Completed applications are due Monday, February 27.

The IS website provides details about the program, including how to apply.

The program offers dedicated young professionals at IS member organizations a rare opportunity to increase their impact and accelerate their careers. We encourage you to apply today or nominate a young leader at your own organization or another IS member.
Benefits include complimentary registration and lodging at the IS Annual Conference in San Francisco, November 11 & 12, and the NGen: Moving Nonprofit Leaders from Next to Now pre-conference program open to all under-40 professionals on November 10.

SCANPO has always been about working together for our communities and for our sector.

This year, the tradition continues at the annual conference as we bring together grantmakers and operating nonprofits.

I have the pleasure of facilitating the closing session, The Powerful Dance Between Foundations and Operating Nonprofits.

In this three-part discussion we’ll engage in conversation with Janine Lee of SECF, SC Funders and, most importantly, with YOU.

Come ready to share your ideas and help identify new ways SCANPO can help strengthen working relations and collaboration within our field.

Yours in Philanthropy,

Tom

Tom Keith
2012 Conference Committee Member
Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Begging For Change—The Dollars and Sense of Making Nonprofits Responsive, Efficient and Rewarding for All
By Robert Egger

Robert Egger

Robert Egger is President of Washington D.C. based D.C. Central Kitchen, and has been described as a straight talking futurist in the non-profit world, speaking throughout the county on the need to restore the purpose of nonprofits.  He will challenge you, and make you examine the lack of logic, the duplication, waste, and ineffectiveness in the non-profit sector.  In 2004 when the book was released, Robert stated “We’ve reached a point where we’ve got two million nonprofits slugging it out with one another for a skeptical donor pool.” He also made a startling assertion that there are too many nonprofits. “If there were a quarter less nonprofits, we’d be a stronger, more vital sector.” He also implores nonprofits to Stop focusing on “raising more money”. Focus on raising more “IMPACT!”

“…Over the last 50 years, the structure of nonprofit has evolved for optimum SURVIVAL, not optimum RESULTS.” “It’s no longer about dollars raised, or percentage of money that goes to causes. It’s about effectiveness and results…but it’s also about fewer programs getting more of the money.”
Robert also asserts (in 2004) that not one city in American has any concept of how much collectively is being spent on charity. “Everyone’s been giving money away, with the best of intentions, but with zero communication. There’s no strategy, no shared common goals.”

Now, fast forward to 2012. Are we in the nonprofit community any better today than 10 years ago? With so many nonprofits struggling and fighting for survival, do we have too many nonprofits? We are seeing many newly retired baby boomers wanting to start non-profits! Many of these same boomers who have been caught in the worst economic decline since the Great Depression have become members of the new poor.

Robert’s approach at D.C. Kitchen is to teach those who were the down and out in Washington D.C. employable skills in the hospitality/(food service sector) and able to rejoin the workforce, paying taxes, and going off the welfare or unemployment roles. D.C. Kitchens is one of the nation’s leading social enterprise organizations with total revenue in 2010 of over $8 million, converting left over food into 1.8 million meals prepared and delivered to over 88 agencies and saving these non-profits nearly $5 million in expenses. They graduated 92 individuals from the Culinary Job Training program, with 90% of those graduates becoming fully employed after graduation. The graduates earned $2.3 million in annual salaries, and contributed $285,000 in payroll taxes back to their community last year.

Robert sees the Millennials as the generation to restore the purpose of nonprofits. D.C. Central Kitchen’s national program—student powered hunger relief on 28 college campus has 5,200 student volunteers serving 265,000 meals from college campus leftovers to support 28 communities in 19 states.

I had the good fortune of meeting Robert in Atlanta in 2004, and corresponding with him for several months about his philosophy and accomplishments. Read his book and visit the D.C. Central Kitchen website to learn more. Non-profits and those in SCANPO can strengthen our state’s nonprofit community if we consider and put into practice his recommendations.

Gerald Sweitzer
Dec. 20, 2011

Gerald (Jerry) Sweitzer is founder and principal of Non-Profit Success. He provides capacity building consulting to nonprofit organizations. Mr. Sweitzer served over 20 years as Business Manager of several Ga. nonprofit organizations. He served as a board member for two metro Atlanta nonprofit organizations, and has been a national trainer for Habitat for Humanity.

