Next Stage - Social Impact Services

Social good strategy to amplify your impact

nextstage

Budget Shortfalls & Bold Leadership: Follow-up from #NewNormalCLT

by Leave a Comment

Our online nonprofit roundtable that takes place each Friday at noon is called The New Normal. A promise we make is that it will only last 30 minutes, making it easily digestable as a “can’t miss” weekly activity. That also means we can’t always get to everything we plan to cover.

Luckily, we have our Monday morning wrap-up to capture everything we were unable to cover on Friday. Did you miss it? Check out the recording here.

Additional Panelist Questions

Chris, can you speak to scenario planning? Specifically, how various timelines or sets of conditions have factored in to the decisions you’ve made and will make moving forward?

Chris Jackson: I have found scenario planning to be helpful even in the best of times.  It helps our organization be prepared to adjust to various factors and be in a better position to ensure positive outcomes.  This type of planning has been even more important given the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 Pandemic. We have been running scenario analysis from the early stages of the pandemic affecting our region.  This has included, but not limited to various stay at home orders at the local, regional, state and national level, possible COVID related events effecting our facilities, and other factors affecting our team members and others we serve.

This planning has helped us understand when we might need to make different decisions based on changing external factors and provided us with clarity about the impact these decisions would have on our team, program participants, customers, and the financial stability of the organization.  It has also helped us communicate our actions with transparency.  Both what we know for sure and what is not clear yet.

Michelle, on the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Facebook page, there was a post that started “There’s nothing quite like the feeling you get when you experience the beauty of live music with your friends and loved ones.” And while I agree, #CSOatHome is such a bold and innovative platform. Do you think this pandemic will accelerate the rate at which arts organizations embrace the digital medium?

Michelle Hamilton: The ban on mass gatherings has surely catapulted performing arts groups like the CSO forward in our use of technology. As Basil and Chris mentioned on the panel, many of us are now doing things to innovate that we may have had on the shelf waiting for the “right time” in the future.  Much of what the CSO is doing today to engage audiences, both publicly through our website and social platforms and privately with donors and subscribers, will remain part of our toolkit after the crisis abates.

What will never change is the thrill of live performance.  For years we’ve been able to stream orchestras from around the world, yet people continue to come to concert halls to hear their local orchestras perform.  Live performances engage the senses in a way a recorded or streamed performance never will.  I spoke with a donor today who said the concert is the centerpiece but the complete experience, the people she is with and the energy in the concert hall on a night at the Symphony, can never be replaced by a recorded or streamed experience.  I see most of our concerts more than once, even three days in a row, and I come away with three completely different, and remarkable, experiences.  I so look forward to the day when it’s again safe to gather for the exhilarating experience of a live performance of the full orchestra.

Basil, hands-on, service-based leadership training is how the brothers of Pi Kappa Phi learn and channel servant leadership. How will learnings from this pandemic potentially change how you think about the mix of those experiences into the future?

Basil Lyberg: As college students return to school this fall, they will be returning to a campus community that will be forced to change. Football games, lecture classrooms and residence life will all look different. As a result, we will have to change as well to serve our mission until threat of COVID-19 is greatly reduced and we have a vaccine in hand. For The Ability Experience, this will mean finding ways to foster relationships between students and people with disabilities when they may not be able to walk down the street for an event. Innovations like inclusive gaming will be critical in providing opportunities that can’t be impacted by the reach of this virus.

We also are going to have to do more work to educate students on how to be servant leaders and work to encourage their heart. Just last week we had a Zoom call with our chapter philanthropy chairs. It felt more like an AFP Charlotte luncheon with topics on how fundraise in a crisis and breaking down preconceived notions that students have about fundraising and service. Students want to give back and sometimes just need the tools and encouragement to go for it. There has been no time in their lives that servant leadership has been more critical or needed to meet the needs of our communities.

Bonus Content: How to Write a Compelling ‘State of the Organization’ Update

This week we add a new feature to #TheNewNormal – bonus content! We were so impressed by Chris Jackson’s first-person statement on LinkedIn entitled Leadership in the Era of Coronavirus that we dedicated a whole post to it. Specifically, we believe nonprofit Executive Directors and CEOs should consider being more vulnerable and reflective in their communication to the public during the current public health crisis.

In this post, we outline six steps to writing (or recording) a compelling statement about the state of your nonprofit. We also urge you to make it public. Why is that important? Click above to learn more.

Announcing: Crisis Planning Services

Are you on Zoom a lot these days? We are too. Our area nonprofits are struggling to determine a pathway forward during COVID-19 and Next Stage is rising to the call.

This month, we are formalizing a service line we have already deployed for multiple organizations. Read more here about how we can help your nonprofit navigate near-term challenges and emerge on the other side of this in a better position to meet your mission.

