If you think your nonprofit's volunteering management strategy could stand a few brush-ups, you're in the majority. In a study of over 2,000 nonprofits, just 17% were deemed strong/effective at volunteer management. In an engaging session yesterday at Nonprofit Day 2010, we learned some important ways volunteerism and service can be better leveraged by organizations. › Continue reading... ]]>

If you think your nonprofit’s volunteering management strategy could stand a few brush-ups, you’re in the majority. In a study of over 2,000 nonprofits, just 17% were deemed strong/effective at volunteer management. In an engaging session yesterday at Nonprofit Day 2010, we learned some important ways volunteerism and service can be better leveraged by organizations.

Volunteer management: strengthening your organization

In the session, titled The New Volunteerism: What You Should Know About The Next Wave of Service, three experts and a moderator from across sectors took us through the many facets of managing volunteers and how to assess your own procedures.

Karen Baker, the Secretary of Service and Volunteering for the state of California, represented the public sector. From the corporate foundation world was Chief Foundation Officer Bobbi Silten of the Gap Foundation. Peter York, Senior Vice President at the TCC Group, came from a research and nonprofit board perspective. CompassPoint’s Executive Director Jeanne Bell moderated with pertinent experiences of her own.

Based on a large study from the TCC group, nonprofits with 50+ volunteers and a strong volunteer management model had significantly and markedly stronger organizational capacity than those who didn’t.

How to scale and improve your volunteer infrastructure

According to the TCC study, as the organization budget rises, human resources management practices tank. The presenters offered tips for tackling this and other challenges.

Some fundamental points include:

• Make volunteering fundamental, not an add-on: Volunteers can manage volunteers, and help with such capacity building as admin and fundraising. Build in programs where volunteers’ talents are engaged.
• Don’t let supply dictate volunteer programs: Don’t take on every volunteer, only those whose skills are valuable to your organization. Some may distract from your programs, so try to give them a home with other partners.
• In order to get a return, you have to invest: In some organizations, there was at least a 4 times rate of return for their investment in volunteers. Managing humans requires investment in human resources, or deep problems such as conflict, poor use of volunteers and low retention will inevitably arise as you scale.

Practical tips for successful volunteer management

The speakers offered many concrete techniques for adding effectiveness to your volunteer programs. Some of these included:

• Assign a board member to keep tabs on volunteer/service development: Supporting your volunteer force requires sign-on from multiple levels.
• Think about partners you could share training with: Build coalitions with similar organizations to share the load of volunteer training, and pool talent. Make sure your organizational “cultures” align, such as execution-based vs. slow and steady.
• Don’t underestimate the value of offering volunteer positions: Many corporations and businesses value the opportunity to have their workers feel grounded and connected to a deeper mission. Promote your volunteer opportunities with confidence.
• Consider family volunteering and fellowships: If you can, including periodic youth programs and small fellowships (they don’t need to be anything fancy) can keep your workforce inspired and add to your mission.
• Don’t forget about service: Service-based volunteers such as AmeriCorps can be a big asset to your organization.
• Consider the sustainability of your volunteer force: As unpaid workers, volunteers’ situations will change and some of them may leave quickly. Be realistic about training timeframes, treat them with respect, and make sure you have at least a backup or two for the work. Don’t, as one speaker said, give them a master’s degree in the position, but do give them ample resources and training.
• Keep a whiteboard: Write up the skills you need, ask clients and donors, and keep the board up somewhere, such as your website, where potential volunteers can find it. Don’t underestimate the value of new college grads who seek experience.

Volunteerism and service pay off for nonprofits

Volunteering “changes the core economics of organizations.” Some organizations are able to leverage volunteers 10-20 times as much as paid staff. The speakers recommended a proactive versus reactive approach to planning for your volunteers, and noted that the investment pays large dividends.

How do you help your volunteers find satisfaction, engagement, and a place to put their skills to work?

Many valuable tips by four insightful and hard-working speakers in the field. Many thanks to them for a great session!

