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Doing Good Newsletter
A monthly newsletter from do good Consulting January 2010


RESOLUTIONS: Now for Organizations, Too!

RESOLUTIONS: Now for Organizations, Too!

Happy New Year from do good Consulting! As we change our calendars over from December to January, many people make resolutions to help make their new year more successful. From dieting to travel to new hobbies to saving money, New Year’s resolutions offer people hope and a chance for change and renewal.

New Year’s resolutions can also work well for non-profit organizations – the advent of a new year is a perfect time to set some new goals. In a slight twist of the traditional New Year’s resolution, do good Consulting’s team offers you four New Year’s resolution ideas to implement at your non-profit.

LOSE WEIGHT: One common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight. The tried-and-true advice for slimming down? Eat right and exercise. How can your organization consume less (eat right) and work harder (exercise)? Here are a few ideas to get you started.

- Jenn Raley Miller, Management & Communications Specialist

SAVE MORE/SPEND LESS: Another popular New Year’s resolution is to “save more and spend less”. In the information technology (IT) world at your non-profit, “saving more” usually means saving time by doing everyday tasks faster or more efficiently. Your staff’s time is at a premium, so I recommend using a Constituent Relationship Management System (database) like Giftworks , to efficiently organize donor and volunteer records and make finding information or generating reports a real snap. Time is money, and when your organization runs more efficiently you can accomplish more and spend less. You can “slim down” your organization’s IT expenses this year by seeking out discounted software and hardware at sites like techsoup.org. Techsoup has great reviews on products, helpful how-to’s, and a large community of non-profit professionals that share ideas, opinions, and real world experience on issues non-profits face every day along with tried-and-true, low-cost IT solutions.
- Tim Newcomb, Internet Technologies & Constituent Management Systems Specialist

LEARN SOMETHING NEW: Another common resolution people commonly make this time of year is to learn a new skill or hobby. This resolution translates well to non-profit life in the form of training and professional development. As budgets are trimmed and staffing thins, expanding your professional knowledge base gives you an edge at work and keeps your organization competitive and healthy. With the advent of e-newsletters, webinars, and other online learning tools, engaging in professional development and training has never been easier and more affordable. This year, plan to learn something new at work with these goals:

Sign up for one new e-newsletter that expands your professional knowledge base (i.e., fundraising, marketing/communications, human resources/staffing, program development, leadership, etc.). Set aside time to read your new publication and commit to sharing relevant tidbits with staff and colleagues. Some of my favorites include:

Enroll in one webinar each quarter of 2010. Select four topics you’d like to learn more about, then seek on-line learning opportunities that fit the bill and your schedule. Some of my favorites include:

- Laura Huth, President & CEO

IMPROVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS: Setting about to improve relationships with others – family, co-workers, or neighbors – is another common New Year’s goal. In an organizational setting, this could translate into improving staff relations. In today’s challenging financial climate, organizations must do more with less, and this often means asking fewer staff members to do more work. This can add stress and strain to an already overworked team. Focusing on staff relations and group dynamics can help build a strong, well-oiled machine and ease stress among employees when the entire organization is working as a team rather than just individual staffers or departments. This leads to increased productivity, cost-savings, more content staff members, and smoother overall operations. Here are some favorite low-cost teambuilding resources to look into for 2010:

  • Provide avenues for positive feedback. Support peer-to-peer praise though a 'kudos' board – a place in the office where thanks and positive comments can be posted. Seed this regularly with sincere, specific input.
  • Make connections among your group with weekly, in-person check-ins. Questions to answer are: "What have you accomplished?", "What are you now working on?", and "What do you need help with?". When people know what colleagues are doing and how they fit into the larger picture, all are more likely to respect each other's tasks and talents. In-person check-ins allow for clarifying questions and, where appropriate, collective brainstorming, collaboration, and resource sharing. For greatest effect, start check-ins with a non-business question like "What's something most people don't know about you?".
  • Own up to your shortcomings. These days, almost nothing is as surprising as a person admitting their part in a problem and sincerely apologzing for it without excuse or justification. Simply name what you did and say you're sorry -- and mean it. When an apology comes from someone in a position of power, the effect is all the more impressive. Far from undermining respect, sincere apologies build trust and increase esteem.

