect with and fund projects that match his passions. Some examples of the organizations this Foundation has supported include: Inventa Academy, Rocky Mountain PBS, Kids on Bikes, Junior Achievement, Cool Science and many more. 

As a brand new organization, Bill is still developing processes and figuring things out. One of his biggest needs is to grow his Board. Currently there are two Board members and he would like to double that. With no paid staff, it is a working Board. The intent is to keep it that way in the foreseeable future. If you are interested in getting involved at the leadership level, or if you know of a program this Foundation should look at, email Bill at: wsfoundation02@gmail.com. You can also learn more on their Facebook page. 

 

YMCA

Thanks to the Village People, everyone has heard of the YMCA. Many people live in a community where there is a Y. And almost everyone I speak with has participated in YMCA membership or programs at some point in their lives. Which makes it kind of ironic that relatively few people realize that the Y is a nonprofit organization. Fewer yet can articulate the mission or cause. 

It seems most people think of the Y as a swim-n-gym or a fitness center that “does good stuff in the community.” That’s not wrong, but the Y provides so much more. As a grassroots organization, every Y seeks to address the unmet needs in the community they serve. This can be anything that falls into their areas of focus: healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility. 

With a 177-year history, it’s difficult to sum up all the amazing work of the Y in just a few paragraphs, but I’ll try! Every program they offer is designed to strengthen the community and help individuals reach their full potential. Some traditional programs include fitness classes, swimming lessons, day camps, youth sports, before and after school care, youth-in-government, and Bible study. Based on their community needs, there is a lot of creativity in programming. Some of the more unique offerings include a food-mobile in a food desert, a writer’s workshop for aspiring young artists, a resource center for expecting moms, adventure trips, speed dating, garden clubs, a competitive yoyo team and so. much. more. 

You are probably familiar with many of the things started or invented by the Y. Basketball, volleyball and racquetball were all created at Ys. So was organized camping and swimming pool filtration (thankfully, ew). Toastmasters, Gideons, Scouting and Father’s Day all came out of YMCAs. In many communities, the town library and night school were initially started by the Y, eventually spinning off and becoming public libraries and local colleges. These are just a few of the initiatives the YMCA has provided, all in an effort to strengthen our communities. 

The Y is committed to ensuring every community member has access to their programs and services. No one is ever denied access due to an inability to pay. Financial assistance for membership, programs, child care and more are made available because of the generosity of the community they serve. Find your local YMCA at www.ymca.net. From there you can get involved in programs, membership, volunteerism, philanthropy, leadership, and more! 

 

Rocky Mountain Field Institute (RMFI)

One of the most crucial roles that nonprofit organizations fulfill (in my opinion) is engaging the community in delivering upon their mission. By doing this an agency connects people to their cause, deepening their passion for the work. RMFI (pronounced RIM-FEE) does an amazing job at this. The pandemic impacted their numbers, but in a typical year they engage over 2,000 volunteers as stewards and guardians of our outdoor resources. 

RMFI is dedicated to the conservation and stewardship of public lands in partnership with the forest service, cities, and counties; as well as state and federal lands in Southern Colorado. This isn’t just about building and maintaining trails. The RMFI team is committed to education and research, ensuring preservation of our natural resources for years to come. That means protecting and enhancing the ecological health of our land and water resources. In addition to creating sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities, their work includes completing projects focused on watershed restoration and forest health. 

When people understand, they care. That seems to be the philosophy behind the engagement and educational initiatives at RMFI. Whether it’s a brief talk on geology at the Garden of the Gods, technical training classes, or their accredited field study college course, education is woven into every aspect of their work. Since they have staff and volunteers on the ground, doing this work all the time, they are constantly researching and learning. They use the knowledge they gain through their work to develop better techniques and to educate landowners. 

According to Executive Director Jennifer Peterson, the biggest challenge currently facing RMFI is their physical space. Their offices are currently located in a very charming old school house, but during their “work season” the amount of space they have is insufficient. Jennifer’s vision is to create a collaborative hub where like-minded agencies can come together to share space, resource, and knowledge. To get involved in advancing the work of RMFI as a volunteer, donor, or seasonal staff go to their website. If you have space to consider, reach out to Jennifer directly at jennifer@rmfi.org. 

 

Tri-Lakes Cares

Serving Northern El Paso County, this agency does a lot! They improve people’s lives by providing emergency, self-sufficiency, and relief programming. This can mean any number of services or supports to help families or individuals in need. Tri-Lakes Cares (TLC) is probably best known for their food pantry. Through the pantry they provide supplemental groceries, snack packs, summer meals for kids, and holiday meals. In 2020 they distributed over 222,000 pounds of food, serving an average of 44 families a week!

While food is their best known service, TLC also provides financial assistance for housing, utilities, transportation, medical needs, education, child care, and more. Additionally, they offer medical support with nursing assistance, advocacy and connection, insurance help, emotional and spiritual resources, disease prevention and maintenance, and health education. Other programming includes: case management, their Getting Ahead group, a holiday giving tree, backpack/school supplies distribution, and more. 

I have the honor of serving on the Board of Directors for this agency. I’m pretty new to the organization, but I have already had the opportunity to see the impact they have on our community. Clients range from those dealing with generational poverty to families experiencing joblessness due to the pandemic. The beautiful thing about Tri-Lakes Cares is the way that they treat each and every client with dignity and respect. The staff and volunteers value the individuals and meet them where they are. From there they help clients move forward based on their personal needs and readiness. 

Executive Director Haley Chapin and Board Chair Rich Schur are dedicated to helping those in need in our community. They are the ubiquitous faces of the organization in the Tri-Lakes area. If you see them out and about, they can tell you that, as the community continues to quickly grow, so does the need for TLC’s services. Limited space and staff keep them from doing more. Community donations and volunteers help. If you would like to get involved go to https://tri-lakescares.org. 

 

Mary’s Home

Mary’s Home provides long-term residential programming designed to help single moms transition out of homelessness and create a bright future for themselves and their children. The National Center for Homeless states that over 92% of homeless mothers have experienced severe physical and/or sexual abuse, and that children experiencing homelessness have 3 times the rate of emotional and behavioral problems, compared to non-homeless children. These are complex problems, which is the reason for the long-term approach. 

Their research-based approach is broken into three phases, spread over about 5-years. The first phase focuses on healing and learning, the second phase involves discovering their career path, and the final phase helps them pursue their career. Through this process Mary’s Home not only provides a safe living situation, but the opportunity to create a new future. This approach isn’t a good fit for everyone. Single mothers experiencing crisis and who are committed to a life-changing health and growth process are the best match for this community. 

