Chris Polk Blog

six trends affecting non profits

9/30/2016

New management trends have cropped up recently in the social impact sector that are changing the way nonprofits approach their work. Purposeful goal-setting, sustainability, and a new emphasis on technology (for both marketing and productivity) are just a few of the principles behind these new trends. Here, several nonprofit executives and members of Forbes Nonprofit Council explain six leadership trends they’ve adopted — and why you should consider doing the same.

Read the entire article from Forbes Magazine here

1. Using For-Profit Strategies
2. Taking A Holistic Approach To Goal-Setting
3. Leveraging Productivity Tools
4. Taking On A Coaching Style Of Leadership
5. Building Sustainable Revenue
6. Looking For Cross Functionality

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The Next Gen Role of Business in Philanthropy

8/4/2016

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In Michigan and across the country, people are becoming more and more skeptical of government in Washington D.C., frustrated by over-promising politics, and increasingly concerned about our regional economics. As an advocate for the state of Michigan and the city of Detroit in particular, I believe that there is an enormous opportunity and a need for businesses (small to large) to step into leadership roles and use their influence, reach, and assets for the greater good of our region. This includes social responsibility, executive philanthropy, and cross-sector collaboration.

We tend to think of the profit-making aspect of a corporation as separate from its service to society, and companies typically characterize the good they do in terms of the philanthropic contributions they make from their profits. From my experience, the “real equation” is not that simple.

For those who attended the 2016 Mackinac Policy Conference, you probably saw firsthand the scenario that I am referring to. You heard fresh ideas surrounding mobility, education, economic inclusion, policy formation, health care, neighborhood sustainability, regional place making, and business sector leadership. Now more than ever, there is a very tangible focus on collaboration across these sectors as well as investment opportunities, which will drive our state’s next economy.

In this country we are now developing a “user economy.” Consumers in Michigan are making daily transactions with customized apps, folks are ride sharing and utilizing on-demand transportation such as Uber, and travelers are exploring urban hubs like downtown Detroit while purchasing services through Airbnb. As regional consumers and curious buyers, we have developed a newfound personal agency within our own lives. But when it comes to additional regional solutions for businesses, many of us are still waiting to hear the game plan.

In Michigan, the next role of business and entrepreneurial activity must shift from providing goods and services for people to working with people and leveraging our collective potential. Businesses and business leaders can play the role of convener and connector while providing citizens and consumers a platform to transform their newfound personal agency into a positive, collaborative impact.

From my observation, this is not a pipe dream, especially when you consider the shared vision that is coming to fruition in Detroit and Michigan. Consider recent projects and initiatives like the new Regional Transit Authority, our statewide plan for research and development, and then consider the following data as previously reported in DBusiness: “Middle market firms in Michigan, (companies with $10 million to $1 billion in annual revenue) ranked third in the nation for growth from 2011 through the first five months of 2016.”

For years, business, policy, and regional growth has been too influenced by unrealistic structures and non-collaborative leaders. As Michigan’s user-based ecosystem emerges and the roles begin to shift, it is clear that those who go at it alone will most likely be left behind. This is why we’re seeing an evolution in cross-sector collaboration and philanthropy here in Michigan, so that it aligns more closely with a shared regional agenda. We are now also seeing businesses across the state less as “givers” and more as an engaged regional solution providers and influencers. Achieving a shared value requires going outside the walls of the company, working with multiple partners, and finding new ways to work together. Shared value also drives a change in thinking from simply selling products and services to meeting the needs of the community.

In Michigan, shared value via comprehensive business sector engagement won’t ever replace philanthropy-based decisions, especially in regional hubs like Detroit. But companies and savvy executives now must focus on the trend we’re seeing towards deeper, smarter engagement that connects the corporate mission to achieving social solutions.

The door is open for the business sector in Michigan to use its skills, innovation platforms, and resources to tackle some of the world’s toughest challenges including mobility, health care, and economic inclusion, and that’s good news for everyone.

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Non Profits & New Legislation

6/1/2016

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In the state of Michigan, top nonprofit groups including Washington-based Independent Sector, the Council of Michigan Foundations and the Michigan Nonprofit Association recently have been busy educating nonprofits on the new overtime regulations finalized by the U.S. Department of Labor .

Like other employers, nonprofits expect to see their administrative costs rise and are looking at ways to minimize the financial impact on the cost side of the business. With many operating on grants or contractual funding, the change will be tough to absorb, nonprofit leaders say, given that many of the grants are multi-year contracts with costs locked in and that the government has not signaled its intent to increase funding to maintain the same level of service provided by the nonprofits it funds.

At the same time, human service agencies and other nonprofits that rely on donations — and need to keep administrative costs low to show donors the bulk of their dollars are going to the cause — could see their fundraising impacted by the new rules. The new regulations greatly expand the number of workers eligible for overtime pay by increasing the annual salary threshold at which companies are required to pay overtime to salaried workers from $23,660 to nearly $47,476. Employers, whether nonprofit or for-profit, have until Dec. 1 to implement the new rules.

As costs go up, donors will see a higher percentage of the money they donate covering administrative costs, which won't be well-received. From my experience donors typically prefer to support programs that produce results they can see rather than operational and infrastructure costs for human service agencies. This will be a challenge and creative solutions will be necessary.

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The Philanthropy Movement

3/8/2016

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"Combining Empathy with Evidence"

Effective altruism is a growing social movement founded on the desire to make the world as good a place as it can be, the use of evidence and reason to find out how to do so, and the audacity to actually try. As the organization to first settle on the term ‘effective altruism’, the Centre for Effective Altruism is a growing coalition of projects that put these ideas into practice in different ways. The Centre is based at its offices in the University of Oxford.

"The Detroit Movement"

This idea, which has grown in strength over the last several years, is quickly becoming the new fancy of some of the world’s uber wealthy and is beginning to make appearances in local practices of giving. I call it “optimized philanthropy,” but it is more widely known as effective altruism. In major cities across America it is becoming movement is driving new approaches and best practices for philanthropy. In my recent blog posting for DBusiness Magazine I discuss how the idea is taking shape in Detroit. (click link above to read)

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Creating Sector Leadership

2/1/2016

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As the next wave of philanthropy develops and new ideas emerge, many private and foundation partners are now collaborating in order to drive change and to develop the next generation of thought leadership for the sector.

An example of this is Leaderocity. The Presidio Institute and American Express (NYSE:AXP) recently partnered for launch of Leaderocity which is a new online "leadership development" learning platform targeting social impact leaders.

To-date, American Express alone has contributed over $1 million towards the development of the platform. The project also received critical funding from the Kresge Foundation and the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Unlike traditional online learning environments, Leaderosity is interactive and can be tailored to a participant’s preference and pace. Participants may work through unique learning modules from their home or office at their convenience, and peer to peer interaction allows them to challenge themselves – and each other – to become more adaptable and collaborative leaders. These interactions also provide the opportunity to build lasting, local, national and international relationships through an interconnected community of like-minded network builders.

Inaugural courses will be offered both by the Presidio Institute and the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (NLA). NLA is the only workforce development organization that certifies diverse, work-ready talent for the nonprofit sector. The first offering is a four-week intensive course for early career professionals focused on the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to launch or fast track a successful non-profit career.

There is no question that this will be a transformational project and continue to drive new approaches to successful impact investing and philanthropy.

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Philanthropy and Business Integration

six trends affecting non profits

The Next Gen Role of Business in Philanthropy

Non Profits & New Legislation

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