April showers, brings what for May?

April has been a little of an anomaly and really great at providing opportunities and challenges.  I was the guest speaker to a great group of students in Texas Lutheran University's Intro. to Social Entrepreneurship.  This was a great challenge and  reminded me of when Rebecca Powers came and spoke to my own leadership class not too many years ago.  I remembered how her personal testimony became so powerful to our class, so I led off with my own story and then shared about Children At Heart.  The students asked engaging questions for most of the hour and 45 minutes that we had together, and I appreciate the graciousness of the professor who I think is pretty cool- she has a law practice focused on nonprofits- cool right?

I also had the opportunity to be the keynote speaker for the Professional Women of Williamson County's luncheon.  It was their year-ending culmination luncheon in which this year they presented over $10,000 in scholarships.  It might have been the shortest keynote ever given- I was scheduled only 10 minutes to speak, as they wanted to highlight each of the young women also receiving scholarships.  I focused my time on talking about how we each in every word and deed are writing our own stories.  These stories will serve as reference points for some, and for Wesley, and maybe others, the story serves as his identity and heritage.  I encouraged each person in the room to live their own best story.  After hearing a little of each of the young women's bios I was so impressed and thrilled to have shared a common thread with them, as a former recipient.  If this is what home grown in our community means, then I know we are doing something right.

I also may have been pursued for a leadership position for another nonprofit in our community, and the prospect was really an educating experience.  I was able to ask myself questions I haven't asked in a while.  Questions that also push norms of what can it mean to be an engaged mom and invested in your career...

Whats funny is when you consider career advancement as a newish mom is something I didn't really expect.  What I mean is the liberty in which acquaintances feel the freedom to remind you that motherhood should come first, or even some who would suggest now as an ok time to "slack", because you'll not get this time back and no one would notice (I WOULD).  I won't argue with that.  I make a very concerted effort that between the time I have from getting home until my son goes to sleep- he has 100% of my attention.  I just think what is weird is that people feel pretty free to tell me this stuff, but I'm pretty sure no one has ever approached my husband to remind him how fleeting childhood is.  It's not a real complaint... just weird stuff people do.

And that's April... looking forward to seeing what May brings!

Innovation in Philanthropy

This morning was the local Chamber of Commerce Board meeting.  We had a guest presenter come in and speak on the topics of legislative and educational affairs that affect the district and region.  Specifically at the tail end of the summary, weight was given to children in poverty and graduation rates.  The message was to continue making strides in closing the gap for college preparedness, which opened the floor for conversation about alternative tracks and trade industries.

What I thought was interesting was the baseline for success.  That the only measure was contingent upon moving the needle in one specific area of percentage of attainment.  I made a few comments to point out that in the suburbs of the Austin area, the poor population has grown by 162%.  How over the last 20 years, those considered as "poor" were centralized in Austin, and the population has expanded over much of the Austin MSA.  Specifically, and what I didn't have in front of me, was that the rate for children in poverty has grown 142% in the region.  So my question becomes, in the case where the bottom drops out from under you for what used to be considered "baseline" you have to account for that in what success truly looks like.

What was increasingly interesting was this guest presenter's response to my questions- he points to the social sector and accountability in reporting metrics.

(Enter the zone of ambiguity).

So to clarify, I'm asking who is this "external agent" who will drive consistency in effort for nonprofit collaborations (in this case specifically speaking the example was in the schools).  He commented that he had once seen a United Way attempt to play that role, but something happened and scared them off of driving forward.

I can see why.  The United Way, while maintaining the label of funder, often times is still considered familial in the world of nonprofits.  Whoever wants their brother or sister setting the tone for house rules?

So I pushed the guest speaker, and he said what I already knew- so I'll put it here succinctly- the funders have to drive innovation.

I currently work for a foundation.  We're a complex model if there ever was one, building in a family of agencies and more political sensitivities to carefully navigate in honoring the intent of each board that resides in our nonprofit corporate structure.