Mary Hoggatt is the Program Director at Mary’s Home (the name is just a happy coincidence). Mary loves her job more than anyone I’ve met. What she would most like for people to know about the women they serve is how strong and brave they are. It takes significant resilience to break away from trauma and create a better life for their children. These women deserve respect. 

Every family who enters Mary’s Home is welcomed with a safe, clean and comfortable living space. The space is fully furnished and surrounded by a built-in community of supporters and friends. Children attend childcare or school while moms gain parenting and employment skills. You can be a part of supporting the 19-families served through this program! Go to their website to learn about volunteering and donation opportunities. 

 

Want to learn more about how you can have a lasting impact on your community? Email me at kim@athena-coco.com to connect for a free 30-minute discovery call or check out this article on how to be a community superhero. In order to save the world, nonprofits need superheroes like you to help them have the kind of impact they exist to deliver. 

Kim Stewart

Kim is a mom, wife, lover of being active and the outdoors,
and helper of small businesses and nonprofits.
kim@athena-coco.com

Nonprofit November Week #4

Gobble, gobble, gobble! Remember when Thanksgiving was just one day? Then it was Thursday through Sunday. Now, we seem to celebrate the whole week. I guess spending more time focusing on all that we are grateful for is not a bad thing! 

Among many other things, I’m very thankful for this project. I have learned so much and met many great people who are working hard everyday to make our community a better place. I’m excited to share these agencies with you, so you too can be thankful! If you find their work interesting or compelling, please reach out and make a connection. 

Thanks so much for reading! Please share with others who you think may be interested. Help me spread the word about the impact these amazing agencies are providing to our community.

The Arc Pikes Peak Region 

If you’re like me, when you hear about The Arc, you think of the thrift stores. And, that’s okay. The thrift stores are an important part of the work of The Arc. With 24 stores across our state, they are the primary funding source for the agency. In addition, they employ over 300 individuals with varying abilities, with a job that pays above minimum wage. Revenue from the thrift stores enables The Arc to focus on the critical work of promoting and protecting the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Wilfred Romero, Executive Director for the Pikes Peak Region chapter of The Arc, shared their vision of a community where all individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are embraced and respected. They work tirelessly to enable their clients to experience full inclusion and participation in our community throughout their lifetime. 

The Arc provides so many services to support their clients and their families/caregivers! Some of the ways they do this is through public policy work, training clients for job readiness and careers, advocating in the schools and judicial system, education and empowerment, social opportunities, guardianship, and future planning. I found it very interesting that The Arc has helped save our community over $2.5M in costs associated with jailing individuals who really need support navigating their community, rather than incarceration. 

Here are a few things that Wilfred wished people knew about The Arc. He wishes people would come to them sooner, rather than waiting until they are in crisis mode. They can begin helping a family as soon as they receive a diagnosis. He wishes that more people in our community understood, valued and appreciated their clients. And he wishes for disabilities to be included in conversations around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. If you would like to learn more or get involved, check out their website or reach out to Wilfred directly. 

 

Crossroads Ministry USA

Before visiting with Assistant Director, Tina Banister, I knew exactly zero about Crossroads Ministry, USA. After learning that approximately 85% of the men and women who reside in care facilities rarely have a one-on-one visitor and 50% have no living relatives, it was great to hear about the work they are doing. Crossroads improves the spiritual and emotional care of the elderly who are living in skilled and assisted living centers. 

The vision of Crossroads is to mobilize local churches and individuals to help those who are feeling lonely and forgotten, in order to help them regain hope, love and purpose in their lives. They do this by delivering training for care center visitation; providing Bible studies, praise, and worship through music and Sunday services; training chaplains for ongoing ministry and spiritual guidance, Celebration of Life services, and end-of-life preparations; and providing ministry – not only the residence – but also to their families and the care center staff. 

The biggest challenge this agency continues to face comes from the pandemic. In care facilities the rules and protocols are constantly changing. There are firm restrictions. And the relationship building, that is crucial to their work, has been severely sidetracked. 

To get involved with this non-denominational ministry, go here. On Saturday, December 4th there will be a drive-thru donation event at New Life Church. Rumor has it, Santa will be there! Email Tina for more information. 

 

Colorado Health Network

I was very excited to visit with my friend Bill Scharton and his dedicated co-workers at Colorado Health Network. I was aware that their work supported people living with HIV in our community, but I had no idea the extent of the services they provide! 

Through case management, transmission and overdose prevention, testing, medical support and access, behavioral health management, food and transportation, and much, much more, the Colorado Health Network provides services for Coloradans living with HIV who fall below 500% of the federal poverty level. Since 1986 this state-wide agency has sought to innovatively and equitably meet the evolving needs of individuals in Colorado living with, and at risk of acquiring, HIV and other health conditions. The Southern Colorado Health Network serves 25 counties and around 700 individuals. 

I found the person-centered philosophy of this agency to be one of their most beautiful assets. Staff work hard to create a non-judgmental, shame-free environment for their clients. Many people become disenfranchised due to grief and shame associated with their diagnosis. The team at SCHN help them to see past their prognosis to find hope. Lead Case Manager, Victoria, told me that the most rewarding part of her job is when a client makes the decision to make positive changes to grow and improve their lives. 

One of the biggest challenges they experience at SCHN is the stigma around HIV. It makes it harder to connect people with the help they need. The sooner someone is connected with their services, the better support they can provide. Learn more at: https://coloradohealthnetwork.org. 

 

Status: Code 4, Inc

After a Dispatcher has not heard from a unit for awhile they ask: “Med unit, what’s your status?”  If everything is all right, the unit answers: “Code 4.”  According to Dr. Ann Rush, wife of founder Dr. Dan Crampton, the goal at Status: Code 4 (SC4i) is to help all First Responders they serve get to the point where their status is Code 4. SC4i was founded in response to a gap in mental health services for First Responders in our community.

One in 4 of our First Responders suffer from PTS; left untreated this may progress to PTSD. 25% suffer from depression, 25 to 35% struggle with substance abuse, up to 95% experience divorce, and sadly, over 90% of these agencies have less than $8,500 budgeted per year for mental wellness. Colorado ranks fifth in the nation in suicides. El Paso County is #1 in the state. 57% of our suicides are veterans. 

Through 1:1 counseling, group work, marriage and relationship workshops, and education, SC4i is working to provide trauma healing counseling and mental wellness education services to First Responders and their families. They envision a world where our First Responders have the necessary supports to build and maintain healthy mental resilience. In an industry where these folks may see more traumatic events in one day than most of us will experience in a lifetime, these services are crucial to their mental health. 

