Propelling Your Future

Professional development is one of those aspects of a career that can be easily overlooked. If you're caught up in the day-to-day grind of work or bogged down by too many commitments, isn't time to ponder why you haven't progressed to a place where these frustrations aren't a problem?

Consider professional development as one of those outlets where you're enriching yourself as an employee and as an individual--thereby furthering your own life goals to work in concert with the nonprofit organization of which you are a part.

Tonight, June 7, YNPN San Diego is hosting one of those life-changing career workshops. We're presenting "Three Things Holding Back Your Nonprofit Career" from 6-8pm at the United Way San Diego, guided by Paul Redfern, an Encinitas-based CPA specializing in non-profit and entrepreneurial accounting. During the workshop, Paul will guide us through the pitfalls of common financial practices and highlight guidelines for making sound financial decisions.

Before the workshop starts, we're also hosting a casual networking session with light appetizers and wine. It's not too late to sign up, so we hope you can make it!

YNPNSD Leader Retreat 2011, or, A Lesson in Being Both Productive and Fun

The first weekend of May marked a turning point for YNPN San Diego. It was our first weekend planning board retreat, an idea the board had a while back, and with the help and sizeable donation from The Leichtag Family Foundation, this vision became a reality.

We wanted to ‘up the ante’ if you will, this year by blocking out an entire weekend to nail down our strategic priorities for the coming year, outline our workplans, and solidify our budget –an extensive agenda for the weekend, but we figured that by locking ourselves in for 2 straight days (albeit in the luxury La Costa resort), that we would be able to knock it all out in one sitting.

This was a great idea for a couple of reasons:

1. We’re an all-volunteer organization that meets once a month as a board. So, oftentimes the lag time on decision-making can get drawn out, particularly when it comes to the overall organizational big picture since our daily ‘to do’ list often takes over when we let it; and
2. We recently completed our spring recruitment and added five amazing new board members. Since they make up half our board, we couldn’t have asked for a better board immersion experience.

So the weekend goal was twofold: plan out what we’re trying to accomplish over the next year (based on last year’s progress and our current context), and get to know each other so we begin operating as a cohesive team from Day 1.


How did we do? Mission achieved, if I do say so myself. We started off the weekend with a board in-service on leadership training with Alexis Dixon. This an essential aspect of our role as board members, and the essence of what we try to instill in not just our board, but our committee and membership base as a whole. This session helped to set the stage in our minds to always be thinking about fostering leadership in every aspect of our work.


After a quick break, we dove into planning. By first reviewing our vision, mission, theory of change, and program model (outlined with the help of NP Strategies in last year’s planning retreat), we reviewed our successes and challenges over the past year to achieve last year’s goals. Then, we walked through the finding of our recently closed 2011 Membership Survey, providing valuable information to the board about what our members liked and want for the future. All of this helped to outline what we need to focus on during our next fiscal year. After boiling up findings from detailed SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analyses, the board clarified 5 strategic initiatives for the next fiscal year. Since, at this point our brains were leaking logic and our stomachs were crying for help, we broke for lunch.


When we re-grouped half an hour later (did I mention that this was a packed agenda?), we were met by a handful of committed and eager committee members who gave up their gorgeous afternoons to assist in our planning efforts. Their fresh faces re-energized the group and we dove in, breaking into 5 teams based on the aforementioned initiatives to outline our SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely) goals and action items. These were eventually shared by the full group, picked apart, added to, and agreed upon as a team until board and committee members alike were satisfied.


Exhausted but content, we looked around the conference room lined with butcher paper outlining our ideas and plans and shared, one-by-one, our excitement. The consensus was that it was an honor and a privilege to have spent the day with a smart group of people thinking about how to make the nonprofit sector stronger in San Diego, and specifically, what our organization – led, run, and supported by a group of emerging leaders volunteering their time – can really do to make a difference.


After having led the research, planning, and facilitation for the day, the group unnecessarily broke out into applause. I took a quick bow and said a silent prayer of thanks to have met such incredible minds and committed people all working towards making this region a better place to live and work. It was then that I was able to reflect on the momentum this organization has created after having been founded just three years ago. What started as a vision and strong foundational leadership has smoothly transitioned into an organization owned and operated by the community it serves.


So, a quick thank you is in order for all of you who have participated with your time, dollars, or membership to make this organization what it is today. I’d also like to extend an offer to the rest of you to get involved and be a part of what YNPNSD will become tomorrow.


And then it was off to the hot tub…


So, without further ado, here’s what we’ll be working on over the next year.


YNPNSD’s 5 Strategic Initiatives:
1. Create a culture that fosters leadership growth for organizational sustainability
2. Define, engage, and retain members
3. Develop an outreach strategy to increase membership of the next generation of leaders
4. Create and implement a brand identity and communications strategy
5. Grow and diversify funding



Thanks to Cynthia Davila, our Retreat Team Leader, for this contribution as well as her time fostering many productive discussions during the retreat. Her skills proved truly invaluable, and we're thankful to have her!