- Elizabeth Simpson, Teambuilding & Group Dynamics Specialist

Whether you choose these or other resolutions for your organization, it is very important to find a way to both implement and achieve your new goals. Be sure not to fall into the trap of setting unattainable goals which lack clear, achievable steps. Instead, in approaching your new resolutions, keep in mind the old adage of how to eat an elephant: one bite at a time . Instead of setting goals based on final outcomes alone, build on a series of small successes that contribute to the desired results. This approach sets the stage for success, develops confidence, and increases capacity while allowing room to troubleshoot your implementation process along the way. To help you set clear, attainable goals, see the SMART goals primer in the DO BETTER column to the right.

We are eager to ring in 2010 and look forward to a year that brings health, hope, and happiness to all. From our team to yours, we wish you the very best for 2010!

- Laura, Jenn, Tim, and Elizabeth, do good Consulting


ONE SIMPLE ACT

ONE SIMPLE ACT

New for 2010, do good Consulting unveils a new column: ONE SIMPLE ACT. In each month’s Doing Good, you’ll find one great tip to implement in the next month. By taking this one small, achievable action each month, you can make big changes in your organization’s performance, increase donations, and/or expand your group’s visibility.

This month’s ONE SIMPLE ACT focuses on donor development and donor relations. With budget cutbacks galore and the struggle for donor dollars more competitive than ever, communicating with and caring for donors is not something that can fall to the bottom of your to-do list.

January’s ONE SIMPLE ACT is:
Pick up the phone and call one of your top donors and ask them to lunch in the coming month. At lunch, have a conversation – ask them about the holidays, their plans for 2010, their kids, and travel plans. Listen. Your lunch date will not be about asking for money, but about building the relationship. Pick up the tab. After lunch, send your donor a thank you note. Then put a record of your lunch meeting in your Constituent Management System (database).

Tell us about your ONE SIMPLE ACT experience. Did it work? Email us and let us know!


Q&A: When to Hire a Consultant

Q&A: When to Hire a Consultant

Dear do good:
I have an idea for my organization that I think might require the help of a consultant, but the board thinks I should use staff and volunteers. In your experience, what kinds of projects are best done using consultants, and what kinds of projects work well using in-house resources?
- Needing an Extra Hand, Danville, Illinois

Dear Needing A Hand:
This is a great question. Both non-profit organizations and for-profit companies face this situation at one point or another.

Typical projects that are best done in partnership with consultants include...

Click here for more.


GROUP PROFILE: Generations of Hope

GROUP PROFILE: Generations of Hope

by Jenn Raley Miller, Management & Communications Specialist, do good Consulting

Close your eyes and imagine a neighborhood where parents adopt foster children who blend into their new families along with their adopted and non-adopted siblings. Imagine that this community also has a number of recent retirees as well as “elder” seniors, who are very involved in mentoring the parents and acting as grandparents to the children. Just think how such an intergenerational community could be a support to parents, a source of playmates and tutors for children, a meaningful way for seniors to pass along their life experience, and an extended family for all who live there.

Now open your eyes....

Click here for more.
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In This Issue

RESOLUTIONS: Now for Organizations, Too!
ONE SIMPLE ACT
Q&A: When to Hire a Consultant
GROUP PROFILE: Generations of Hope


Did You Know?

Studies show that successful partnerships exhibit a positive-to-negative feedback ratio of at least 5-to-1. That means for every piece of criticism, "constructive" or not, there need be five instances of pure, unadulterated praise in order for the relationship to maintain its balance. This practice is true for successful relations in the workplace as well, so get out those compliments!



Resource of the Month

Philanthropy News Digest

Finding grants without paying fees can be a challenge for non-profit organizations. However, there are a number of organizations which provide updates on recently posted RFPs (Requests For Proposals). One such group is the Foundation Center, through their Philanthropy News Digest . Visit this page regularly to increase your opportunity to find a grant that's right for your program! Click on "RFPs" in the left column to see a regularly updated list.



Tip of the Month

What does it mean to be SMART(ER), really?

The term “SMART” often gets tossed around in strategic planning sessions, especially when goal-setting is discussed. What is SMART and how does it work?

SMART is a mind-memory aid that helps people outline and evaluate solid objectives and goals for projects and plans. The SMART acronym is also sometimes referred to as SMARTE or SMARTER.