According to Ann, the biggest challenge SC4i faces is that people don’t reach out early enough. Due to feelings of shame and guilt, First Responders often put off seeking help until it’s their last resort. The earlier they connect with individuals and families, the better they can support them. Ann and Dan encourage people struggling to ask for help. Just like the flight attendants say, take care of yourself first, so you can help others. If you would like to help, there are funding and volunteer opportunities available. Go to their website to learn how you can help our First Responders to put their own masks on first. 

 

Imagination Celebration

Imagine…a community brimming with music, scientific exploration, theater, innovative engineering, dance, painting, thoughtful invention, sculpture, poetry, folk art, literature, enticing architecture and engaging ideas. Imagine…people using their creativity and applauding the creativity of others. Imagination Celebration exists to connect people of all ages to the brain-stimulating, life enriching power of creativity. 

Leaders in Fortune 500 companies list creative problem solving and critical thinking among the top skills they seek in their team members. Yet, according to Deborah Thorton, Executive Director for Imagination Celebration, creativity is being squashed in our children. In fact, since 1990 creativity has been declining. 

Imagination Celebration works to expand creativity through dance and theater. Through providing educational resources. Through the What If…Festival of Innovation and Imagination. And through their interactive Portal, where you can walk into the internet! Deborah wishes that more people understood that imagination and creativity are worth celebrating throughout our whole lives. Collaboration, connection and curiosity are critical skills for all ages. 

At Imagination Celebration they are continually looking for gaps. They evolve as needs evolve, allowing them to remain relevant to our community. With a staff of one, support is always needed in the form of volunteers and funding. Learn more and get connected to help with this cause by going here: https://www.imaginationcelebration.org.  

 

Want to learn more about how you can have a lasting impact on your community? Email me at kim@athena-coco.com to connect for a free 30-minute discovery call or check out this article on how to be a community superhero. In order to save the world, nonprofits need superheroes like you to help them have the kind of impact they exist to deliver. 

Kim Stewart

Kim is a mom, wife, lover of being active and the outdoors,
and helper of small businesses and nonprofits.
kim@athena-coco.com

Nonprofit November Week #3

We’re at the halfway point here. Past halfway, really! And with Thanksgiving next week, it feels like we’re already on the downhill slide of Nonprofit November. Fifteen agency interviews down, ten to go! This week’s interviews have been wonderful, and represent a very diverse set of causes and agencies. Hopefully you find their work interesting, and maybe you’ll even discover a way that you would like to serve your community through one of these organizations. 

Thanks so much for reading! Please share with others who you think may be interested. Let’s spread the word about the impact these amazing agencies are providing to our community.

 

Festival of Lights

Have you seen the movie A Christmas Story? Personally, it’s one of my favorite Christmas movies. In it, Santa comes to town with a giant lighted parade and lots of fanfare. If you’ve seen that, you have a pretty good idea of what the Festival of Lights brings to downtown Colorado Springs. 

Nonprofit organizations exist for a variety of reasons. One of those reasons is to improve the quality of life for a community. The annual Festival of Lights parade, always held the first Saturday in December, does just that for Colorado Springs. This event brings tens of thousands of people together to kick off our holiday season. Other events, like Tuba Christmas and a kids fun day surround the parade and add to the festivities. 

While this is a wonderful event to attend and enjoy with family and friends, it’s worth noting that tons of time, energy and money go into making it happen. Planning begins in the summer and before it’s over 3,000+ volunteers get involved in the production. Special thanks goes out to the event sponsors who help to make it all possible: El Paso County, Flow Right, KKTV, LART/City of Colorado Springs, and Arrow Moving.  

Executive Director, Dr. Terry Collinson, wants everyone to mark their calendar for Saturday, December 4th for this year’s parade. Things get rolling at about 5:50 pm. With 60,000 people expected in downtown Colorado Springs, plan to come early to find parking and get settled! To learn more about this year’s event go to their website. 

 

Pikes Peak Library District Foundation

I’ve mostly been focusing on small-ish local nonprofit organizations to highlight. However, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to shine the spotlight on our local library system. The Pikes Peak Library District is not exactly small, but it’s an absolute jewel in our community. Our library is a lean, mean machine; which exists to provide resources and opportunities that impact individual lives and build community, enhancing the quality of life for everyone.

Approximately one in three people in our community are card-carrying members of the library. In 2020 PPLD saw over a million visitors, all while navigating closures and limited access due to the pandemic. More interestingly, our library has a reputation of being groundbreaking, trend setters. PPLD has led the industry in things like inner-library loans, computerizing their card catalog, and digital resources. As libraries across the country were planning to reopen from the pandemic, they looked to the PPLD for leadership on best practices. 

I met with Lance James, Executive Director of the PPLD Foundation. The Foundation is a separate 501(c)3 established in 2003 to bridge the funding gap the library has between their allotted revenue and what it takes to meet the needs of our growing community. The current focus is on growing the number of individuals who support the Foundation. 

One thing that Lance wants the community to know about is the library’s Knights of Columbus space. This is a facility adjacent to the downtown Penrose Library. It’s a beautiful facility with both large and small meeting spaces; as well as an outdoor garden area. This space (and many others) is available for community members to use free of charge! To learn more about this fabulous community resource, or to reserve a space go to: https://ppld.org.

Victory Service Dogs

Victory Service Dogs was born out of a need that founder, Steve Corey, saw in our community. There are other agencies that connect veterans with dogs, but it can take a long time and be a very expensive endeavor. Steve believed that there had to be a cost effective and timely way for veterans to get connected with dogs and services that would help them live their lives.

At Victory Service Dogs (VSD) they believe in helping disabled veterans, first responders, and children gain an improved quality of life through the partnership of a loving service dog. By partnering and contracting with Dog Trainers, VSD is able to create customized trainings for each person’s unique needs. Lisbeth Keen, Marketing & Project Manager, shared that they don’t just train the dogs, they train the owners on how to work with, care for, and train their dog. 

Every day, 22 veterans end their own lives. In the six years since its inception, VSD has worked with over 300 veterans, and not lost one to suicide. Client turned staff, Mary, shared the story of her journey with her support dog, Neptune (who is the absolute cutest!) Her life has literally been changed for the better since utilizing VSD’s services. Training Neptune to provide her with support has improved her quality of life, increased her independence and self-confidence, and helped her enjoy family relationships, rather than feeling like a burden. 

Victory Service Dogs is in growth mode as the demand for their services continues to climb. They have exciting plans for the future; including bigger space, expanding their youth program, and increasing education to the public. Like many agencies, funding is a challenge. You can donate or get involved as a volunteer here. VSD will be hosting their first major fundraising event next month. Pawsitive for a Purpose Winter Gala will be held on December 17th. Tickets are available now. You can also reach out to Lisbeth directly. She loves to share about the amazing work they are doing! 