Photo by Tukanuk

Today we joined the Nonprofit Day 2010 in San Francisco. After a fantastic keynote speech from Peter Bratt on the importance of storytelling, we joined a useful panel called “ Next Generation Organizations,” focused on how organizations can foster a new wave of generation leaders. Four experts shared their experiences and learnings. › Continue reading... ]]>

Today we joined the Nonprofit Day 2010 in San Francisco. After a fantastic keynote speech from Peter Bratt on the importance of storytelling, we joined a useful panel called “ Next Generation Organizations,” focused on how organizations can foster a new wave of generation leaders. Four experts shared their experiences and learnings.

Tips for organizations to foster next generation of leadership

The sector has been buzzing with the term “Next generation leadership” for the last 5 years or so. Who is going to be the next generation of leaders? Who are the leading organizations embracing leadership across departments? There are quite a lot of organizations right now that are doing development work around that topic, including Compass Point, the organization who put the conference together today.

There has been a shift in the way our key clients, staff, donors and board members think:
- Client: clients now rely on nonprofits to remain relevant
- Staff: nonprofit staff need stimulating work to feel attracted and stay within the organization
- Donors: they want to know that organizations understand trends
- Board: see people with divergent view points

Key features for the “Next Generation of Organizations”

Nonprofit organizations have now the opportunity to rethink the way they run organizations, specifically looking at its impact and the way they run their organizations. Here are some of the new values nonprofit executives should consider:

Impact-driven: Results oriented, rigorous metrics, welcomes risks. An organization should see risk as part of the learning process.
Financial and Business savvy: Organizations should manage a dual bottom line: financial viability and positive social impact. Separating the financials and the program should no longer be separated.
Continuous learning: It is key to look at all the different pieces within one organization. Team learning needs to be part of the business process.
Shared leadership: One should cultivate leadership in all positions. The organization’s structure should align to the values. When diverse perspectives are sought out, power is diffused.
Wired policy advocacy: builds advocacy activities into programs.
Ambiguity of work/life balance: The benefits are reciprocal for both the organization and the employees.
Constituents as thought partners: We need to discard the charity mindset – clients are assets and more importantly equal partners.
Board as value add: Board derives its priorities from organizational needs. Invite your board to bring their strengths and talent. Embrace them as thought partners.
Multicultural and culturally competent: Are your values reflected within your organization? Infuse multicultural perspectives and practices into work.

Tips on empowering your board members

Julie Davidson Gomez member, board member of Exhale, shared her story on how she joined the board of Exhale. While it is hard to convey her story, I wanted to share just a few of her tips:
- Don’t invite board members with a tone of desperation
- When you have new board members in mind, ask yourself: How are they connected to your mission? What is their passion? What are their skill sets?
- Do you have clear roles and responsibilities for your board?
- Hiring a new board member should be a rigorous process. Julie Davidson had to submit an application, give references and was interviewed by two board members around food.

Julie’s story was one of the examples shared the session. James Lin from Glide shared their multicultural work at Glide. Olivia Araiza from Justice Matters , talked about leadership across the organization and Miho Kim from Data Center talked about the shared leadership structure and processes she implemented.

I really liked Miho’s closing statement: “Shared leadership does not mean unstructured leadership.” Thank you all for this fantastic session.

Photo by angela7dreams

Where do the builders of the future converge? Three words: West Coast Green. On September 30 through October 2, innovators will gather at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco to talk about designing a greener world. We're happy to be an educational partner. You can join the West Coast Green group on WiserEarth to discuss related topics. All WiserEarth members save 30% on entry to the conference! › Continue reading... ]]>

Where do the builders of the future converge? Three words: West Coast Green. On September 30 through October 2, innovators will gather at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco to talk about designing a greener world. We’re happy to be an educational partner. You can join the West Coast Green group on WiserEarth to discuss related topics. All WiserEarth members save 30% on entry to the conference! Read on to find out more!