Yesterday, I was able to work through some of our own strategic planning processes to encourage our board to look at the allocation of funding they currently provide and consider usage.  The current practice is largely general operations.  Working in the nonprofit sector, and knowing the true value of the funded general operation dollar, what I did next may seem to some as if I'm shooting myself in the foot, but I encouraged our board to look at best practice, be willing to recommend a percentage of operations based on budget that they would be willing to fund, but then also set aside funding for R&D.  Specifically for opportunities that provide innovation or expansion.  We'll see what makes it actually into the written plan, but it's pushing the philanthropic envelope to not only fund, but engage innovative philanthropy.

This mornings board meeting was held in the offices of a local multi billion dollar company.  We as board members were escorted on a tour of their newest office addition.  As the company shared about their current operations, I had about a dozen light bulb moments, flashing with every key word that casually rolled out of his mouth about their day to day operations.

I approached them afterwards, knowing their want for community engagement, their want for partnership in meaningful ways, and ways that could use their skills in another setting.  I proposed that they could provide business accumen for nonprofits as a way of giving back.  To do something strategic, that in the long run, may make more help than a momentary monetary gift.

Course, the money has to be the carrot.  Most nonprofits are too busy killing the snake that's closest to them to take time to invest in business philosophy.  But if foundations, and specifically corporate foundations took the time to be as strategic with their philanthropy as they are with their business models, I think we'd see real change.

My contact at this business asked me to gather a team, and he would gather his leadership to talk about the idea further. So I guess you'll just have to stay tuned to see how all that turns out...

That, and I have to run to the next thing...

The Future of Philanthropy

In reading Walk Out Walk On, the discussion of efficiencies in nonprofits took a second look at the value of the historical knowledge of how nonprofits do things.  While some practice may not seem efficient for today, it sometimes the key to sustainability for the future.  The key is knowing the difference in what preserves and sustains and that which could be leveraged in a different way to make a greater social impact.  And in all of this, the "soul" of nonprofit work must be preserved.

If you know anything about Austin, you know we host the SXSW festival.  This brings in people from all walks of life from music lovers to innovators to music loving innovators.  The festival was a great excuse for my childhood friend to come in from out of town.  Mike has his own work investing in people's dreams and innovations for tomorrow. (He's kinda a big deal).  Its incredible work, not only what he does, but after meeting his team and the entrepreneurs they invest in- I was impressed with the whole chain (read more about what they do here: rothenbergventures.com).

As a personally invited guest, I had the privileged of having some side conversations with some really cool people.

There was Rainer who makes wearing shorts fashionable any time of year.  There was John who shared his story of passionately pursuing his dream, living in almost every major American city, and now has grown his own business to over 70 people.  There was Valerie who has bravely followed her dreams, even when that meant moving to a new city, country and culture.  Dylan who has an eye for serving as a catalyst into some very lucky people's ambitions, and joining them on their journey to success.  I could go on and on... The party was like reading one of those inspirational books with the compiling of individual's successful stories.

I couldn't help as I drove home, breathing off the excitement of the party for the next few hours, and wondering what my freshly fed innovative spirit would dream for my line of work.  This crew is so different from the philanthropic landscape I am so used to walking.  It  breathed of innovation.  I left feeling that just around the corner and for those who are willing to serve as first adopters, a whole new paradigm is just waiting.

I began looking for anything I could get my hands on to look for innovation in philanthropy.  Not just in giving, or even in the latest trends of impacting societal change. I searched trends with some of the nation's largest and most engaged community foundations.  I scoured for relative TED Talks... wishing Dan Palotta had more to say.  They had good info... I'm better for knowing it, but I'm still looking for the disruptive and scaling technology that I feel is right under my nose.  I'm researching technology and asking questions about how funders can drive innovation. I'm asking questions like- what's the life span of a fully online service providing nonprofit like?  Should established foundations consider using bitcoins?  What about the role of R&D and how it can drive innovation in nonprofits? I'm even thrilled to have met at this party people my age, who are looked at as the experts and wondering what impact could result if our worlds collided.