 

TESSA

TESSA envisions a community free from domestic violence and relationship abuse. Their work supports victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, trafficking, and stalking. Established in 1977 they were formed based on community needs. 

Programming includes shelter, victim advocacy, counseling, legal services, and youth education. They deliver education on healthy relationships, consent, and how to be an upstander (rather than a bystander). Victim advocacy can be anything from walk-ins and their safe line, to supporting victims at the courthouse and in the hospitals. 

Community Engagement Manager, Rica Molet, shared that they served 1,500 individuals last year. But the need is much greater. CSPD receives an average of 35 domestic abuse calls every day. The thing Rica would most like people to know about is that TESSA does not exclusively serve women. Marginalized men make up about 8% of their client base. 

TESSA is rebuilding their volunteer programming (post COVID) and has many opportunities, including working with clients, serving in their safe house, youth & children programming, hospitals & courthouses advocacy, office/administration, and more! Get involved by going to https://www.tessacs.org. Additionally, the team at TESSA is in the middle of their annual Holiday Shoppe. They ask the community to help them in providing gifts for the kids and families in their programming. To help bring some holiday cheer, check out their wishlist. Gifts are needed by December 3rd. 

 

Partners in Housing

Did you know that families are the fastest growing demographic of the homeless, making up 41% of that population? Partners in Housing exists to provide one year of transitional housing and supportive services to families experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of becoming homeless, with the goal of achieving self-sufficiency. 

The thing that Resource Manager, Jillian Birchmeier, would most like our community to understand is that homelessness doesn’t necessarily look like you might think. While we are all aware of the homeless camps, or the panhandlers on the freeway ramps, that represents just one segment. In fact, we all likely have people in our sphere who are experiencing homelessness and we don’t realize it. 

With 68 housing units, two donation centers, case management, career readiness, budget and credit counseling, free on-site daycare, and more, Partners in Housing is truly changing lives in our community! But it’s not easy. The challenges facing their families include the high cost of housing when they transition out of PiH, rising costs of food and gas, finding full-time employment that aligns with child care, and access to safe and affordable child care.

The best part of my visit with Jillian was learning about their success stories. Last year 87% of their families improved their housing situation, 96% improved their self-sufficiency, and 89% improved their job readiness. Several past participants have come back as staff, Board volunteers and even served as Board Chairs. 

I highly encourage you to check out some of their success stories. If you want to help have this kind of impact, there are many ways that you can get involved. As you might guess, when a family is setting up a new apartment/house they have many needs. Your in-kind donations can help families make their space a home. In addition, financial donations and volunteers are always welcome! 

 

Want to learn more about how you can have a lasting impact on your community? Email me at kim@athena-coco.com to connect for a free 30-minute discovery call or check out this article on how to be a community superhero. In order to save the world, nonprofits need superheroes like you to help them have the kind of impact they exist to deliver. 

Kim Stewart

Kim is a mom, wife, lover of being active and the outdoors,
and helper of small businesses and nonprofits.
kim@athena-coco.com

Nonprofit November ~ Week 2

Week 2 of my Nonprofit November project is here! Each weekday in November I am interviewing a different nonprofit agency in our community. I am sharing what I learn with you, in hopes that you learn a little something, and maybe even get inspired to connect with a cause or agency that sparks your passion.

Thanks so much for reading! Please share with others who you think may be interested. Let’s spread the word about the impact these amazing agencies are providing to our community.

Stranded Motorist Fund

When we think of helping those in need we often think of housing assistance, meals or food pantries, or even clothing closets. A safe, reliable automobile is usually not the first thing that comes to mind. But in an area where public transportation is lacking, it can be a huge barrier to accessing work, school, community, and more. 

During the course of 2020, Dan Adam, owner of Adam & Son, saw this need skyrocket. That led to the creation of A&S Stranded Motorist Fund. Through partnerships, internal funding, and customer donations, Adam & Son is helping to make sure there are fewer stranded motorists on the side of the road. By assisting with repair costs and necessary maintenance they are helping low income individuals and families to keep their vehicles up and running.

Scott Gill, the Brand Manager for Adam & Son, shared that their biggest challenge right now is that their need outweighs their current capacity. There are just not enough funds to help everyone who needs it. They are constantly looking for additional funding sources. If you are interested in making a donation or learning more, go to: https://adamandson.com/smf. 

In addition to financial contributions, occasionally the Stranded Motorist Fund has had the opportunity to receive a car donation. They have been able to spruce it up and donate back out to someone with that need. Scott would be interested in visiting with anyone who would like to know more about the incredible impact they are having on our community. Connect with him here. 

 

Kids on Bikes

As a cyclist, I was super excited to learn more about this organization! Having a bit of an understanding of their Mountain Bike Camps and some of their partnerships, I thought I knew what the organization was about. I’ll tell you right now, I was wrong! 

Kids on Bikes was founded to address the childhood obesity crisis in our community. In El Paso County over 58% of kids get less than the recommended 60-minutes of physical activity per day. In fact, the 2015 Colorado Health Report Card indicated that kids average over 7 hours of screen time a day and only 7 minutes of active play outdoors. Childhood obesity has grown by 300% in the past thirty years as the number of kids walking or biking to school has plummeted from 50% to just 13%. 

Earn A Bike is the original, signature program for Kids on Bikes. Executive Director, Daniel Byrd shared their belief that all children deserve the opportunity to experience the joy, freedom and independence of riding and owning a bike. Additional programming that supports that vision includes their Mountain Bike Camps, Bicycling Education, the Pedal Station and community rides. 

With a goal of getting kids active on bikes for as long as possible, the biggest challenges they face are staff capacity and a shortage of bikes, equipment and parts. To donate, volunteer, or just learn more go to https://kidsonbikes.net/get-involved or reach out to Daniel directly.

 

Day Break ~ An Adult Day Program

I had the opportunity to tour this Adult Day Program, located in Woodland Park, a while back. I was so impressed with the amazing work they do and care that they provide, that I wanted to make sure I included them in this project. 

Founder and Executive Director, Paula Levy shared that Day Break serves to address two distinct, critical social needs. First, there are the clients aged 60 and older who cannot live independently. Through Day Break they connect with their community, access wellness and self-care services, attend outings, and maintain connections with their peers. 

The second issue they address is providing much needed respite for caregivers, giving them time to refresh, recharge, and regroup. By taking some of the pressure off caregivers, Day Break helps to postpone the transition to assisted living, prolonging health and life for the senior. 