The basics

West Coast Green is a conference for businesses, builders and designers to connect, share best practices, and expand their visions. It features over 100 presenters, 300+ exhibitors and around 11,000 attendees. Industry leaders, entrepreneurs and government leaders alike gather to help drive the success of the cities of the future. This year, the theme is “the intersection of the built environment and technology.”

Highlights

West Coast Green has received kudos in the past for going above and beyond the average conference experience, in addition to being a good place to meet members from the industry. Another participant called it California’s most comprehensive green building show.

This year, the conference features such luminaries as Hunter Lovins, Eric Corey Freed, Michelle Kauffman and William McDonough, and panels on everything from developing integrated cities to green purchasing behavior, from passive houses to intelligent transportation.

Perks of being on WiserEarth

Sound interesting? If you aren’t a WiserEarth member, it’s fast and easy to join. Once you’ve done so, you can click here for your WiserEarth discount off the full conference pass. If you check out the West Coast Green Group, you can post a discussion if you like, and find other conference discounts! If you’re interested in helping to build, or just learning more about, the green cities of the future, don’t miss this one!

Today we joined the Craigslist Bootcamp in Berkeley. In addition to presenting on two panels, we also listened to many. One useful panel, School and Community Gardens, focused on steps to building successful community gardens and getting schoolchildren involved. Three experts shared their experiences in getting things going and the many benefits the fruits (and vegetables) of such labor brings. › Continue reading... ]]>

Today we joined the Craigslist Bootcamp in Berkeley. In addition to presenting on two panels, we also listened to many. One useful panel, School and Community Gardens, focused on steps to building successful community gardens and getting schoolchildren involved. Three experts shared their experiences in getting things going and the many benefits the fruits (and vegetables) of such labor brings.

Gardens: not an easy sell

Think getting a community garden started is a piece of cake? Think again. All three of the speakers, Mohammed Nuru from the San Francisco Department of Public Works, Barbara Wenger of CommunityGrows, Barbara Finnin of City Slicker Farms,  and moderator, Daniel Homsey of the San Francisco City Administrator’s Office, were involved with community gardens in the Bay Area on either an organizational or governmental level. Several spoke of the challenges of getting urban gardens started. Among them:

• Finding a usable piece of land
• Community sign-on
• Funding and materials
• Neighborhood vandalism
• Training the community to garden

There were no shortcuts, but gaining the trust of the community was a big step, as well as connecting with local councils. They listed several agencies that could help with managing such projects. For those and other stories, read on.

A brief history lesson

Mohammed Nuru, who also grew up on a farm, provided a short timeline of the garden movement in San Francisco, the city where he works. It began during World War II when the government encouraged families to grow fruits and vegetables, dubbed “Victory Gardens.” Over twenty million joined the effort, some of them in San Francisco.

Later, the Reagan administration launched CETA, which provided staffing for gardens, and later still, the program was run through the Parks and Recreation Department. In 1987, the nonprofit the San Francisco League of Urban Gardeners (SLUG) was formed, and maintains a partnership with the city to help manage the community gardens. There are now hundreds of gardens in San Francisco.

Gardening for education

Barbara Wenger told of her experiences in the Western Addition of San Francisco some 30+ years ago. Back then, it was the highest crime neighborhood in the city, exceeding Bayview. She had a small child, and saw prostitutes and drug dealers on the streets daily. She wanted to do something.

First she tried applying for a grant through the city, but was told to garner community support first. She later interfaced with SLUG, and eventually founded CommunityGrows, an environmental education program for high-needs children, which developed and works with five parks in Western Addition.

She worked to bring children into the gardens by creating school programs for them. Initially, this was difficult, as teachers and staff were resistant and only gave her their troublemakers, but eventually they began to see the value of what the children were learning. This program, called BEETs, or Band of Environmentally Educated and Employable Teens, gained trust within the community over time. Some kids vandalized but later stepped up and became environmental stewards. It has made a powerful difference for them.