Engaging Our Audiences: ROI vs ROE

Reading Idealware's latest newsletter, which I use as a resource to keep myself informed on technology in the nonprofit sector (check out their product reviews for great tips on free and low cost solutions for nonprofits), I came across a great article submitted by Community Organizer 2.0 about Return On Engagement, or what Brandon Murphy originally noted as the true value of social media in a case study published just a few days ago.

Murphy posits that many of the digital media experiences we create--be they apps, videos, blogs, and so on--create dead end experiences for many of the users whose interest we want to convert into action may not be accurately measured by the standard ROI metric. Instead, he suggests, we should examine return on investment as returns on interaction and influence--ultimately, creating a greater return on engagement. Implied in this new approach is that is through engaging our audiences, and empowering them to share and engage their networks in a ripple effect, we can more accurately measure how effective our efforts can be.

Now, if we take this concept and look at it through the lens of a nonprofit organization, the question becomes: "How can we increase a return on engagement for both our community supporters and the communities we directly serve?"

Murphy and Debra Askanase both bring up concepts familiar to everyone in our community: advocacy and ownership. Whether we realize it or not, the efforts and support of the talented staff, volunteers, contributors, and community members who get involved with our nonprofits have embodied the advocacy mission by taking ownership in our organizations.

In looking at the tangible deliverables we're often tasked with, i.e. the creation of a new capital campaign, launching of a mobile community app, etc., it becomes more important to look beyond the fulfillment of that goal as an objective in an of itself. The process of feedback and collaboration in turn produce goals that are "owned" by the very audiences they seek to serve. It is in this Return on Engagement, then, that we find true value in the work we do.

Surveying Our Base, To Serve You Better

Like any community service organization, a key part of our mission is to keep our base flourishing. Most YNPN San Diego members have experienced our outreach through the monthly professional development and networking sessions, our community-serviced listserv, our blog, and the many opportunities to serve.

And, as an organization that aims first and foremost to cultivate the next generation of nonprofit leaders, it's important to know what kind of impact we've had on your lives. This year, we're surveying all our members so we can get that 360 degree perspective on your community involvement, professional pursuits, and personal tastes that make up the wonderful member base you are!

Our survey only takes 5 minutes, and you can find it here. Plus, take it over the weekend and you'll be entered into a raffle to win a $25 Amazon gift certificate! Thanks for your participation, and thank you for the feedback! We look forward to serving you even better in the next year!

I Love Birthdays

I love birthdays. Even as the years pass (and the numbers get bigger!), I love gathering with my friends and family to celebrate all that I have and all the last year has brought me. And while April is my birthday month, I now also get to celebrate YNPN San Diego every April too! We’ll be celebrating YNPN San Diego’s 3^rd Birthday on Wednesday, April 20^th at 57 Degrees from 6-8pm. We hope to see you there!

Not only is this a chance to celebrate YNPN San Diego’s birthday, but it also will be a chance to meet and mingle with other nonprofit professionals from throughout San Diego. It’s a great opportunity to network, make connections, reconnect with contacts or just relax after a long day! We’ll have a drawing for some special prizes, happy hour specials and cupcakes! Plus, we’ll be honoring three of our board members who are stepping down and welcoming our newest board members to the YNPN family. YNPN San Diego is now nearly 1000 members strong and we have many reasons to gather and celebrate all that this past year has brought us, and all we have yet to do!

So come by on April 20^th and join us for this special celebration! Let’s raise a glass (or a cupcake!) to this special group, see some old friends or make some new ones! I am proud to know so many of you through YNPN and to celebrate all that you do to make San Diego a better place to live. And let’s make a group birthday wish that this next year brings even more reasons to celebrate! Hope to see you there!

~Lenise Andrade, YNPN Founding Board Member (2008-2010) and Meet & Greet Committee Member

RSVP for Wednesday's Birthday Bash here.

YNPN San Diego's 3rd Annual Birthday Bash Meet & Greet

YNPN San Diego's 3rd Annual Birthday Bash Meet & Greet

"Treat Yourself!"

That's right, third time's a charm, and YNPN San Diego's 3rd Annual Birthday celebration is just around corner. Get ready for another chance to meet and mingle with other professionals of San Diego's beloved nonprofit sector! However this time, we'll be adding a bit of frosting to the great occasion.

Whether you are a current YNPN member or non-member, YNPN San Diego invites you as we celebrate our chapter's achievements and successes over the last 3 years. New to YNPN? Our board and committees will be represented to answer any questions you may have, and fill you in on this special celebration. This year's birthday bash will be held at the classy Fifty Seven Degrees wine bar, located on Hancock Street, and just one block away from the Washington Street trolley station. Enjoy a specially extended Happy Hour from 6-8pm, and treat yourself to delicious birthday cupcakes! Discover what YNPN San Diego holds for you as we cheer for another year of nonprofit networking and professional development.