Paula’s passion for serving our older community members is what drives the work of Day Break. Because of that, Day Break is so much more than “day care for seniors”. Staffed with CNAs and numerous volunteers, programming is designed to meet the needs of the aging clients and enrich their quality of life. Services are fee based and supplemented with grants and donations. 

The theme of the day seems to be – more need than capacity. Day Break is no different. As a state licensed care facility they are limited on the number of clients they can serve at a time. Paula and her board are currently working to find a larger space in order to expand their services. If you are interested in getting involved as a donor or volunteer go to: https://www.daybreakadp.com. Additionally, Paula is always seeking opportunities to get out and speak to the community about their work. If you have a speaking opportunity email her directly to set something up.

 

Hope Advanced

Tim and Brownie Richardson work with the Broken, Busted and Disgusted. They connect with folks who are down on their luck and surround them with the resources, support and connections that will help them move down the path of their best life. 

When asked how they do this, Tim said that it’s different for everyone. Everyone’s situation is different, so there isn’t one solution that will help them all. Through intense listening and empathy, clients are able to come to terms with their past, then leave it behind. The goal is to get them focused on their next steps.

For some people this means helping them to access services such as housing, clothing or food. For others they need counseling to help them determine their path. Still others need to surround themselves with people who will support them in a positive way. Hope Advanced provides all of this, with the focus on finding forward movement. 

The vision is to add programming to provide job opportunities, as well as to expand to a nationwide agency serving people across the country. With many funding and volunteer opportunities, you can get connected by going to https://yourhopeadvanced.com or reaching out directly to Tim and Brownie.

 

Becky Baker Foundation

In 2017, Becky Baker lost her battle with Breast Cancer. In her final week’s, Becky made the comment that she was disappointed that no one would remember her name. Since then, Becky’s husband Rick has been on a mission to ensure that no one could possibly forget her.

The Becky Baker Foundation provides access to mammograms and thermograms for low income women, eliminating the financial barriers that could cost them their lives. In the 3+ years since its inception, the Foundation has provided over 2,700 screenings, as well as prevention education programming.

The biggest challenge Rick sees is what he calls “Pink Washing”. Agencies, organizations, and products use this cause to make money, compromising the reputation and integrity of philanthropic efforts fighting breast cancer. Rick encourages people to do their research when considering a cause to support.

If you would like to learn more about the Becky Baker Foundation or get involved, please visit their website. I also encourage you to check out the fundraising efforts associated with #golf4prevention. Lastly, Rick wanted me to close with this plea:

“Please go get your screening!”

 

Want to learn more about how you can have a lasting impact on your community? Email me at kim@athena-coco.com to connect for a free 30-minute discovery call or check out this article on how to be a community superhero. In order to save the world, nonprofits need superheroes like you to help them have the kind of impact they exist to deliver. 

Kim Stewart

Kim is a mom, wife, lover of being active and the outdoors,
and helper of small businesses and nonprofits.
kim@athena-coco.com

Nonprofit November ~ Week 1

Here it is! The first edition of my Nonprofit November project. Each weekday in November I am interviewing a different nonprofit agency in our community. I will be sharing what I learn with you. My hope is that you learn a little something, and maybe even get connected with a cause or agency that sparks your passion.

Thank you for reading! Please share with others who you think may be interested. Let’s spread the word about the amazing impact these agencies are providing to our community.

 

Alzheimer’s Association – Colorado Chapter

Did you know that Alzheimer’s is the SIXTH leading cause of death in our country? RoseMary Jaramillo is our region’s director for the Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. She shared that the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association is to live in a world without Alzheimer’s and dementia. The main focus of this nation-wide agency is to find a cure for Alzheimer’s. 

Locally the focus of RoseMary’s work is to support caregivers and families of those afflicted with Alzheimer’s. With her one additional staff and very robust volunteer team, RoseMary serves our 13 county region with education and state level advocacy. 

Helping families to secure an accurate diagnosis is key to providing local support. It helps families to understand heredity issues, appropriate treatment options, and relevant research. Additionally, the Alzheimer’s Association helps loved ones to understand the disease better and learn how to communicate with, and support their family member.

RoseMary shared that their biggest challenge is getting access to those who can benefit from their educational programming. Connecting with doctors, law enforcement, the military community, first responders and others who have the opportunity to interact with those struggling with the disease. Her programming can educate them on what to look for and how to get the individual much needed support. 

If you have connections that could expand the Alzheimer’s Association education, please email RoseMary. She would also love to visit with you if you are interested in volunteering. As you can see here, there are many opportunities to get involved and have an impact.

 

Connect for Health Colorado

Connect for Health Colorado is the state’s official health insurance marketplace. This state appointed nonprofit provides choice and transparency for Coloradans, who can view all their health insurance plan options side-by-side. This is the only place where you can find savings to make health insurance more affordable.

I met with Maria Adams, who serves as the agency’s Community Partnership & Outreach Program Manager for our Southeast region. She shared several stories of people who were paying way too much for their health insurance, or did not have the right coverage for their specific needs. Connect for Health Colorado has been able to help so many people lower their monthly premium costs. With over 700 contracted brokers and assisters in the state they are well equipped to help the uninsured become insured.

I found it interesting that 35% of the people they serve are 55 or older. These are often folks who want to retire, but are continuing to work primarily for their insurance benefits. Connect for Health Colorado gives them options. 

Since I didn’t know that this agency existed, I learned a ton from Maria! The biggest challenge facing Connect for Health Colorado is a basic lack of knowledge and awareness about who they are and how they can help. For anyone interested in seeing if they can lower their monthly health insurance expenses, please go to https://connectforhealthco.com or email Maria and she will help get you connected. 

 

Stable Strides

Before visiting the Stable Strides ranch in Elbert I had a fairly limited understanding of the kind of work they do. In addition to meeting some of their beautiful horses, I learned that Stable Strides is the largest therapeutic equestrian center in the area. They are also the only PATH Accredited center. 

Oftentimes when it comes to equestrian therapy, people (like me) think mostly of Adaptive or Therapeutic Riding. In addition to providing that service, Stable Strides also provides Mental Health Services and Hippotherapy. Hippotherapy is also known as POST which is an acronym for Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy. 

The agency has a brand new Executive Director, Jason Frazier. So I met with members of the Development team, Brittany Williams and Arrika Bales. They shared that in 2020 they delivered over 5,000 contact hours of service. 60% of that work was for mental health therapy with members of the military, active duty, and first responders. They serve clients ages 4 to 88 and help with dozens of different diagnoses. 

