The Ross Collective

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CSUEB course, November 13 & 20, 5-8 pm PST (online course, accessible from anywhere in the world), $155. Designed for key staff members, board members, and other leaders of nonprofit organizations or foundations. In this 6-hour hands-on, interactive workshop, we’ll build a nonprofit strategic plan together. We will choose an organization and then work through the steps of creating a strategic plan for that organization. Topics will include: parts of a strategic plan, sample timeline and process, data collection, vision, mission, strategic pillars, goals and implementation planning. Regsiter Here: https://lnkd.in/gee2GHvj Hi, I'm Renee - our consulting firm The Ross Collective designs and leads inclusive, participatory #strategicplanning and #boardgovernance processes alongside #nonprofit leaders. Stay in touch about via our free 2x monthly e-list on nonprofit strategy, racial equity and leadership - https://bit.ly/3qmL28Q

Data points on financial (un)sustainability I had a chance to reflect on all of this recently: In September, Independent Sector released their research that 22% of nonprofit workers struggle financially. These workers “can’t afford the basics: housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, technology and taxes.” Last month I participated in a consultants’ survey and follow up discussion sponsored by my colleague, Eva Meyers. Meyers surveyed consultants about their pricing and income and then held an online conversation to review and reflect on the results. The data indicated that consultants who responded to the survey are pricing their hours, days, and projects at widely varying rates. Many of the respondents are pricing their hours at a rate that cannot possibly give them the resources to meet their basic needs. What data points on financial (un)sustainability would you add, based on your experience? In our work meeting hundreds of nonprofit leaders around the country, we have encountered many more examples. Read the full post at https://bit.ly/3BJEdIu Hi, I'm Renee - our consulting firm The Ross Collective designs and leads inclusive, participatory #strategicplanning and #boardgovernance processes alongside #nonprofit leaders. Stay in touch about via our free 2x monthly e-list on nonprofit strategy, racial equity and leadership - https://bit.ly/3qmL28Q

CSUEB course, November 13 & 20, 5-8 pm PST (online course, accessible from anywhere in the world), $155. Designed for key staff members, board members, and other leaders of nonprofit organizations or foundations. In this 6-hour hands-on, interactive workshop, we’ll build a nonprofit strategic plan together. We will choose an organization and then work through the steps of creating a strategic plan for that organization. Topics will include: parts of a strategic plan, sample timeline and process, data collection, vision, mission, strategic pillars, goals and implementation planning. Regsiter Here: https://lnkd.in/gee2GHvj Hi, I'm Renee - our consulting firm The Ross Collective designs and leads inclusive, participatory #strategicplanning and #boardgovernance processes alongside #nonprofit leaders. Stay in touch about via our free 2x monthly e-list on nonprofit strategy, racial equity and leadership - https://bit.ly/3qmL28Q

Our traditional nonprofit model -- the 501(c)(3) organization -- is a legacy structure dating back many decades. Does it still work in today's world? If not, what are the alternatives? Join us for a provocative, interactive session where we consider a broad range of options: everything from modest tweaks to board composition to entirely different governance models and legal structures. Join Renee, Christal Cherry and Andy Robinson for a conversation about current structures and ideas for change. Register Here: https://lnkd.in/gWrdWuA2 Hi, I'm Renee - our consulting firm The Ross Collective designs and leads inclusive, participatory #strategicplanning and #boardgovernance processes alongside #nonprofit leaders. Stay in touch about via our free 2x monthly e-list on nonprofit strategy, racial equity and leadership - https://bit.ly/3qmL28Q

Doesn’t everyone want love? You might be saying, “Doesn’t everyone want love?” Of course we want love for our closest family, local community, and the people who look like us or worship like us. But do our (metaphorical) arms stretch to feel love for those who are different from us - who may be moving through life with different life experiences and opportunities? Read the full post at https://bit.ly/4dsoPxh Hi, I'm Renee - our consulting firm The Ross Collective designs and leads inclusive, participatory #strategicplanning and #boardgovernance processes alongside #nonprofit leaders. Stay in touch about via our free 2x monthly e-list on nonprofit strategy, racial equity and leadership - https://bit.ly/3qmL28Q

The challenge: Expand and deepen love At this time, I am challenging myself to deepen and expand love - for those close to me and those further out. I would challenge you to do this too. As we wind down the calendar year and you find more holidays and events, I encourage you to find ways that you can show the love you have for the people most important to you. And how can you widen your circle to beam love to those with different perspectives and experiences - to use your power and privilege to model learning and caring about each other across differences? Finally, and very directly - love includes voting so that we have the pieces in place to build a society in which everyone can thrive. Now that we are firmly in election season and with a few short weeks until election day, please register to vote, educate yourself on your local issues, and vote for our next president. I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris, aligned with my values, and hope you will do the same. How are you moving toward love right now? Read the full post at https://bit.ly/4dsoPxh Hi, I'm Renee - our consulting firm The Ross Collective designs and leads inclusive, participatory #strategicplanning and #boardgovernance processes alongside #nonprofit leaders. Stay in touch about via our free 2x monthly e-list on nonprofit strategy, racial equity and leadership - https://bit.ly/3qmL28Q

Love is hard. Truth - love is hard! We get stressed out. We feel we don’t have the capacity. We intend to express love and we get distracted by other goals and ideas along the way. That’s precisely what presents the challenge: How do you express love? Love may involve being present when friends and family need you; for me, sometimes it’s sitting on the bean bag while one of our teenagers is studying. Or bringing a dish to share with a family that has lost a loved one or is experiencing sickness. Opening one’s home to create community. I believe in many of these together - by breaking bread and sharing laughs, sometimes over games or a nice glass of wine. Those evenings are some of my favorites and how I most enjoy showing the love I have for where I live and the people in my life. Read the full post at https://bit.ly/4dsoPxh Hi, I'm Renee - our consulting firm The Ross Collective designs and leads inclusive, participatory #strategicplanning and #boardgovernance processes alongside #nonprofit leaders. Stay in touch about via our free 2x monthly e-list on nonprofit strategy, racial equity and leadership - https://bit.ly/3qmL28Q

Our traditional nonprofit model -- the 501(c)(3) organization -- is a legacy structure dating back many decades. Does it still work in today's world? If not, what are the alternatives? Join us for a provocative, interactive session where we consider a broad range of options: everything from modest tweaks to board composition to entirely different governance models and legal structures. Join Renee, Christal M. Cherry and Andy Robinson for a conversation about current structures and ideas for change. Register Here: https://lnkd.in/gWrdWuA2 Hi, I'm Renee - our consulting firm The Ross Collective designs and leads inclusive, participatory #strategicplanning and #boardgovernance processes alongside #nonprofit leaders. Stay in touch about via our free 2x monthly e-list on nonprofit strategy, racial equity and leadership - https://bit.ly/3qmL28Q

Recently we’ve been reflecting on love. When we look around our world, we sadly see a lot of hate, anger, and fear. I believe we have to focus on where we want to go in an expansive way. I choose to put my attention and focus towards love. Even in a world where there is so much violence and dehumanization, one of the most powerful actions we can each take is to expand the love in our world. I want to move towards love. And if you’re reading this, I hope you’re joining me! Read the full post at https://bit.ly/4dsoPxh Hi, I'm Renee - our consulting firm The Ross Collective designs and leads inclusive, participatory #strategicplanning and #boardgovernance processes alongside #nonprofit leaders. Stay in touch about via our free 2x monthly e-list on nonprofit strategy, racial equity and leadership - https://bit.ly/3qmL28Q