I don't know exactly what this will add up to.  I am taking John's advice (from the party).  I'm voice memo'ing my thoughts, and at the very least I may create a book that empowers thought leaders in the nonprofit sector.    

In the meantime, I have to consider the real needs of my own backyard, and continue using collaboration to challenge us to do better, think bigger.  But the work done here has to be scalable.  There has to be models that can be replicated in meeting the needs of poverty in other cities.  However, because this is the business of subcultures, can community innovation be multiplied?  Can it grow beyond the traditional means of meeting the needs?  Where do new and fresh ideas take us?  How does technology reinvent philanthropic engagement?  I do not currently have all the answers. To me, it serves as a challenge to carry the torch of honoring the time old traditions of conveying the human touch to the human heart to tomorrow's future thinking philanthropists.

The Boat

It's been a little over a month that little Naomi Joan was born.  She came along at 40 weeks and two days, and while her life was cut short to just that, her story has inspired me, and will continue to live on.

In the days following the loss of Naomi, a song began to play on repeat in my mind. A link is provided here for the curious.  The first words of the song are:

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown, where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep, my faith will stand

In addition to moments like this where time seems to stand still, I've been doing some reading that produces both challenge and clarity.  The book and song encourage me to consider life, and what it means to be like Peter.  To be called out of the boat, out of the known, and out upon the waters.

This very picture was beautifully illustrated in the movie Jesus Christ, Son of God.  From my theater seat, I was able to experience the tumultuous sea and the small wooden boat.  Between two shores, life hung in the balance.

Today, I have to imagine that this is the reality for the parents of Naomi Joan.  Gracefully, they have allowed us to peer into their personal life, and serve as witnesses of what it means to boldly face the storm.  Not only did they get out of the boat, which should be enough to ask, but then, like Peter, they have begun to walk. (Click here to read more of their story).  How can we, some having been spared their particular road to travel, share in their journey?  

We must be intentional and bold.  Yet, often times in search of greatness, we are blind to the things that surround us- the everyday opportunities to offer peace into the stormy lives that surround around us.  To consider what God may be calling us to, when more than likely... or who am I kidding... it absolutely will mean with certainty we must get out of the boat, and walk out our faith.

The point is, between the two shores, we have one life.  In our journey across the sea, we may forget the value of the moment, until little lives, like Naomi or Caroline, remind us that the other side is nearly there.  So while we are at sea, we must trust that life is bigger than the boat and comforts we illusion ourselves of having.  We must have faith that we can walk between the shores.  We must practice love, because His love will always call us out of the boat.

This post is dedicated to Naomi Joan.

Straight Paths

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways, submit to him, and he will make your paths straight". Proverbs 3:5-6

A couple of weeks ago, I was driving to work.  It was an ordinary day, and as I was driving, I reached out and changed the music station on my radio.  A little feeling of relief surprised me, and I quickly realized how I was appreciative that in my own car, the radio stations had not altered from the buttons I had preset them on.  It's a little thing, I know.

At work I drive a company car.  I used to be the primary driver, however, I now share it more with 3-4 other individuals.  Their listening preferences have made their way to what had felt like "my" radio dial.  Once I even tried to find my station only to realize that someone had changed 3 of the presets all to the same radio station.  I sent an email to two of my coworkers, telling them to "rest assured, radio fan, that you have a button", and that one's enough.  They both thought it was funny, but it hasn't stopped the fact that my favorite radio stations keep getting reprogrammed over.

So it was funny when in my little car, I pressed the button and felt the relief of getting what my listening ear had ordered.  Then I quickly had to question, as I'm sure you have done by now... what's the big deal?

