Blog
Earlier in the week, I facilitated a portion of a strategic planning process with the board and staff of Cultivating Sustainable Communities, an organization working on transforming Los Angeles into a sustainable City. Having already worked with the group to develop a new vision and mission, we then took some time to discuss and decide what the collective values of the organization were.
Everyone comes to an organization with their own set of values, which guide them in their actions and decision making. What’s important is for an organization’s leadership to decide on what their common values are. Why? Because these values will play a key role in guiding the organization as it moves forward. The values will help them decide how to prioritize their work, and help them with the process of making difficult decisions. It will also shape how they interact with whoever they come into contact with.
After a brainstorm, we listed about 30 different values. We then combined like values and boiled them down to six general categories. From this list, we decided the key value for each category and came up with six values. From this list, they whittled it down to five guiding values for Cultivating Sustainable Communities, which everyone was really excited about. I’m inspired by their choices and am really excited to see how these values shape the future work of the organization.
This week has been another busy week at the office. Right now, my office is outdoors on the lawn of Barnsdall Art Park with a fantastic view of the San Gabriel Mountains in the distance. Earlier in the week, I worked on top of a peak in Griffith Park and spotted two coyotes on my way into work.
As a consultant, my work tools are a phone, laptop and internet connection. When I’m not meeting with clients, I often decide to take my office mobile (with the help of a laptop shade, camping chair and wireless connection).
Oftentimes, I find myself working in the local mountains or by the beach. Sometimes, I decide to work in underutilized public spaces like traffic medians, or along the banks of the LA River or Ballona Creek. The other day, I was working by the tarpits at LACMA, and ran into an old friend who is a professional photographer, Elon Schoenholz, who snapped the picture of me below.
Through my work and where I choose to work, I’ve deepened my connection to Los Angeles. Technology, strangely enough, has enabled me to spend more time outdoors enjoying nature and the city.
.bmp)
(c) Elon Schoenholz Photography
Rising foreclosure rates – what to do? Affordable housing – how to preserve it? Mixed-income housing – how to make it work? Green building? All of these questions and more will be answered at an upcoming conference I’m helping organize: HUD’s Western Region Housing Summit on August 25th and 26th in Los Angeles.
I have had the pleasure of speaking with some of the region’s leaders working on cutting edge strategies to build, preserve and protect affordable housing. These leaders will come together for two days to share best practices with each other. I’m looking forward to it!
How do you start a nonprofit organization? And how do you raise money for a nonprofit?
I spent today and yesterday leading two different workshops on these topics for the annual Iota Phi Theta Summer Leadership Conference.
As always, my presentations were fast-paced, interactive and fun. Success in starting a nonprofit depends a great deal on leadership, and how that leadership prioritizes and implements its work. Successful fundraising depends on being aware of the fundraising process and constantly working to build relationships with people and institutions that would be interested in funding your work.
I really enjoy leading trainings like these. I ask a lot of questions and do my best to tap into the knowledge of people in attendance. Rather than just talk about these subjects, I usually throw in some interactive exercises where participants can practice and experience the different subjects we’re discussing. Action makes for good reflection. While I do present much of the information, it’s really just the beginning framework to start a conversation, which I then facilitate. Ultimately, I hope to foster a dynamic learning environment that engages people in the subject matter and gives them the tools to then make positive changes in their communities.
I’m leading several other trainings later this summer and fall that are open to the public and welcome you to attend.
I recently researched carbon offsets for a client, which are an innovative solution to reducing global warming through a trading system. As an individual, you can invest in these credits to mitigate your carbon footprint. Large companies, governments and other institutions also buy and sell these with the theory that it will ultimately help reduce emissions.
Funds generated from carbon offsets typically invest in projects like wind power, solar power, reforestation, methane collection and energy efficiency. While all of these are important strategies to reduce our carbon footprint, I can’t help but wonder why the transportation sector isn’t more prominent on this list, especially given the fact that such a large percentage of carbon emissions originate from cars and trucks.
If I had several billion dollars worth of carbon offsets credits to invest, I’d support institutions like Bikestation (one of my clients), which has a proven track record of reducing emissions by facilitating the connection between bicycling and public transit. I’d invest in clean burning diesel trucks going to and from the Port of Los Angeles. I’d support car and bike sharing programs that give people the flexibility of having the option to drive without having to own a car, or the option of borrowing a bike in the city. With the money left over, I’d invest in light rail, street cars, clean busses and bicycle boulevards. By investing in these and other transportation alternatives, we could dramatically reduce carbon emissions while simultaneously improving air quality. Sounds good to me!
Mission and Vision statements are critical pieces to any successful nonprofit organization. After all, everything else the nonprofit does flows from these two all important questions.