Each letter in SMART stands for one strong principle of goal- or objective-setting. Taken together, SMART can help groups and individuals set realistic and meaningful goals that lead to real change and action. Here’s how it works:

SPECIFIC. What is the exact outcome or result of the goal or objective? What would a video camera see, or a microphone record?
MEASURABLE. How will you know when you've done what you said you would do? Who will be taking account? How will the results be shared?
ATTAINABLE. Is this goal reachable with your current means, based on past results? Do you have the time, skills, people, and other resources you need?
RELEVANT. Is this goal aligned with your mission? Is it timely? Does it address an urgent need? Will it have support among your stakeholders?
TIME-BOUND. How long it will take? What is a reasonable deadline? What sort of set-backs can you anticipate and allow for?
ETHICAL. Is this goal aligned with your values? Who/what will be negatively affected? How will those losses be compensated?
REWARDING. Will those involved feel this is a good use of their time? Are they motivated to participate? Can the results be promoted?

- Elizabeth Simpson, Group Dynamics & Teambuilding Specialist, do good Consulting



Upcoming Events, Training & Opportunities

NON-PROFIT LEADERS LUNCHEON: Jan. 27 and Feb 16, 11:30am-1:30pm. Two free, 3-course luncheons for executive directors, development directors, special event coordinators, and board/special event/fundraising committee members of Illinois' non-profit organizations to showcase the I-Hotel & Conference Center facility and amenities. Free spa packages and gift certificates will be raffled off as well as an event planning package worth nearly $1,500. Must pre-register to attend at www.StayAtTheI.com/nonprofitluncheon.

GRANTWRITING COURSES: Again in 2010, do good Consulting will offer GRANTWRITING trainings through Parkland College Business Training in Champaign. The low-cost, high-return sessions teach you how to write great grants, how to conduct efficient grant funding searches, and how the world of grants works. On Monday, January 26 from 6-8PM, do good offers Introduction to the World of Grants to get you started in understanding and finding grants for your non-profit or small business. $45. Deadline to enroll: Jan. 19. To register, call 217-351-2235. Use code WBT 747-960. On Tuesday, February 23 from 6-8PM, do good offers Find a Grant for Your Non-Profit . $45. To register, call 217-351-2235. Use code WBT 748-960.

Starting Tuesday, March 30, we host an 8-week class, Grantwriting & Proposal Development for Non-Profits. Classes are Tuesdays, 6-8PM through May 18. Learn about the grant proposal process and the basics needed to turn a project idea into a proposal and funding. Course involves homework and requires basic computer skills. $195. Registration deadline: March 23. To register, apply for admission here, then register for ENG 701-960. For more information, call 217-351-2235 (Parkland) or 217-778-1687 (do good).

CHILD ADVOCATES SOUGHT: Champaign County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) seeks volunteers for a variety of tasks to have a positive impact in the lives of abused and neglected children in Champaign County. Interested individuals can undergo training to become sworn CASA advocates who become "a voice for the child" in the court process. Assist the Court by becoming involved in the child's case, attending meetings, writing reports and interacting with social service agencies in attempting to ensure that the needs and best interests of each child is being met. Other CASA volunteer opportunities exist that do not require court-related training. If interested, go to www.chcocasa.org for more information.

BETTER FUTURE FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS REPORT: The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law has released a report, An Agenda for Change: An Illinois Perspective on Creating a Better Future for America's Women and Girls (PDF), detailing policy recommendations to bring about justice, economic advancement, and a brighter future for the country’s women and girls, their families, and communities.

GIVE A DAY, GET A DISNEY DAY: Throughout 2010, Disney is working with HandsOn Network to reward volunteerism by giving volunteers a free ticket good for one day admission to a Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme park. To offer a Disney Day for your volunteers, your organization must be registered with HandsOn Network . Click here for more information on how your organization can participate. Information for volunteers can be found on the "Give a Day. Get a Disney Day." page on Disney's website.



About do good Consulting

With decades of real-life experience and proven results in nonprofit, small business, and community-based work, do good Consulting brings a wealth of knowledge in developing the effectiveness of organizations across Illinois. Whether you need assistance with fundraising , strategic planning, graphic design, hiring help, communications and marketing , grantwriting, database work, or teambuilding, do good can help.

Through dynamic and customized workshops and trainings, one-on-one sessions, strategic advice, and plan development, do good Consulting helps small- to mid-sized organizations and businesses raise more money, involve more people, and do the good work they do even better. do good's associates work with clients to develop a better sense of organizational possibilities and potential while creating realistic and practical step-by-step plans and ideas for implementation and lasting impact. Learn more about do good Consulting's trainings, services, and resources.

For more information on do good Consulting's associates, consulting and training services, free resources , clients, and more, go to www.dogoodconsulting.org.



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