His civic activities include past Chairman of the Pickens County Vision 2025, board member of the Pickens County United Way, and the United Way Association of S.C. He’s also served on the board of Ten At The Top, the Upstate region visioning organization. He is a an approved consultant with the South Carolina Association of Nonprofits, and the Social Enterprise Alliance.

Gerald received an MBA from Georgia State University, and completed executive programs at both Dartmouth College, and the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

Finding it hard to get excited about yet another conference?

As committee co-chair, I admit bias, but it has been years since I’ve been this excited about actually attending specific sessions.

Of the 35 sessions, over 20 are rated “general” or “advanced”.  Robert Egger’s breakout session, Letting Go of Leadership, is sure to appeal to long-timers like myself. Read the session grid carefully. You’ll see respected leaders from across the state are presenting. Take note of their plans for “conversations” and “interactive sessions” and come ready to share your ideas.

What better way to celebrate SCANPO’s 15th Anniversary!

See you in Famously Hot Columbia.

Mac

Mac Bennett
2012 Conference Co-Chair

Andrea has tons of online trainings going on over the next several weeks. We invite you to visit her calendar to learn more about all these opportunities.

See you at the Conference!

Check out 4 great reasons to make the SCANPO Conference a priority for your board members:

• February 29th is an “extra day”

• Columbia is an easy drive

• $65 is the SPECIAL daily rate for board members

Nine sessions will be led by and for volunteer board members

Remember, a fully engaged board can be a major driver of performance.

Here’s to “Sharing Ideas and Inspiring Action.”

Forrest Alton
2012 Annual Nonprofit Conference Co-Chair

Pictured with the 2011 SCANPO Award winners are: Fred Sheheen of Francis Marion University; Denise Holland of Harvest Hope Food Bank, winner of the 2011 Francis Marion Leadership Institute Award for Nonprofit Excellence; Claire (Cookie) Sprouse, Co-chair of SCANPO Conference Committee; Anita Case of Catawba Care, winner of the 2011 Erin Hardwick Award; Betsy Marlowe of Ms. Ruby's Kids, winner of the 2010 Erin Hardwick Award and presenter of this year's award; Kim Clinton of HALOS, winner of the 2011 Erin Hardwick Award; Robbie Ellison, board member of HALOS, and Sally Ehrenfried, director of Community Relations and Philanthropy at Blackbaud, sponsor of the Erin Hardwick Awards.

We know you’re not in this business for the accolades, but occasionally it’s nice to get a little “attaboy” for a job well done.

Apply today for the Erin Hardwick Award or the Francis Marion University Nonprofit Leadership Institute Award.  Winning will get your organization the recognition it deserves and give you one less PR topic to think of on your own.

The deadlines are quickly approaching for these application submissions.  So what are you waiting for?  Make today as your day to apply.  You know your organization deserves a chance!

Robert Egger’s (our conference keynote)

Register now – $25 for SCANPO members

Since 2003, SCANPO has recognized member organizations for their exemplary governance and management and excellence in implementing SCANPO’s Guiding Principles & Best Practices.
 
This award honors SCANPO’s founding director, Erin Hardwick and recipients are considered to be among the best-run nonprofits in the state.
 
Our competitive selection process means that winners are truly distinguished organizations and receive much-deserved public recognition.
 
Submit your application TODAY and get the recognition you deserve!

Hearing from the brightest minds in our field. Learning about the “next big thing.” Listening to real-life successes and challenges from our peers who work in nonprofit every day. Making connections that will help you strengthen your work.

Inspiring Action.

Recharging your batteries. Getting fired up about new program opportunities. Taking home knowledge and skills you can apply to your work. Remembering why world-changing is what you do.

Registration is now open for the 2012 Annual Nonprofit Conference, to be held at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in the heart of Columbia’s historic Congaree Vista district.

SCANPO is thrilled to be celebrating 15 years of service to South Carolina’s nonprofit community, and our annual conference committee has put together a program that embodies all of what’s good about this sector.

Join us for our annual nonprofit conference and you will get the great speakers, exhibitors, and workshops you have come to expect from SCANPO, but you’ll also see an increased focus on networking, peer learning, and innovation.

We’ve expanded the opportunities for you to enjoy fellowship with friends old and new — with dine-around luncheons and our biggest and best evening reception yet!