An organization’s leadership can spend countless hours brainstorming, refining and deciding its mission and vision. Earlier this evening, I worked with one of my clients, Cultivating Sustainable Communities, to craft a new vision statement.
After working with the organization’s leadership to brainstorm different aspects of what should be included in the vision, we narrowed it down to four major themes. Given that we had already been working together as a group for more than an hour, I suggested we break up the larger group and have each small group work on creating a sentence for one of the major themes identified.
This worked quite well! Within fifteen minutes, each group developed a proposed sentence which we combined on a sheet of paper for everyone to see. Together, we then refined the vision and explored one more theme to work on. At this point, I suggested we split the group into two, one to refine the sentences we had already posted and one to add a new sentence. Fifteen minutes later, we came back together as a group and after reviewing it, agreed unanimously in concept that folks were excited about this vision, and that the only work left was some final language refinements.
As a facilitator, I’m constantly looking for the best structure to assist with the decision making process. I believe that breaking up the larger group into smaller groups not only led to a decision made in less time, but that it also creating an even more engaging space for all board members to participate in the decision making process. Both the board and I are very pleased with the results.
Having grown up in Southern California, I do my best to spend ample time at the beach when summer rolls around. This summer, I’ve spent a considerable amount of time getting to know the public beaches of Malibu as an LA Urban Ranger leading multiple “Public Beach Safaris”.
“Public Beach Safari” you ask? Here’s more info on the Safari from the LA Urban Rangers website: “Tired of Zuma and Surfrider? Want to find and use the other beaches in Malibu? The twenty miles that are lined with private development? Our "Malibu Public Beaches" safaris show you how to find, park, walk, picnic, and sunbathe on a Malibu beach legally and safely. Each safari visits two different beaches. Skills-enhancing activities include a public-private boundary hike, sign watching, a no-kill hunt for accessways, and a public easement potluck.”
I invite you to attend. Enjoy your summer.
Sometimes it helps to leave Los Angeles and gain inspiration from other cities. I’m doing that right now as I sit at a sidewalk café here in Downtown Vancouver in Canada. Streams of people and bicyclists cruise by me – everyone seems to be out on this warm, sunny day.
In the 1970’s, Vancouver was one of the few decent-sized North American cities that decided not to build freeways. Instead, they invested in public transit, bikeways, downtown redevelopment and park creation. This intentional investment has created a very livable city, enjoyed by a diverse population.
I’m especially impressed by the diversity of people riding bicycles around town. This city boasts an interconnected network of bicycle boulevards – residential streets transformed to facilitate comfortable and speedy riding across town. These streets include round-abouts instead of stop signs so cyclists need not stop, car traffic limiting features such as an intersection that is designed to let bikes through, but isn’t big enough for a car to drive through, signal prioritization when you get to a big intersection and need to cross and well-designed signage. I can’t help imagine what a similar network in Los Angeles would look like on streets like 4th St., Heliotrope and countless others.
I’ve been raising money for a long time. While I’m extremely grateful for the $3+ million I’ve raised over the last 11 years, I often wonder if there aren’t more engaging philanthropic alternatives from the traditional foundation.
I’m happy to report I’ve found one in Los Angeles: Los Angeles Social Venture Partners (LASVP). Rather than depending on one large donation at the start like most foundations, LASVP has a venture philanthropy approach where participants pool their money together, jointly decide what entrepreneurial nonprofit organizations they want to support, and then engage those partners in a working relationship to strengthen the nonprofits they invest in.
I’m excited to now be a part of LASVP as a David Rimer Fellow and will work closely with one of the LASVP grantees, KIPP Charter School. Having worked for a charter school in Harlem, NYC, I’m looking forward to getting more engaged with this charter school here in LA. Through this experience, I expect not only to provide needed resources to KIPP, but also learn through the process as I collaborate with other LASVP partners on this project.
Rising gas prices have motivated many Americans to start bicycling and taking transit in record numbers. While I've experienced this anecdotally while riding around town, I recently learned first hand about the dramatic shifts going on around the country after researching recent media coverage relating to this issue for one of my clients, Bikestation.
Consider some of the following headlines: "Gas Prices Send Surge of Riders to Mass Transit", New York Times; "Bicycling in Region Rolls Up Big Gains", Sacramento Bee; "Interest in Bicycling Soars with Gas Prices", Boston Channel; and even "Save Money, Bike to Work", Christian Broadcasting Network. For every major media publication that covered this issue, hundreds of smaller media outlets around the country report the same phenomenon. Check out this Sunday's LA Times Opinion section as well.
As more people consider transportation alternatives, the more that can be done to accomodate these trips by making them safe and enjoyable, the better.
Locally, we have several organizations that are doing good work: Bikestation provides secure bike parking, the LA County Bicycle Coalition advocates for better policies, the Bike Kitchen provides a space for repair, CICLE gives people the education necessary to ride our streets with confidence. As a consultant, I've had the opportunity to work with the leadership of all of these organizations and am thrilled with the work they do.
