FAR Nonprofit Member Discussion Events
Formerly scheduled as in-person breakfast events, FAR Nonprofit Member Discussions are now being conducted as online meetings. You can expect to continue to receive the same high quality, thought-provoking and helpful conversations found during our physical meet-ups – the only thing missing will be the breakfast!
Schedule: Held monthly, Nonprofit Member Discussions are generally scheduled from 9:30 am to 10:30 am.
Registration: Open to Nonprofit Members and their nonprofit guests, these discussions are free of charge.
Size and Format: Created as informal conversations with an identified facilitator and topic of discussion, the group size is limited to ensure there is a lively and interactive discussion among participants.
Topics and
Facilitators: If
you are interested in facilitating a future Nonprofit Member Discussion or would like to
suggest a topic for discussion, please contact hq@far-roundtable.org to be put in
touch with the committee.
FAR Nonprofit Member Discussion Summaries
Professional Development Strategies: Employee Engagement The focus of the discussion was on professional development and employee engagement. Professional development involves enhancing business knowledge and improving soft skills like management, leadership, and communication training. Both employees and employers benefit from professional development. It can boost employee retention, job satisfaction, productivity, and up-to-date industry knowledge, which in turn positively affects member satisfaction with the organization. Integrating professional development with the evaluation process and future goal setting is a good approach. Additionally, a commitment to professional development should include dedicated funding. |
Nonprofit Investment Strategies: Best Policy Practices Many nonprofits depend on their investments for some portion of revenues. This requires a sound investment strategy that reflects the organization’s mission, goals, and spending needs as well as donor intent. To manage this, nonprofits should:
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The online discussion "Creating a Motivating Workplace: Secrets to Keeping Staff Happy" was insightful and enriching. Participants delved into the complexities of maintaining employee satisfaction in nonprofit environments, highlighting the importance of people, processes, and proactive dialogue for organizational success. Key insights:
The discussion provided valuable insights into creating a motivating workplace environment within nonprofit organizations. By prioritizing the well-being and professional growth of employees, fostering a sense of purpose, and embracing authentic leadership, nonprofit CFOs can effectively nurture a culture of happiness, productivity, and success within their organizations. Continuing dialogues and proactive efforts in these areas are essential for sustained organizational growth and impact. |
Creative Use of Office Spaces The group shared experiences of moving from larger floor plans to a smaller footprint. This involved giving up fixed or assigned offices, reducing traditional storage space, and creating more collaborative spaces. The discussions points ranged from a complete move to a new smaller office or redesigning and downsizing existing space. Involving employees in the process and asking for their input helps is important to have a successful transformation. |
Anatomy of a Breach The breakfast meeting on May 17, 2023 focused on the anatomy of a cyber breach. Presenters Villy Savino and Larry Bazrod, both from CoreNet Global, described a cyber-attack at their organization and the lessons learned. With discussions from the group, we had the following take-aways:
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Bring Diversity to Your Recruitment Plan: Nonprofit Member Discussion The initial discussion centered on understanding the importance of diversity recruitment strategies in organizations. The speakers presented tools and methodologies for DE&I, including: reviewing job descriptions for inclusive language, reviewing imagery on Careers sites, external partnerships, professional diversity networks, and employee resource groups. Using these tools helps achieve the goal of building a diverse slate of candidates. We discussed the role that unconscious bias plays in the recruitment process. Unconscious bias does not mean discrimination but can lead to discrimination and other outcomes we don’t want. We learned about the methods of reducing bias when hiring. We also talked about the approach to recruitment screening tools and what questions should be asked when using these tools, with the mindset of eliminating unqualified candidates and not losing any valuable ones at the same time. |
Change Management Carolyn Lanham, CAE, Chief Operating Officer of the American Society of Addiction Medicine led a discussion with colleagues on the topic of change management. The conversation kicked off with describing the difference between change and transition. Change is situational. Transition is the psychological process people go through to come to terms with the new situation. Change is external and transition is internal. When we talk about change, we focus on the outcome. Transition is different. The starting point is not the outcome but instead the ending that will have to take place to leave the old behind. Nothing undermines organizational change as the failure to think through who will have to let go of what when the change occurs and to be ready for those changes and losses. This requires engaging with all stakeholders, anticipating needs, and planning for different scenarios. It is necessary to keep a continual pulse on transition issues and adjust/adapt to unforeseen circumstances. The group agreed that overcommunication is vital to lead everyone to the shared vision for the change. It requires targeted messaging to address the unique needs of each person/group and to be done through various channels, continually reinforcing the “why.” At the same time, it is important to acknowledge that the old way is or will be no longer. There may be some sense of loss. After all, change is an emotional process. One thing is for certain, change is constant. Successful management of transitions is the key for transformation. |