Date: Wednesday, April 20th 2011

Time: 6:00- 8:00pm

Location: 57 Degrees - 1735 Hancock Street, San Diego - www.fiftysevendegrees.com

YNPN San Diego services are free to the San Diego nonprofit community. Please consider making a donation of any size at our event. To lean more about our mission, programs, and opportunities, visit www.ynpnsandiego.org or our Facebook Page

Bring your friends and register TODAY at YNPN San Diego's 3rd Annual Birthday Bash!

Thanks to YNPNSD Board Member and Meet & Greet Chair Natacha Tullier for the contribution!

Building Your Knowledge Network: Recap from the YNPN National Conference 2011

By: Jessica Rodgers, Board Member, YNPN San Diego

I attended a session about strengthening my knowledge network. Of course the first question I asked (as I am sure you are asking now) was: What is a Knowledge Network? It's a way for you to ensure you are engaging in the topics relevant to your interests, as well as to your work and personal lives.

As far as I could tell, there were three parts to this. Part one was how to make yourself more apt to developing a knowledgeable conversation with someone to ultimately lead yourself to understanding their perspective and helping them to see it as well. Part two was about making sure you are evaluating your learning and finding real-life ways to apply it. Part three was related to the tools you can use to set yourself up for success in staying atop information relative to your life.

PART 1--Coaching
Use the Socratic Method. The best coach just asks questions and doesn't provide advice.

To practice, we each had one minute to describe a current situation we were experiencing at work or at home. Then, the coach practiced asking questions for two minutes without expressing any statements about the matter.

This was one of the hardest things I've ever done (well, close anyhow). I've been trying this out at work for a few days now, and it seems to be working well--just takes some getting used to. I felt a little weird not sharing any content--then I realized people don't often want to hear the content. SO, it works. Try it and see how it feels for you to just ask questions--or try being on the receiving end and have some else just ask you questions without any commentary.

Afterthoughts from some of the participants included:

• it's good not to have expertise in the area so that you don't always give advice...
• it's good not to be involved and have specific perspective of the situation...nice to have outsider view
• it's non-threatening

Part 2-FEEDBACK LOOPS

• includes action step,
• could be with coworkers or self reflection, and
• should be done more regularly

What is a feedback loop? It's a continual assessment and implementation of your learning. It allows you to create growth opportunities for yourself.

The steps include:

Observe: ex. How am I managing something?
Assess: ex. What are the pieces and people involved?
Design: ex. What is a better way that I could have done this?
Implement: ex. Try the new way of doing it and then re-observe and continue this same process to make improvements.
Re-observe, etc.

Part 3--Setting yourself up for continued learning

You should research information on a daily basis to keep up on sector trends and to learn something new. If you find something valuable for someone else, share an article with them. They will begin to see you as a resource.

What helps? Tera says that blogs are key. They let you keep up with discussions and learn about innovations. They also allow for hobbies tangential or totally separate from work. It's important to spread yourself out.

SO, what are some tools that can help?

• Google reader
• Twitter lists (topic based)
• Google alerts (to find new bloggers...include key words you might want to learn about)
• Instapaper (save articles you want to read later)
• Evernote (snap articles offline)
• Harvard Business review
• Stanford Daily
• Chronicle of Philanthropy
• Nonprofit Times TV(frequent videos with updates)
• New York Times
• Movie Mondays for Nonprofits
• Literature (explore authors with different points of view--and don't rofrget about fiction!!!)
• Wiley or Sage publisher books are great for the nonprofit sector (find a book on Amazon and then search for suggestions of books to read)
• Stanford offers videos online
• TED Talks

Let us know if you know of other great and current tools for improving your knowledge network.

Thank you to Tera Wozniak Qualls for her session at the YNPN National Conference 2011 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Tera is the YNPN National Board Member, program and communications coordinator, Johnson Center for Philanthropy. This blog post is based off of my attendance at Tera's session.

Announcing YNPN's National Voice Survey

Make Your Voice Heard. Improve Our Sector. Take YNPN’s National Voice Survey Today!

Over the past several years, a great deal of literature has been released noting significant leadership challenges for the nonprofit sector. With each issue revealed has come a compelling set of recommendations for how the sector can meet these challenges head on. As a movement of now over 20,000 nonprofit professionals nationwide, YNPN is uniquely positioned to put these recommendations to the test.

Make sure our voice includes your perspective. Find 20 minutes to take YNPN’s 2011 National Voice Survey today! Click here to start it now!

Is offering more competitive compensation a priority for retaining talent? Is your nonprofit engaging in succession planning? Is prioritizing diversity having a positive impact on your organization? The valuable feedback and experiences you and your peers will share by completing YNPN’s survey can help influence how our the nonprofit sector addresses its leadership challenges over the next decade.

We look forward to sharing our results with you later this year!