How Interviewing Has Changed (and Stayed the Same) in the COVID-19 Era

by Leave a Comment

COVID-19 has required us all to adjust to a new operating procedures. Those of us who can work from home are getting settled in to a remote working routine. And while many organizations are still committed to hiring, the process itself has shifted dramatically. Phone and video interviews have replaced the preferred in-person interview and requires us all to make adjustments. For candidates, it is still important to be professional, prepared and put your best self forward – but from home.

Everyone is adjusting and should be understanding about these unusual circumstances. Still, interviewing from home may require a closer look at some key areas to be as prepared as possible:

Your Environment

A dedicated workspace is important for an interview. While you may work from a couch at other times during the day, during an interview you will want to be able to sit up straight (and not rest your computer on your knees). Ideally you will have a desk or table to rest your computer or device. Make sure the camera and screen are positioned to allow a clear, professional angle and view of the interviewer(s) on the screen. 

Be mindful of your background and what interviewers may be able to see when the camera is on. If you are near a window, make sure shadows are not distorting the view maps to help correct any lighting issues.

Your Technology

If the interviewing platform is new to you, practice using it before the interview. For example, if you have not previously used Zoom (or a similar video conferencing platform), set up a free account and hold a practice video meeting with a family member or friend. This will allow you to make sure the platform is working correctly and become familiar with the audio/video features before your interview begins. It is still entirely possible that the video connection does not work so make sure the interviewer has your phone number as a backup.

Even if you are familiar with the interview tool, plan to “arrive” early to be able to deal with any technical glitches before the interview begins. Mute on-screen notifications and ringers and make sure your headset is untangled. Now take a deep breath and smile!

Your Engagement

While interviewing remotely, it is still important to actively engage with your interviewer. Prepare for an interview as you normally would. If you usually bring a notebook and copy of your resume, have those materials handy. Have a glass of water within reach.

Try to make eye contact with your interviewer. This may require you to look at your camera rather than images of your interviewer. This may take some practice.

If your remote interview is by phone, it may be helpful to pull up your intervewer’s LinkedIn profile and glance at their picture during the interview. This can help maintain your focus during the conversation.

Practice self-care during these extraordinary times. Make sure you are getting enough sleep to be able to present your best self during the interview.

Final Thoughts

While many aspects of the job search process are different right now, remember that the purpose of the interview remains the same. The organization/interviewer is interested in learning more about your background and skills and what qualities and capabilities you could bring as a potential member of the team. We are all in this together and your (remote) interview is a valuable way to establish meaningful connections and put your best foot forward – even while wearing bunny slippers at home!

You’ve got this.

by Leave a Comment

It’s been quite the week, hasn’t it? 

We appreciate everyone who joined us this afternoon for The New Normal. The conversation was honest, meaningful and exactly what we needed to hear. If you missed it or want to share with friends, you can access the recording here or join the conversation on Twitter using #NewNormalCLT.

Many of us are dealing with heavy questions without clear answers, but it is clear to us that our community’s organizations couldn’t be in better hands. We’d just like to pause a minute to say – 

You’ve got this. 

In the last week, you all have done superhuman things at superhuman speed. As Don, Banu and Shannon referenced in the call, nonprofits across our community are changing service models and getting our community’s most vulnerable residents what they need to make it through the crisis. You’re learning how to work and serve virtually. You’re making sure your staff have the resources they need. You’re rearranging events and sending out appeals. 

These projects aren’t easy. In normal times, we would build 6-12 month project plans, hire technology experts and fine tune every change – but these aren’t normal times. And you’re doing it all while learning to homeschool and taking care of your own families and friends and neighbors. 

Thank you for working hard on behalf of our community and neighbors. There is a lot to figure out, but we’re full of confidence that the organizations that serve our city will continue to thrive and serve people well. 

We can’t wait to talk to you again next week. 

The New Normal

by Leave a Comment

Early last week, life in Charlotte turned upside down as businesses, nonprofits and families rushed to adapt to home-based digital life. Many of us are homeschooling kids, figuring out how to have virtual board meetings (anyone else doing the ZoomMullet?), calculating our TP stock and working to make sure the most vulnerable among us have what they need to weather the crisis. 

By the middle of the week, we started receiving questions from local nonprofit leaders. What are grassroots organizations doing to stay engaged with their constituents? How do you host a virtual board meeting? Will funding be available to support nonprofits? How do we continue messaging our mission when everything is COVID-focused? 

We don’t have all the answers – we’re honestly not even sure what next week will bring. But we are certain that this community has the courage and fortitude to continue moving our missions forward, because they are more important than ever before. We also believe that our community needs time and space to gather, share ideas and learn what is working from our friends in the nonprofit community.  

Beginning this Friday, March 27, Next Stage is hosting a series of 30-minute, online roundtable discussions called The New Normal. Each roundtable will feature several local nonprofit leaders sharing what they are doing to navigate a specific area of the crisis, followed by time for questions and discussion. 