Gardens for health

Barbara Finnin noted that West Oakland residents suffer from food injustice: a lack of access to healthy and sustainable food. West Oakland men are twice as likely to die of heart disease or cancer as the average, and die 15 years earlier. She is the Executive Director of City Slicker Farms, an organization which helps West Oakland residents create high-yield urban farms and gardens.

City Slicker Farms has grown 120 gardens since 2005, and 15,000 pounds of food. They have created their own compost, 14 tons of it, out of 22 tons of “waste.” In addition to plants, they also train and help supply chickens and bees for their eggs and honey. Food is harvested on Fridays and offered in the neighborhoods on a sliding scale which goes to zero. No one is turned away.

Nuru also noted a gleaning program within San Francisco which moves unwanted fruits and vegetables to the San Francisco Food Bank. The Food Bank feeds over 24,000 households every week in the city.

Healing and helping the community

In sum, Nuru, Wenger and Finnin all provided inspiring examples of ways gardens they worked with were giving back:

• Education
• Healthy and stable food supply for all, including the hungry
• Transformative effect on surrounding crime
• Connecting the community
• Giving neighborhoods a stake in their own well-being

It was great to hear how these remarkable individuals brought such a multitude of positive changes to their communities, and how to begin the process oneself.

A few resources

• American Community Gardening Association
• Urban Harvest
• Food Share
• Your local city council
• Parks Departments

And of course, start with your neighbors!

Photo by jeffc5000

It's official! WiserEarth has been selected as a 10:10 global partner organization. And as part of the campaign, which engages every sector of society to cut carbon emissions by 10%, we're committing to go carbon neutral this year. › Continue reading... ]]>

It’s official! WiserEarth has been selected as a 10:10 global partner organization. And as part of the campaign, which engages every sector of society to cut carbon emissions by 10%, we’re committing to go carbon neutral this year.

Why it’s critical

Carbon emissions are changing our climate forever, and endangering the livability of the planet, so it’s time to get started! The goal is to cut 10% emissions starting in 2010, and every year from now on.

Since 10:10’s launch in September 2009, they’ve had over 92,000 signups for the campaign from individuals, businesses, and other organizations, pledging to cut their emissions by 10%. The campaign began in the UK and quickly went global, now including individuals from 128 countries. It’s great to see that countries around the world recognize the importance of preserving our climate!

WiserEarth and 10:10 official partnership

As an official global partner, WiserEarth joins a select group of high profile climate activist organizations, such as the Global Campaign for Climate Action, UNEP’s Climate Neutral Network, GoodPlanet, Green My Parents, Four Years. Go, and 350.org, sponsor of the 10/10/10 Global Work Parties.

As part of this campaign, members of WiserEarth are hard at work brainstorming collaborative solutions for the 10:10 campaign. Please join the conversation at the WiserEarth 10:10 group and help us make this happen! WiserEarth and 10:10 will also work closely together to seed 10:10 in Indonesia and Brazil, where we have networks, in addition to our headquarters in California, with more to come!

We’ll also be supporting and promoting the Global Day of Action on 10/10/10!

Getting involved

A few quick ways to start helping, right now:

• Join the 10:10 campaign to show your support.
• Join the WiserEarth 10:10 group to collaborate and add your voice.
• Read about straightforward ways to cut carbon, and make the cuts!
• If you’re feeling really inspired, assist or launch a 10:10 campaign in your country!

There are many ways to reduce your carbon footprint! Some suggested ideas are:

• Turn lights and appliances off when you aren’t using them.
• Reduce water consumption.
• Consume less meat, dairy, and imported or processed food.
• Drive your car less by biking or taking public transportation.
• If you need to purchase something, buy used items.