The biggest challenge facing Stable Strides, and their new Executive, is that there is more need than they have the capacity to provide. Every program they run has a 20+ person waitlist. Equestrian Therapy is often a last resort for people seeking services. That makes their waitlist situation even more of a challenge for individuals looking for help. To get involved and help, go to their website at https://www.stablestrides.org/get-involved. 

Hilltop Ranch

Every parent of a child with special needs worries about what will happen to their child once they are gone. Rich and Becky Caldwell are no different. With limited residential options for special needs adults in Colorado, the Caldwells felt a calling to create a new solution for families with similar needs. 

That’s how the vision for Hilltop Ranch was formed. Designed to provide a permanent, forever home for adults with intellectual disabilities, where they can live their lives to the fullest. The first phase has begun with the purchase of a lodge in Palmer Lake. Eventually the project will include an entire campus with housing, support services, a dining hall, outdoor sports areas, greenhouses, and more! 

Current challenges include funding, building a board, and getting the word out that there is an option for adults with intellectual developmental disabilities. The biggest need they have right now is for staff who can serve as “house parents” or “caregivers”. Ideally they would like to find two couples who can alternate living on campus in shifts. If you are interested, or know someone who is, please reach out to Rich. To learn more or to get involved in other ways, check out their website: https://hilltopranch.org. 

 

Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce (SCWCC) Foundation

In full disclosure, I am a member of the SCWCC, and I did not really understand the difference between the Chamber and the Foundation. Thanks to Foundation President, Brandon Eldridge for visiting with me and helping me expand my understanding! The short answer to the difference is that they are two separate organizations that work very closely together. 

The Mission of the SCWCC Foundation is to support women by providing life-changing opportunities through leadership training and scholarships. The Foundation has a long history of providing scholarships for women in our community. Over the past couple of years they have been working to expand and deepen their impact by providing training and mentorship for what they call “nontraditional women” in our community. These are women who have unique challenges to completing a degree or establishing a career. The first round of programming is going to specifically target women who have been job displaced due to the pandemic. 

Brandon has a strong team of volunteers who have worked with him to shift and evolve the organization during the past two years. He’s very proud of the work they are doing to advance their impact on our community. The Foundation is in a very good place now; but like all organizations, they can use more funding and more amazing, engaged volunteers. To learn more or get involved, check out their website at: https://scwccfoundation.com. Something super easy you can do to help is to like and follow them on social media ~ Facebook and LinkedIn. 

Want to learn more about how you can have a lasting impact on your community? Email me at kim@athena-coco.com to connect them for a free 30-minute discovery call or check out this article on how to be a community superhero. In order to save the world, nonprofits need superheroes like you to help them have the kind of impact they exist to deliver. 

Kim Stewart

Kim is a mom, wife, lover of being active and the outdoors,
and helper of small businesses and nonprofits.
kim@athena-coco.com

How to Be a Superhero

Last month I wrote an article on How Nonprofits Will Save the World. It talked about the impact of nonprofit organizations on our community, and the value of bringing people together to address our communities’ most critical social needs. 

If you know anything about nonprofit organizations, you already know that they never have enough time, money or people. After all, saving the world is a 24/7/365 job! One thing all nonprofit organizations have in common is that they could use more Superheroes. Fortunately, anyone can be a Superhero! This article will share the four ways that everyday citizens can transform into real life Superheroes. 

How to Be A Superhero

There are four general categories that define how you can serve your favorite nonprofit organization:

  1. Donate
  2. Serve as a Program Volunteer
  3. Become a Board Volunteer
  4. Participate & Advocate
Donate

If you care about the work of an organization, making a financial donation is probably the easiest thing you can do. It requires very little time, and every organization already has plans for what they can do with your donation. Even small donations can have a significant impact. 

Some organizations take donations of food or supplies. These efforts are great for engaging donors, and a good way to connect children to philanthropy. If you go that route, I’d like to suggest that you also consider a cash donation. Because of their supply chains and partnerships, a food pantry can stretch your dollar much farther than you can. In the hands of a food pantry, a $1 donation can feed approximately 10 people. 

Additionally, I’d like to recommend that you avoid making a donation that will create more work for the agency. For example, some organizations collect donated cars, then auction them off for the proceeds. That’s a cool fundraiser, if the agency is set up for those transactions. If they are not, your donated car creates a lot of work for staff who are already stretched thin. 

The best way to know what an agency needs most is to check their website or to ask. Clothing closets still need clothes and animal shelters need old blankets. I’m not trying to dissuade you from giving in-kind donations. However, I want to emphasize that cash is king and what agencies need most. 

The last point that I would like to make here is to encourage you to do your research. Especially if you are considering a larger contribution. Resources for understanding an agency’s transparency and rating compared to other organizations include: Charity Navigator and GuideStar and the BBB’s Give.org. 

Serve as a Program Volunteer

I like to divide nonprofit volunteer work into two categories: Program Volunteers and Board Volunteers (these can also be called Policy Volunteers or Governance Volunteers). In this section we’ll go over different ways to serve as a Program Volunteer. The next section will cover Board Volunteers.

A Program Volunteer is generally someone who performs tasks for an agency. This could be just about anything! Here’s a short list of jobs I have seen organizations employ volunteers for: 

    • Scout Leader
    • Youth Sports Coach
    • Food Pantry Processing
    • Welcome Desk Attendant
    • Nursery Baby Rocker or Book Reader
    • Blanket Maker for Chemo Patients
    • Event Assistant – water stations at races, check-in tables, providing direction for participants, welcoming, logistics, distributing supplies, etc.
    • Fundraiser
    • Tour Guide
    • Classroom Assistant
    • Animal Companion 
    • Office Support
    • Instructor
    • Cleaner
    • Carpenter
    • And much, much more!

This one is pretty easy to understand. If you have a skill you want to share or some time you would like to give, it’s just a matter of finding an organizational match. Agencies sometimes have their volunteer positions listed on their websites or on a jobs board. However, oftentimes they haven’t even thought of all the ways they could use volunteers. If you see a way that you could contribute or an unmet need, reach out and present your idea. Just make sure that your proposed idea doesn’t create more work for the staff. 

Become a Board Volunteer

Board Volunteers are the fiduciary agents for a nonprofit organization. A Board represents the community or the constituents that the organization is committed to serving. Board members are responsible for ensuring that the organization delivers upon its mission, while at the same time making sure it is a responsibly and ethically managed business. 

Board Volunteers differ from Program Volunteers in that they are thought leaders, rather than task leaders. When you are invited onto a Board, the organization is looking to you for your insights, opinions, and expertise. Board roles generally fall into these categories:

    • Mission & Purpose
    • Organizational Planning
    • Select Exec/CEO
    • Exec Support/Evaluation
    • Program/Service Outcomes
    • Adequate Resources
    • Financial Oversight
    • Ethical/Legal Integrity
    • Set Policy
    • Board Development
    • Community Conduit 

This is a lot. Rather than going into detail about each of these roles here, I’ll save that for a future article. 