Our first roundtable topic will be “What’s on Your Mind?” featuring Don Jonas, Executive Director of Care Ring; Banu Valladares, Executive Director of Charlotte Bilingual Preschool; and Shannon Binns, Executive Director of Sustain Charlotte. They will discuss the questions and concerns that have been top of mind for them over the last week, as well as how they are navigating short term challenges and changes. 

Register for free and join Charlotte’s nonprofit community as we learn to navigate The New Normal. 

Kris Reid Cares About the Local Food System

by Leave a Comment

The article below was published by The Biscuit as a part of Josh’s new series highlighting staff leaders in Charlotte’s nonprofit sector who are shaking things up and making an impact. You can find it, here.

“You know what’s more contagious than [coronavirus] … Fear is way more contagious.” – Kris Reid

Calling it a crisis would be putting it mildly.

Kris Reid is fielding calls and e-mails from chefs, restaurant owners and farmers from across the Charlotte region. On Sunday, Mecklenburg County declared a state of emergency after two additional residents tested presumptively positive for COVID-19. Based on the empty seats in countless eateries over the weekend, this declaration was not a surprise to her.

As Executive Director of Piedmont Culinary Guild, Reid is committed to building the local food economy. Her nonprofit is a grassroots effort serving as a hub for professionals in the local food community, kind of like the organizational embodiment of “farm to fork.” By sharing resources, educating consumers and establishing regional recognition, Piedmont Culinary Guild aims to shine a deserving spotlight on Charlotte’s growing foodie scene and all of the people that help make it prosper.

Unfortunately, it is a scene under direct attack.

“We already have members seeing 50-80% drop in business [due to COVID-19],” Reid said. “This is catastrophic not just for businesses, but for the number of hourly wage earners that will be effected.”

FROM CHEF TO CHIEF EXECUTIVE

There is no better phrase than “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen” to describe Reid’s approach to crisis management. She is a woman on a mission and she does not suffer fools.

PHOTO CREDIT: PIEDMONT CULINARY GUILD

“You know what’s more contagious than [coronavirus],” Reid posted on her Facebook wall. “Fear is way more contagious.”

Like the expeditor at an upscale restaurant, ensuring communication between the kitchen and servers, Reid has flexed into a role as a voice of common sense during a time of uncertainty for the Charlotte region. It is an advocacy role she has spent more than 15 years developing after tragedy nearly upended her life.

In June 2004, Reid was hit by a truck while walking to language class while living in Mexico. She had already left a career in accounting to pursue her passion for cooking. While recovering from that major injury, Reid applied to be in the inaugural class of students at Johnson & Wales University as it opened its Charlotte campus. A few years later, she had her culinary degree and walked the stage for graduation, a feat that doctors were not sure she would be able to do just a few years earlier.

Resiliency in the face of challenges is a big theme in Reid’s life. Following graduation, her thriving catering business had to close in less than 60 days due to the onset of the economic downturn in 2008. She founded Piedmont Culinary Guild four years later as a natural progression of volunteerism and engagement with local food system champions.

The organization now boasts 300+ professional members including chefs, farmers, food artisans, brewers, winemakers, food provisioners, culinary educators, and related full-time food professionals. The organization also features many business members as well as a supportive community of local food supporters called Tastemakers. Reid was able to take a salary as Executive Director for the first time in 2019 and the organization was on an upward swing in the first quarter of 2020 before COVID-19.

“OF COURSE, WE HAD AN EVENT”

PHOTO CREDIT: PIEDMONT CULINARY GUILD

Last Wednesday, March 11, Piedmont Culinary Guild shared the bad news with its constituents: its annual Food & Beverage Symposium scheduled for Sunday of this past weekend had been canceled. Host site Johnson & Wales University curtailed all events with attendance of 50 or more. Months of hard work and planning had gone into lining up compelling workshops, seminars and demonstrations for the daylong event.

While Reid admits she was “pretty bummed out,” she knows that wallowing in self-pity is no way to demonstrate leadership. She was out at farm stands over the weekend, encouraging people to “shop local” as social distancing to fight COVID-19 has the unintended consequence of harming the livelihoods of people who make the local food chain possible.

“We aren’t exactly novices at crisis management,” Reid notes. “The industry has seen countless viral outbreaks, the challenge of 9/11 and a Great Recession.”

Reid’s leadership is critical at this important time. She projects a chef’s confidence in making decisive moves on behalf of her colleagues while also channeling her passion as an advocate for the local food system. It is this mixture of heart and determination that sets her apart from other founder-led nonprofits in the Charlotte community. One walks away from a conversation with Reid knowing that she will do everything she can to overcome any challenge.

“We will come back from this, but the brakes aren’t just being pumped, they are being slammed-on in terms of how quickly our culinary scene was growing,” Reid said. “I think it depends on how long this goes on.”