If you’re excited to go even further, you may want to consider the following:

• Garden in a community garden or plant trees
  
• Install solar panels – check out 1 Block off the Grid
• Encourage your office and local businesses to adopt sustainable practices
• Support the development of carbon reduction technologies in transportation and electricity
• Send messages to local and/or federal politicians to support important climate change legislation

Cutting carbon at WiserEarth

We also want to lead by example as an organization. In the last year, we’ve cut our emissions through reducing our servers from five to three, despite increasing complexity of the features we provide. We were able to do so by optimizing the efficiency of our software. In addition, we moved them from Texas to a local town in California which makes direct maintenance possible. Our staff is small and flexible, telecommuting one or more days per week. We share conference rooms, use very little space, and often work using only natural light!

We are proud of our light footprint, but this year we pledge to do even more. We are going carbon neutral: reducing our emissions from transportation, technology, and electricity as much as possible, and offsetting the rest.

We’re thrilled to be a part of this campaign! Join us in taking small steps to make a big difference.

Photo courtesy of 10:10

Recently, members of the WiserEarth community released the July/August edition of the Community Newsletter , collecting stories from Brazil, France, and India. Check out the issue here. Read on to hear an Indian perspective on WiserEarth by community member Jay Pattnaik! › Continue reading... ]]>

Recently, members of the WiserEarth community released the July/August edition of the Community Newsletter , collecting stories from Brazil, France, and India. Check out the issue here. Read on to hear an Indian perspective on WiserEarth by community member Jay Pattnaik!

Guest post by Jay Pattnaik [link to wikipage]

I would like to introduce myself to the WiserEarth community. I am an engineer of computer science from ITER, Orissa, India (class of 1999). I founded Maaway Trust, a nonprofit organization for education, health and the environment, and co- founded and assisted my father with two other organizations: Maaway Technology and JAPRC (P) Ltd. Maaway Trust and Maaway Technology were registered between 2008 and 2009. The name “Maaway” is a tribute to my grandma and her encouragement.  Finally, thanks to the WE community for giving me an opportunity to write something about my experience as a new member of WiserEarth.

My WiserEarth community membership has given me a kind of freedom, where I can share my vision and thoughts. It was a unique experience when I first laid my eyes on WiserEarth while I was searching for sustainable solutions on Google. At the time, I was assisting my friend with her report on environmental impact assessment and planning. WiserEarth is an inclusive project which aims to unite people of similar thoughts. I am writing this article to discuss certain things which I would love to share with the WiserEarth community.

I have always shied away from social networking sites. I don’t know why I was so repulsed. But I found WiserEarth more interesting thanks to its innovations, its ideas and because of the good friends I have now found.

The use of this platform has helped me to enhance knowledge-sharing and supported me in developing social connections with interesting groups of people. Getting straight to the point, it’s a common interface which has enabled me to share my thoughts with a worldwide sustainability audience.

I have now connected with thirty very good friends: good friends because their portfolio inspires me to work more on sustainability initiatives for society, and the environment.

As a member, I have found the following on WiserEarth:

Wiser Relationships

WiserEarth enables you to express yourself among experts and non-experts in the sustainability field. Moreover, as you interact with people on WiserEarth, you get to know them. People with similar interests can build trust in one another, which eventually leads to more meaningful relationships.

Wiser Environment for Mind Sharing

While interacting with people on WiserEarth, you get a unique perspective into their lives and their problems regarding sustainability. You can help advise them, and in turn, you will receive advice and trust from other members, resulting in mind sharing.

Wiser Network that educates you

While WiserEarth can enhance informal learning on environment and society, it also supports social connections within groups of learners and with those involved in the support of learning. The WiserEarth platform can broadly be used by members of an organization, for sharing their activities, and inviting other members to make an action plan. Thus this network is helping all of us develop communities for good practice.

Bringing Visibility to International Projects

WiserEarth showcases many international projects which hail from my hometown of Orissa, India. For example, there are many initiatives in undeveloped regions of Orissa. A few distinguished fellow academic researchers from Florida have initiated a bio-diesel project for bringing electricity to villages with no power. There are many other examples of eco-village project initiatives by OREDA, rural health projects by NRHM and wildlife management planning by WWF-India. In India, we are very much encouraged by such projects, for which we have great hopes. Building visibility for these projects is important though.