If you are interested in serving on a Board, reach out to the Executive Director/CEO or the Board Chair. They likely have a process for recruiting and vetting their volunteers. You can also check out local resources, like Colorado Nonprofit Association or your local Library to find agencies looking for Board Members. 

Participate & Advocate

Last, but not least – you can support your local nonprofit organizations through participation and advocation. If they have a special event to raise money – sign-up. Tell your friends. And don’t just tell them “Hey, I’m doing this fun event, join me.” Tell them what organization the event is supporting, and the impact their work has on the community. 

The very best way to spread the word about the amazing work of a nonprofit organization is through word-of-mouth. Real people in the community, telling other real people carries more weight than any paid advertising. If you’ve been a beneficiary of an agency’s services, event better! Tell people. Your testimonial is not only great for PR, but it helps reduce stigma around these critical social issues. 

Your genuine, first-person words of support can benefit an agency in so many ways. Leave a google or yelp review. Videotape a testimonial. Offer to speak at a Board meeting or other event advocating for the organization. Spread the word, it truly helps. 

During the month of November I will be highlighting several nonprofit organizations. If one piques your interest, I hope this information helps you consider ways that you can step up and be a Superhero for them. 

Want to learn more about how you can have a lasting impact on your community? Email me at kim@athena-coco.com to connect for a free 30-minute discovery call. In order to save the world, nonprofits need superheroes like you to help them have the kind of impact they exist to deliver. 

Kim is a mom, wife, lover of being active and the outdoors,
and helper of small businesses and nonprofits.
kim@athena-coco.com

Self-Advocacy is Self-Care

Recently a friend mentioned that she has been hearing from several people seeking advice on their jobs. Specifically, women are asking things like:

  • Are they being paid what they’re worth?
  • How should they ask for more money?
  • Is their title appropriate for the work they are doing?
  • How to ask for support when not being given the resources to do their job effectively?
  • Should they negotiate? How? 

This conversation got me thinking about self-advocacy as a component of self-care. While self-care is an extremely fast growing industry, only 32% of women and 39% of men report making time for it.

Self-care is defined as: 

The practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, 

in particular during periods of stress.

Most people think of self-care as taking bubble baths with scented candles while sipping green tea. That is definitely nice and one way to pamper yourself. Today I want to talk more about protecting one’s happiness during periods of stress. 

Self-Advocacy can be defined as: 

The action of representing oneself or one’s views or interests.

Whether at home or work, if we’re not representing ourselves and our best interests, we are likely compromising our well-being and happiness. Not asking for (or insisting upon) what we need for our well-being or happiness is going to create stress. When we think about self-advocacy as a form of self-care, we see the importance of advocating for ourselves. 

The Great Resignation

We are in the midst of what has been called the Great Resignation. Employees throughout the country have become fed-up with their current situations. Whether it’s their pay, the culture, or they have visions of something more for their career, people are leaving the workforce at a tremendous rate. Employers are struggling. Businesses are being forced to reduce their hours, limit their services, or compromise the quality of services or products they deliver. Everyone is hiring and struggling to find the staff they need to run their business. 

As a result of the Great Resignation, employees are in a very good position. Employers do not want to lose the quality staff they have. While they may have previously been closed-minded when it comes to accommodating their employees, supervisors (who want to keep staff) are listening and compromising. 

When, Why and How

When it comes to advocating for ourselves, it’s worth considering these three questions – When does it make sense? Why is it a good idea? And how do we do it? Let’s walk through each of them.

When: Generally speaking, there are a few conditions that should exist before you start pushing for more in your job. These may not be true 100% of the time, but when they are you will have a better chance at success. 

  • You’ve been in your position for six months or longer. If you have not had the opportunity to prove your value, it might not be the best time to ask for more. Leaders who have a traditional mindset may look negatively upon those who expect more when they haven’t really “cut their teeth”. Those who have been doing quality, results-driven work for a while will be in a better position to negotiate. 
  • You’re delivering quality work that is respected. Employees who are struggling to meet expectations or manage their workload, need to focus on improving their quality of work before they start negotiating for more. Staff whose work is recognized and driving the business towards their goals are in a good position to advocate for themselves. 
  • You are providing skills or services that are valuable to the business. If the company could get along without your position, you’re not in a great negotiating position. In fact, in this situation, you may want to consider taking on more responsibilities. Seek out ways to make yourself indispensable. 
  • BONUS ~ You are willing, and able, to walk away if you do not get the response you are hoping for. This situation gives the employee all the power. Knowing you could easily find another job, or survive without one for a while, helps you become extremely confident. Confidence is a great tool when self-advocating. This is your ideal situation. 

Before asking for things like more money, additional flexibility, or position advancement, make sure the conditions are right. Otherwise you run the risk of appearing as if you are disconnected from reality. 

Why: When conditions are right, there are many reasons to advocate for yourself. We usually think of pay, position, or titles, but there are several reasons to start a conversation representing your views or interests. 

  • Speak-up for yourself – Now is a good time to start speaking up if you haven’t been. Share your ideas and push to be heard. Bring up the challenges that make it difficult for you to be productive and effective. Find your voice!
  • Gain access to information – It is also a great time to push for additional transparency. Having access to the right information can make a big difference in your ability to do your job well. Transparency empowers employees to be better advocates for the company, and strengthens their commitment. Ask lots of curious questions and push to expand your understanding. 
  • Gain additional support – Good employees often find their workload expanding. As they produce quality work and as other staff leave, more and more may be allocated to the ones who stay. This can provide the opportunity to demonstrate your skills and your commitment to being a team player and advancing the company. However, there comes a time when you cannot take on more or where you are being taken advantage of. Consider requesting additional staff, technology or outsourced services to help you manage your workload. 
  • Asking for help – There may be any number of things that could make your job more manageable. Flex time. Job sharing. Additional training. Mentorship or a sponsor. Skills development. If it’s going to help you to be more productive and happier at work, bring your ideas forward. 
  • Rally for advancement – Advocating for your personal advancement can be great for your career. It alerts leadership to your desire to grow with the company. Quality management develops a deep bench. It’s very helpful for them to know who is committed to being included in their plans. If you are ready for your next step now, this is an excellent time to state your case and gain a position on management’s radar.
  • Request a salary and/or title increase – There are a few conditions here that are key to a successful conversation. First, if the organization is struggling to make payroll, asking for a raise will make you appear out of touch with reality. A sinking ship will not be in position to give raises or promote their staff. Second, if you are already at the top of the pay scale or compensated better than your peers, you run the risk of presenting yourself as self-centered. On the other hand, employees not compensated consistently with others doing the same work can justifiably start these conversations. 