GET ACTIONABLE

Reid’s advice for how you can help:

  • “People need to support these local businesses in any way they can, buy buying gift cards or ordering food to-go from their favorite restaurants.”
  • “Becoming a Tastemaker is one way to support PCG as it works with its membership to build and execute a recovery plan. A modest monthly commitment makes a big difference.”

A Guide to Social Distancing for Nonprofit Program Staff

by Leave a Comment

Now that we’re all on board with social distancing, many of us are starting to settle into a new routine (can we call it a routine yet?) of working from home. Here at Next Stage, we are hosting conference calls, navigating technical challenges and connectivity problems on Google Hangouts, and trying to manage the competing demands of our coworkers and families.

But there are so many people still at work out in the community: grocery store employees, healthcare providers, police officers and firefighters, just to name a few. Many companies aren’t structurally able to transition to remote work – and others simply can’t afford to.

Nonprofits vary widely in their ability to operate remotely, and we know that many are working hard this week to restructure programs and augment activities during this time of transition. In the midst of all of these changes – economic instability, growing unemployment rates, increased home education and childcare needs – we know that our nonprofits are often the frontline of support.

So in the age of social distancing, how should local organizations think about shifting their programmatic priorities to meet the changing needs of our community?

We are in the thick of it ourselves, anticipating the changes we will need to make over the next few weeks to ensure CULTIVATE can pivot to meet the immediate needs of our cohort while still achieving our goal of helping them build long-range strategic business plans. Here’s how we are approaching changes to program implementation in the age of social distancing:

1.    Protect Your People

As of today, the general consensus is to follow Mecklenburg County guidelines: gatherings of more than 50 people have been prohibited, a State of Emergency has been declared, and residents are expected to follow everyday prevention practices to avoid getting sick. Our first priority should always be our people – our colleagues, our volunteers, our families and our communities. It is in everyone’s best interest to follow recommendations related to social distancing until we are able to reduce chances for community transmission of COVID-19.

We have seen organizations and businesses postpone in-person programs and volunteer opportunities and pivot to services that accommodate social distance – using drop-off or pick-up methods to provide resources while reducing in-person interaction, transitioning to virtual meetings for human services support, and creating new online platforms for engagement.

Before anything else, we recommend taking a step back to ensure that your organization is doing everything it can to protect your people. We know it can be tempting to run at the big challenges right away, but our community will be stronger and better off if we give ourselves the chance to breathe, adjust to our new reality and make sure we are taking care of one another. Once policies and procedures are in place that help volunteers, staff and participants stay safe and healthy, nonprofit leaders can start to think creatively about the future.

2.    Assess Changing Community Needs 

As this situation evolves, it will be critical to understand how your constituents have been impacted by economic and community shifts. When appropriate, reach out and ask for feedback to understand what has changed and where new priorities have surfaced.

The CULTIVATE curriculum introduces our cohort to the Community Needs Assessment – an exercise meant to help leaders understand the scope of need within their mission focus area and where they fit within a broad system of resources. It is safe to assume that community needs within most focus areas have changed since just one month ago, and regular checkpoints should be established to keep your nonprofit’s programming informed and responsive

3.    Adjust Accordingly

We’re in uncharted territory right now, with the perfect storm of the Coronavirus pandemic and economic downturn looming on the horizon – and the reality is that there are not really any established best practices on which to rely. Next Stage is here to remind you of the intrinsic strength that exists within the individuals on your team – your volunteers, your leadership staff, and the people who are served by your programs. Tap into that strength to understand how to pivot and give yourself the grace of time to figure out what comes next. We are here to help. 

For additional support, please check out the following groups who are coordinating resources to help nonprofits continue to provide needed programs in the community: 

Apparo – Local IT nonprofit Apparo is hosting a free webinar to help nonprofits adjust to remote work. More info can be found here: Ensuring Nonprofit Remote Work Success (A Virtual Q&A)

Charlotte Community ToolBank – The Charlotte Community ToolBank will happily provide tables, chairs, tents, and other equipment free of charge to those responding and directly supporting the COVID-19 pandemic. If your organization is providing free lunches, sorting food for families practicing self-isolation, staging pop-up testing sites, etc., and has a need for our equipment, please call us at 704.469.5800. We are here to help!

CLT COVID-19 Resource List – A grassroot coalition of community leaders, including Stefania Arteaga and Comunidad Collectiva, Tyler Miller and For Charlotte, Tina Marshall, Kass Ottley, Gemini Boyd and others have created a living document of resources and ways to help. To add resources to this list, contact us and we will put you in touch with its editors.

SHARE Charlotte – SHARE Charlotte is launching #SHAREFromHome, a new platform that empowers the community to do good while practicing social distance. For more information and ways to get involved with local nonprofits, check out the SHARE From Home website.