This little moment of sunshine reflected something a little bigger to me that I hadn't been as aware of.  The reason I liked it so much was over a sense of control.  Remembering what it was like to be a little kid an not able to listen what you wanted to, unless you had your Walkman, and at that the batteries had to be good, and you'd still have to rewind and replay to hear that favorite song as much as you wanted.  Its another one of those moments that remind me of the perks of adulthood- I control my radio.

I was persuaded to consider the topic of control a little more.  I think about the political games, why most people want to move up in their careers, why people want to be the boss, why do I feel called to leadership like a bug to a light?  I know in so many of these area's its the chance to be the rule maker... the chance to see really how life would work out if everyone had to play by your/my set of rules.

I began to question how much of our identities and self worth we wrap up into this idea of control.  What would it look like if I had no control?  I began to think of a childhood friend who had a motor-bike accident, leaving him paralyzed.  How would I feel about me, if I had to base it off of absolutely nothing that I did, I couldn't make the rules, and I had to just "be".

Over the last few months I feel called to a word that really had no attraction to me before- ABIDE.

I have to know this is one of those "God Calling" moments, because for something to come into your life that you wrestle so much... if it were up to me, I would just make some quick decisions, try something out, and if it worked, great- if not, no big deal.  However, I've been called to abide, and I'm not even fully sure what that means.  A calling to "just be"?  A conscious effort of pulling my weeds of need to control, and remembering God?  Remembering who He is, and just because He is that He is, I am in His image, so I am that I am in Him?  What does that even mean?

I felt before that God was calling me to be prepared for His work.  I got my MBA.  Its been a bit of a struggle for me mentally/ spiritually to feel like I'm sitting on it.  Yet I know that in my story, God comes.  In a world that says career ladders are the way you play and rungs are a sense of your self worth and accomplishment, I struggle.  I've been with the same company for five and a half years and was promoted once.  That may seem a disappointment only to the short-sighted, but its my generation too... they move, they shake.  And I have to know that in abiding, I am not being left behind.  That in abiding, I can trust in the Lord with all my heart.  I have to abandon my way of understanding.  He is the director of what I hope to be an unbeaten path... so I can trust for Him to make the way straight.

I encourage you.  Consider what you control.  What have you got authority over?  Do you let that define you in any way?  What would it look like if you weren't in those positions?  What would be different?

I don't have the answers...............but I don't have to.  And for me to make that statement... well that's simply a big thing.  I will continue to wrestle to abide for as long as God is calling me to it.  Some my exert their energy to move, to go.  The crazy thing about God is that He is a separate being.  I feel His calling, and it doesn't always make sense to me... and it doesn't have to.  If He wants me to push this kind of energy to wrestle out who I am, I'll consider it my 40 days in the desert, and trust him for the life that is currently happening, and that which is to come.

Bingo

Yesterday I spent some time on the phone again.  I am reaching out to each of our local cities regarding the transportation issues I've been made aware of in our county.  In each call I was asking for someone from that city to serve as point person as I disseminate a flier to nonprofits in our area, and they pass them along to their clients in an effort to raise this conversation to the next level.  The city person just needs to be aware of what services their city has, whether that be something they offer, a nonprofit offers or a business, such as a taxi or ride share service provides.  They also will have the opportunity to engage the public to learn first hand about their needs, and if the opportunity becomes available to share that with their city councils, they will have first-hand accounts as fodder to fuel the dialogue forward.

In my conversations with so many of the nonprofits here in our county the constant thread is transportation.  In order to get to the next level or capitalize on service opportunities they need a way to move their clients in order to take advantage of the opportunities that are available to help them break cycles of crisis.

Some have given up on the transportation issue entirely, stating that they don't want to come back to the dialogue table until people are talking about more than roads or building plans.  Maybe I'm naive, but in order for the conversation to be brought up, doesn't there have to be someone who's invested their time, gained credibility, and been the one willing to reintroduce the conversation?  How can we have expectations that this issue will speak for itself?