To sum up, it’s been a wonderful experience to be a part of the amazing “WE” community. I share (as many others in the community do) in the need for a noble plan for our very dear planet Earth, its environment and its society.  In our evolution from a Primate to a Homo Sapien, we became guardians of the most awesome creation called “Earth”.  I believe that building a community for a wiser development of our earth and future sustainability is an achievement WE must work on together.

Photo by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

If a boot camp makes you think of a bunch of people in fatigues being made to climb ropes and run in the mud, you're not alone. But the Craigslist Boot Camp is instead a highly enjoyable and educational affair... › Continue reading... ]]>

If a boot camp makes you think of a bunch of people in fatigues being made to climb ropes and run in the mud, you’re not alone. But the Craigslist Foundation Boot Camp is instead a highly enjoyable and educational affair…

A training day for the community

The Craigslist Foundation Boot Camp is an intensive but fun series of training sessions to strengthen your community impact. You’ll be among 1,500 participants in over 35 workshops, and hear featured presentations by several community leaders, including Craig Newmark of the Craigslist Foundation, Steven Wright of Salesforce Foundation, Marsha L. Semmel of the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences, and Chip Conley of Joie de Vivre. And no, you won’t be asked to climb any ropes.

Since 2004, 10,000 people have gone through The Boot Camp generously hosted by Craigslist Foundation.

WiserEarth panels

Come see WiserEarth on two panels this year, speaking on Fostering Collaboration Among Social Entrepreneurs (at 1 pm under Leadership and Impact), and moderating Local Actions, Neighborhood Effects: Greening Your Community (at 2:15 pm under Elements of Vital Communities).

Attendance

You can register here, and head on over to UC Berkeley on August 14!

Photo credit

One of our WiserEarth members, and director and founder of LEAP, Angela Sevin, has been working hard to spread the word about a proposed coal-fired power plant in Malaysia that is threatening the habitat of many endangered species. Please take a moment to read her call to action, and sign the petition to help save the Bornean rhinoceros, sea turtles, coral reefs, and many others from extinction. › Continue reading... ]]>

One of our WiserEarth members, and Co-Founder of LEAP, Angela Sevin, has been working hard to spread the word about a proposed coal-fired power plant in Malaysia that is threatening the habitat of many endangered species. Please take a moment to read her call to action, and sign the petition to help save the Bornean rhinoceros, sea turtles, coral reefs, and many others from extinction.

Guest post by Angela Sevin

Borneo needs your help!

Due to the grassroots mobilizing efforts and leadership of Cynthia Ong of LEAP, and the Green SURF coalition of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, a proposed coal-fired power plant has gone from “done deal” to being debated in the Malaysian Parliament!  In less than 2 months, Malaysia plans a power plant on the banks of the Coral Triangle- home to 75 percent of all known coral species, more than half of the world’s reefs, 40 percent of the world’s coral reef fish species, and six of the world’s seven species of marine turtles. The proposed site is also a few kilometers away from the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, habitat of several endangered species, including less than 40 remaining Bornean rhinos on the planet.

A professional assessment of alternative energy capacities, by Dan Kammen from UC Berkeley’s Energy and Resource Group, finds that Sabah’s energy needs can be met economically by renewable energy options that do not include coal-fired power plants.  Moreover, the addition of the coal plant would also make it difficult for Malaysia to meet its pledge of up to 40 percent reduction in carbon emission intensity by 2020.

International attention and pressure is urgently needed.  The coalition feels strongly that the Malaysian Prime Minister will respond to a global petition urging him to reconsider this decision.

http://bit.ly/dyeQTI Change.org Petition link
http://bit.ly/csDAht Facebook page link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAamNexYo_0&NR=1 YouTube link
http://bit.ly/9zxb70 Green SURF goes to Malaysian Parliament
http://bit.ly/9AKclu Najib urged to lead the way in clean energy
www.leapspiral.org LEAP website

Photo courtesy of Angela Sevin