How: Once you determine that conditions are right and you have good reasons for self-advocacy, the next step is to process how best to move forward. 

  • Mindset: The very first step in advocating for yourself is knowing your worth. Challenge your own thoughts of self-doubt. Know that you are worthy and deserving of the things you are asking for. Additionally, know that everything is negotiable. Leaders expect these conversations. Lastly, realize that if you don’t get everything you ask for, that is part of the negotiation process. It’s a give-and-take. 
  • Organize Your Thoughts: Think through what will improve your situation. Process how the changes will also benefit the company. Organize your thoughts in a way that communicates both your needs and speaks to the needs of the organization. Leaders make decisions based on what is best for the business. That is their job. Help them see how your proposal is good for the bottom line. 
  • Practice: Practice with a friend if possible, and ask for feedback. At a minimum rehearse in a mirror. Along with practicing, think through the various scenarios that could arise. For example, if your boss is known for interrupting, practice refocusing the conversation. 
  • Focus on Facts: Women tend to tie our emotions to everything. This isn’t at all a bad thing; however, some supervisors view it as a weakness. By focusing on the facts we keep the conversation on track. 
    • For example: I have taken on X, Y, and Z, yet have not received a raise in 2 years. 
    • Rather than: I’m frustrated and don’t feel appreciated. 

If emotions do bubble up, it’s appropriate to ask for a moment to collect yourself, so you can refocus on the point of the conversation.

There is a lot that goes into self-advocacy. Frankly, there isn’t one right way to go about it. Every situation is different and everyone’s personality varies. The act of self-advocating is a success, regardless of the progress you make towards your requests. This content is meant to give you a framework for increasing your self-advocacy. And as a result, expanding your self-care. If you would like to read more about why self-care is so important for leaders, back in February I wrote this article. 

Want to discuss your opportunities for self-advocacy? I would love to help! Email me at kim@athena-coco.com to connect for a free 30-minute discovery call. Also, I am hosting a discussion on Women’s Self-advocacy on Wednesday, November 17th at 5:00 pm. Email me if you are interested in joining the conversation. 

Kim is a mom, wife, lover of being active and the outdoors,
and helper of nonprofits, small businesses and leaders.
kim@athena-coco.com

The Power of Silence

I have written a lot about listening skills. And by a lot, I mean this and this and this; as well as touching on it in several other articles. It’s a topic I geek-out on. Today I’m going to hone in on one very specific component of listening. That is, the importance of SILENCE. 

You may be thinking – What does silence have to do with listening? Silence is what happens when no one can think of anything to say! Sometimes that’s true. We’ve all experienced that awkward pause in a conversation. But that’s not where I’m going with this. 

Deep Listening

For the sake of this topic, I’m going to be referring to deep listening. Deep listening is when you’re in a conversation that requires focused attention, comprehension and understanding. 

Examples of times when you should practice deep listening:

  • When someone is upset. (Especially if you have upset them.) 
  • When the relationship depends on your understanding. 
  • When you need to comprehend information. 
  • Customer service!

What we know about human nature is that people want to be heard and understood. Even if you cannot do anything to improve the actual situation for the person, deeply listening to them can help significantly. 

Think of a time when you have complained to a business manager about service or product quality you have received. If the manager really listened to understand, you probably felt better about the situation. Conversely, if you were made to feel like they just wanted to move you along, you likely were more frustrated than before you complained. 

That’s the power of deep, empathetic listening. It’s listening to understand and honor the speaker’s thoughts, feelings and needs. 

The problem is that most of us listen to respond, rather than listening to understand. When we are caught up in our own point of view we are not listening deeply. What often happens is that we start out listening, and truly intending to give our full attention. Then, at some point the speaker says something that shifts our brain to our own thoughts, feelings and opinions. At that point we stop listening and we begin waiting for the other person to stop talking so we can take over as the speaker. 

To be clear – sometimes this is fine. When we’re out socializing or chit chatting with friends this is perfectly okay. During brainstorming sessions, we absolutely want to have ideas build off one another. That’s not what I’m referring to in this article. This is focusing on those times when deep listening is crucial to the outcome of the conversation. 

Silence

That brings me back to the power of silence. We as humans are uncomfortable with silence, therefore we work hard to fill it. That’s what makes it so powerful! 

During a deep listening conversation, there should absolutely be silence. In any conversation, there comes a time when the speaker stops talking. At that point, when you are deeply listening and giving your full attention, you likely need a moment to take in everything they have just shared. The silence is an indicator that you have listened all the way to the end of what they had to say. 

The more emotional or intense the speaker’s content, the more important it is to allow silence. Give space for everything they have just stated to settle. If you are super-uncomfortable with the silence, you can say something to the effect of: “You really shared a lot there, give me a moment to process all you have said.” This demonstrates to the speaker that you were committed to really hearing what they had to say, rather than thinking about your response. 

Another great thing about silence is that it leads the speaker to reveal more. Just as we dislike silence as listeners, the speaker is equally uncomfortable with it. When we listen all the way to the end, then leave silent space as we process, the speaker becomes anxious and often starts talking more. At that point they tend to start sharing more, including things they hadn’t necessarily intended to share with you.

Effective listening produces better understanding, which eases tension and helps the speaker to relax. As a result, your deep listening helps the speaker to think more clearly. When given the space to really be heard and understood, it leads to the speaker having revelations or changes about their thoughts on the topic. The silence allows space for those things to come out.

The last benefit of allowing for silence is that it gives us, as listeners, the opportunity to formulate our response. By listening all the way to the end and being comfortable with the silence, we then have the opportunity to clearly think about the best next step in the conversation. 

  • Do you need to ask a question to improve your understanding? 
  • Does this person need you to validate their feelings with a reflection? 
  • Should you offer comfort? 
  • Or do you need to formulate a response to what has been stated? 

Use the silence to practice your emotional intelligence. 

Deep listening is a powerful tool for managing conflict, improving relationships, and increasing our knowledge and understanding. It results in easier collaborations and more fulfilling relationships both in our work life and our personal life. Becoming comfortable, or even confident, in the silence will make you an even better listener! 

If you would like help in developing your listening skills or creating a listening culture, I would love to help! Email me at kim@athena-coco.com to connect them for a free 30-minute discovery call. 

Kim is a mom, wife, lover of being active and the outdoors,
and helper of nonprofits, small businesses and leaders.

kim@athena-coco.com