Others have become creative, as some nonprofits are considering campus hubs, which contain satellite offices of providers who show the greatest opportunity of helping assist their clients in getting to that next level.  Its a strategic venture, and one I am very interested in.  It provides a solution for some client's needs, but there is still the need for single vehicle families- when kids need to go to the doctor.  Or what about the single parent family who can't afford a vehicle, and the parent needs to get the kids to care and to a job to etablish independence?  What of the senior adult who no longer feels comfortable to drive?  Are we saying by lack of action that our communities have no place for these individuals to thrive?

I believe in collaboration.  I believe when you bring people to the table the end result will be a much more developed and potentially successful plan.

I've made an effort to reach out to each city's transportation person, and I've been listening to their stories.  In yesterday's calls I even had some of them asking me what the others are doing.  They are interested in a regional approach to think creatively and strategically about how we best meet this need.  And this certainly doesn't and shouldn't fall solely to a city's responsibility.  Its a community responsibility.  Its where the corporate, private and government sectors can all come together to create a multifaceted response to a complex need.

After yesterday's calls I got an email requesting a meeting specifically with one of of the larger cities in our county.  They are "looking to host a round table discussion with service agencies in the area.  The purpose is to get people to think outside of the box in coming up with ways to get more public transportation". 

BINGO

I'm thrilled.  It's dialogue at the next level.  I'm hoping dialogues like this one begin in each city, and then cross-city and county-wide.

I'm not exactly sure when it was, but some years ago I decided that I wanted the opportunities that I invest my time and energy into to be accelerators or catalysts that would do the most good.  I don't particularly have a love for transportation.  I certainly never intended to serve as a community moderator for this issue.  Sometimes, you just have to see the need, meet the need.  The existence of need in itself is an invitation or call to action.  Being a mom now, only encourages me all the more to set a precedence for my son of what I feel it is to love God and love others in action.  All I hope to do is lead by example, and hopefully my family, my friends, my neighborhood, my community is better for it.

Hinged on Community

Almost a year ago a friend of mine lent me a book from her personal library.  I owe her for not having returned it by now, but I owe her more for the insight and challenge its been to me since recently picking it back up and working through the first couple of chapters.

The book is called Quitter, and it's written by Jon Acuff.  As I'm reading it, I can see some parallelism with the Leadership coursework of my MBA.  The book narrates, rather comically, the notion of following your dreams, but also mitigating risk. 

I'm currently in the second chapter, and Acuff talks about "hinge moments", as opportunities to look into your past and see the moments that differentiate your passions and skills.  Through the process of discovery, you can uncover, rather than discover, what life's work may look like for you.

In the discovery of his own hing moments, Acuff asks 5 questions-
1. What do I love enough to do for free?
2. What do I do that causes time to feel different?
3. What do I enjoy doing regardless of the opinions of other people?
4. If only your life changed would that be enough?
5. Are there any patterns in the things you like doing?

Amidst these questions he says-
"If you killed yourself for years creating something and at the end of the experience, the only life that had changed was your own, would that be rewarding enough?  If the experience was the lesson and the journey itself was the reward, would that be okay with you?  If there something that holds that sway for you"?

I do love the idea of intrinsic motivation and the value of each one's journey.  I departed from the idea of a destination a long time ago.  However, the first question seemed to alienate me a bit, but I think that's driven by my passion for community.  Christ calls us to community, and if I'm living a life that only affected my own, to me that seems disjointed from purpose.  However, that does highlight the hinge for me is absolutely driven by the sense of community- my life's work is driven by my passion for inclusion, for representation of the "least of these", and doing it in a way that encourages everyone to get involved.  Not just the usual suspects of philanthropy.  We all have a role to play in developing community and quality of life is an extension of love for one's neighbor.

As I continue to seek God's calling and continue my life's journey, I sense community and leadership will continue to be a prevailing theme.  With that comes the weight and responsibilities of leadership, but thankfully, in community that weight is never something one we must bear alone.