Mile High United Way’s Post

Spotlight on Atlanta’s Game-Changers: Our latest article explores 15 nonprofits driving pivotal change in Atlanta, a great read for professionals passionate about social innovation and preservation of the arts. #AtlantaNonprofits #ChangeMakers

We are leaning in and committing to adapting and evolving our practice...because you said so! https://lnkd.in/di6yAgHR #economicjustice #economicequity #wealthbuilding #systemschange

This makes me feel so good, Laurel (Laurie) Grauer, LCSW!! Leading a webinar is much harder than I expected and I've got two more to go! Here is the recording of the first one https://lnkd.in/e2gBZ9KF

Navigating Conversations on Racial Justice: a workshop Community Centric Fundraising Principle #6 with @Michelle Muri of @theethicalrainmaker and I for a 2 part workshop May 23rd and June 6th 10-12pm pst. What would be possible for our relationships and communities if we courageously address the topics we've been avoiding? Successful movements require challenging conversations - what would be possible if we could get through those moments in a generative and loving way? What does it look like to have some of the conversations we’ve been avoiding or are afraid to have? Join us for the launch of a two-part series on difficult conversations, centered around #6 of the Community Centric Fundraising principles. These transformative workshops will take place on May 23rd and June 6th, from 10-12pm PST. Reserve your spot by registering in the link attached. Many of us shy away from challenging conversations, fearing potential strain on relationships with donors, colleagues, or friends. As a result, embracing this principle often proves to be one of the most daunting yet impactful steps in our journey. To enact meaningful change, we must confront the characteristics of white supremacy culture that perpetuate fear of conflict, perfectionism, and the pressure to always be "nice." By shattering our fragility, we unlock the path to liberation and authentic connection. Are you: …hesitant to speak up, unsure of your language or analysis? …afraid to lose funding by addressing systemic oppression with funders? …nervous to say ‘white privilege, racism and bias’ in conversation? …implementing community-centered (CCF) principles internally and not sure how to share that with the board, donors and others? …committed to doing the hard emotional labor of figuring this out in service to being a more reliable white ally? Join us for an opportunity to embark on this deeply personal and professionally transformative journey. This workshop is open to all nonprofit staff, not just those directly in fundraising. Together, let's commit to the hard but necessary emotional labor of allyship.

The Solidarity Collaborative’s work will draw from and build upon existing efforts of leaders and organizations at the forefront of solidarity work, offering inspiring examples of what is possible with greater intentionality around and investment in robust solidarity efforts. These examples include a series of cross-community Solidarity Summits, dedicated to fostering and supporting solidarity among social justice communities, where leaders such as Judith Browne Dianis were able to come together and share in their experiences. In our recent case study, Dianis, Executive Director of the Advancement Project, shares about how Solidarity Summits offered the unique opportunity to learn about movement building and resource sharing alongside fellow social justice philanthropic leaders. Read the full case study here: https://lnkd.in/gKy2V6nF

Small and local nonprofits in particular have a hard time recruiting new, experienced board members. We hear time and again that in small communities, the same six people serve on lots of boards - and they're tired. The first step is recruiting outside your usual pool of suspects. Some ideas: 🏡 Look around your neighborhood - are there new community members who might want the chance to meet their neighbors? 🧑🎓 Recent high school or college graduates - young people just starting their careers are looking for networking connections! But what do you then? Being a board member comes with a lot of responsibility - you want to make sure your new board members are ready and able to step up to the plate. If your nonprofit board has found itself with new faces this year, MNA's Board Governance course is designed to help them navigate board responsibilities. Wednesdays, March 6 - April 3 Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gqZYNsPZ

“When you think about your local ecosystem, who’s engaged in your movement?” - John Harper, CEO of FSG   At Day 2 of Collective Impact Forum’s Annual Summit, we had an incredible plenary conversation on power-building, trust, and supporting movements beyond moments of reckoning. 10 years after Ferguson, we heard from grassroots organizers and funders in St. Louis on how they are partnering to sustain the movement for racial and economic justice. Some insights from the conversation:   💭 We need to activate the entire ecosystem in order to sustain and scale movements. 💭 Collaboration needs to be someone’s job — a well-resourced part of their job. 💭 Philanthropy alone is not enough. Philanthropy needs to be a resource to activate the power and scale of government and the private sector. We ended with this powerful quote from A. Phillip Randolph on the need for collaborative infrastructure: “At the banquet table of nature, there are no reserved seats. You get what you can take, and you keep what you can hold. If you can't take anything, you won't get anything, and if you can't hold anything, you won't keep anything. And you can't take anything without organization.”   Huge thank you to Jason Q. Purnell of James S. McDonnell Foundation and Charli Cooksey of WEPOWER for all their incredible words of wisdom! 👏

Can philanthropy competitions be equitable? 🤔 YES 🙌 We believe we provide a rare opportunity for organizations, particularly those with proximate or BIPOC—Black, Indigenous, and people of color—leadership, to compete based on their potential for impact rather than access to a funder’s network. Learn more about our approach in this Inside Philanthropy penned by our CEO: https://lnkd.in/gF5q6At

Have you wanted to learn more about how your organization can launch strategic planning? This workshop is a chance to dive in to learn the tools of the trade. Our workshops are participatory, so come dressed comfy and ready to learn!

🌟 Transforming Nonprofits: MacKenzie Scott’s Unforeseen Impact 🌟 In recent months, I’ve engaged with several nonprofits that report an extraordinary surge in their budgets—an unexpected anomaly in a year that defies convention. The common thread? #MacKenzieScott 's unanticipated philanthropic contributions. These contributions were so substantial that they eclipsed previous giving and are likely to shape future giving as well. An excellent analysis provided by #PanoramaGlobal 's “Analyzing MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Open Call” provides some key insights. ⬆ Unexpectedly Generous Awards: While initial expectations pointed to 250 nonprofits being eligible for $1 million, a fortunate 279 organizations received a remarkable $2 million each. Scott’s generosity exceeded all projections, benefiting a diverse range of community-driven initiatives. ⚖ Focus on Equity & Democracy: Nearly three-quarters of the grantees demonstrated a clear commitment to Equity and Justice, with a strong emphasis on racial equity. Additionally, funding for democracy programs saw a notable increase compared to previous rounds. 🎁 Impactful Grants for Smaller Organizations: Scott’s gifts of $2 million have had an outsized impact on smaller nonprofits with budgets ranging from $1 million to $5 million. These organizations constitute only 5% of all nonprofits in the US, making a $1-$2 million gift truly transformational. #Philanthropy #SocialImpact #Changemakers https://lnkd.in/efTzGa86