Over the last several years, numerous bicycle related groups and rides have sprung up in Los Angeles, creating the beginnings of a more bicycle-oriented culture. While much has been gained, there is much work to be done to truly make Los Angeles a bicycle-friendly county. I'm optimistic that this will occur.
I recently had the honor of facilitating a board/staff retreat for the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition. After a day and a half, the organization’s leadership not only decided its annual goals and objectives, but they also built stronger relationships with each other that will fuel their work as they work to improve the bicycling environment and quality of life in Los Angeles County.
Why have a facilitator? First, having an outside facilitator gives everyone else in the organization’s leadership the opportunity to participate in the decision making process. Second, a facilitator helps the group stay on track and make the key decisions it needs to make. Too often, a group can stray from it’s agreed upon agenda. While a group may have had a good discussion, if no key decisions were made, then the time could have been used more effectively. While my role is to help the group reach a decision, at no point am I ever telling the group what decision to make. That’s the group’s role. My role is to help get them to that point.
By the end of the Bike Coalition retreat, everyone was excited to move forward. They worked hard during the entire retreat and at the end of the day, came to consensus on how they should move forward. I wish them the best and also look forward to writing more about more detailed aspects of facilitation in future blogs.
Imagine streetcars returning to Los Angeles. Picture a modern, quiet streetcar going down Broadway in Downtown weaving together residences, business and cultural institutions while also facilitating a vibrant street life.
On May 22nd, over 250 people not only imagined what a streetcar in Downtown Los Angeles would look like, they also gained inspiration from places like Portland and Seattle that recently launched their own modern streetcar lines. They all assembled for the “Streetcars and Cities in the 21st Century Workshop” held at the historic Orpheum Theater.
Earlier last century, Angelenos abandoned the streetcar. Now it seems, a critical mass is coming together to bring it back to life, and in the process, create more livable communities with welcoming pedestrian environments, mixed-income housing and locally owned businesses.
In attendance were the usual planners and policy makers, as well as local elected officials (such as Councilmembers José Huizar, who’s the streetcars biggest advocate, Jan Perry and Tom Labonge). A large contingency of Downtown LA stakeholders attended, including local business owners, residents, downtown BID’s, Neighborhood Council and those just curious about the concept.
I sensed an excitement in the air, especially as people lingered and networked outside the official panel discussion during lunch and in intermissions. The workshops were informative and covered multiple aspects of streetcars: what other cities have done, the feasibility of bringing the streetcar back to LA, design issues and local case studies.
Several morning panelists referred to streetcars as “development oriented transit” as opposed to the more common term of “transit oriented development”. Streetcars are as much about place making and they are about people moving.
As someone who helped spread the word about this conference, I’m pleased with both the attendance and excitement about the streetcar. While my sense is that the major stakeholders downtown agree on the concept, the challenge moving forward will be going from a good idea to implementation. One of the early morning panelists urged attendees not to get bogged down in planning and studies, but rather just build a simple, short first segment, which would build future momentum. Will the Downtown leadership come to consensus and make this reality? We’ll just have to wait and see.
For more info, check out www.reconnectingamerica.org.
For more info, check out www.reconnectingamerica.org.
Greetings,
Welcome to my new website! In addition to describing the services I provide, background on my experience and my past clients, I’m excited to launch a blog where I will share with you valuable lessons I’ve learned about nonprofit management over the last 11 years. Every week, my goal is to capture a bit of wisdom I’ve learned that will hopefully be a resource to you and your organization. Over time, I hope to build an online library that you can access anytime, on a series of different topics. If there are certain areas you would like for me to address, or questions you have, please email them to me. If you would like to discuss any of these areas in greater detail, please contact me. Thanks and keep up the good work!
Cheers,
Ron
The best fundraising advice I ever received was from a seasoned fundraising veteran name Susan. Shortly after I launched my first nonprofit organization, she said “Your job is to ask. The person you ask’s job is to decide. If you don’t do your job and ask, the other person will never have the opportunity to decide.” The key moment in the fundraising process is the ask. Get comfortable with it. Remember, it is your job. And if you don’t do your job, the person you ask will never do their job – decide on whether or not to give your organization money.
Ready to launch a nonprofit organization? What’s the most important ingredient? Passion. When I launched a nonprofit at age 22, passion fueled my work. When challenges arose, my passion for the organization’s mission helped me navigate through the tough times. With it, I learned everything I needed to success at leading a nonprofit – strategic planning, fundraising, board development, budgeting and so much more. So ask yourself, how passionate are you about the mission of your nonprofit? If your answer is “I’m extremely passionate about the mission of my new nonprofit”, then you’ve got what it takes to make your dream reality.
Let Me Feed You..