Insight - July 27, 2011

Mark Twain once observed, "I've always been in awe of the power that Adam, the first man, had. He was the first to see things on earth and had the power to name them. Then, I got to thinking about Eve. I'm sure she helped. Then, I thought about Satan ... the first consultant."

We know that we can still find consultants that may not give the best advice. But here at HSC, we have a different view of our very talented cadre of consultants. We spend the time to check credentials, get references, and truly make sure our consultants are the most highly qualified experts we can find. Then, we match our consultants with our programs and members where they add the greatest value and increase the capacity of the nonprofit sector in Prince George's County.

HSC's consultants have assisted our Nonprofit Incubator Program (NIP) participants to apply the knowledge they received in the more than 20 capacity-building classes we offered them to strengthen their organizations. The consultants provided the technical assistance HSC's NIP participants needed to develop more engaged boards of directors, create strategic plan documents, resource development plans, and actually utilize financial and accounting software to track their funds.

In This Issue of Insight

Three very different nonprofit consultants offer three very different perspectives on their recent work with HSC's NIP participants. As a bonus, INSIGHT's editor has compiled a short list of resources to let you dig deeper into the three organizational development areas discussed: board development, financial management and resource development. We hope that with this glimpse into what it's like to work with a nonprofit advisor you will view and value consultants like we do, NOT like Mark Twain.

Yours in Excellence,

E. Kim Rhim

HSC Member

Service Organization: The Training Source, Inc.

Nonprofit Consultant on BOARD BUILDING BASICS

By LISA BURFORD HARDMON

One of the organizations that I worked closely with is Restore for Life (RFL). Their mission is to provide holistic treatment and support services for those healing from physical, mental and/or emotional abuse. I facilitated a Board retreat to help their directors better understand and prepare for their service to this nonprofit, and worked with the Executive Director and the Board to strengthen the infrastructure of the organization by identifying achievable goals and realistic action steps to reach them.

During the several weeks of planned effort that followed, our results were significant: the Executive Director recruited additional Board members; RFL leadership revised the Board manual; and, the organization held its first formal orientation for all New Members.

The organization had a variety of processes to orient new Board members in the past, but I suggested that they have a formal orientation meeting once the Board members received the Board manuals to answer any questions and discuss expectations. This step proved to be a real turning point for RLF.

The orientation allowed Board members to get clear on their role as Board members and to understand the expectations from the executive director. This initial conversation is a crucial step in building a strong and healthy relationship between the executive director and the Board members. The orientation of Board members sets the tone for a long term successful relationship. As a result of a thorough orientation process, RFL now has a Board that has functioning committees, a Board meeting schedule, and Board officers.

Today, RFL's promising future is supported by genuinely strong, knowledgeable leadership. Consultants provide a valuable "third-eye" to an organization. Often, having someone to review information and provide feedback to the Executive Director and the Board is crucial. I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to the success of so many outstanding organizations that HSC is developing.

Established in 2000, LCB Consulting, LLC provides a full array of management consulting services to nonprofits, businesses, foundations, government agencies and universities.Our services focus on capacity building, board development, strategic planning, volunteer management, and executive leadership development. Find out more about our services at www.LCB-Consulting.org.

Nonprofit Consultant on THE FINER POINTS OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

By GABLE BARMER

During the spring of 2011, J&G Consultants, LLC met with the American Aid of Humanity leadership to develop a fiscal strategy that would help the organization further its great efforts. Their mission is to equip seniors and children with tools and resources to overcome obstacles and enjoy enriched lives. They bridge senior and youth services, whenever possible, to create a system of care that benefits the entire family.

It was determined that a greater focus would be placed on organizational and program budgets. Aisha Hawkins, Executive Director for the AAH, worked closely with the J&G Consultant's staff to enhance the budget process.We separated each program and allocated the appropriate line items to develop the program budgets. The program budgets, combined with the administrative budget were pooled together to develop the operating budget. After going through this budget process, the AAH progressed in the following areas: Analysis & Planning became Execution; Thinking became Doing; Initation became Follow Through; and Goal-Setting became Goal-Achieving.

Mrs. Hawkins stated that she was very pleased with the progress that occurred over just a few short months.

J&G Consultants, LLC is a full service consulting firm that has over 30 partnering organizations in its network. They have assisted local government, non-profit and for profit entities in the areas of capacity building, organizational development and with a full complement of trainings for nearly 20 years. For more information, visit their website at www.jandgc.com.

Nonprofit Consultant on RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT READINESS

By QUINCI MOODY

Working with Marjorie Grays, Executive Director of Family Matters Empowerment Center (Family Matters) was extremely rewarding. Family Matters positively impacts the lives of children by helping their parents create and sustain healthy two-parent homes.

During our partnership, Next Level worked with Family Matters to complete a Resource Development plan. Marjorie and the Family Matters Board of Directors recognized a need to capitalize on its potential fee-for-service revenue stream. We focused on developing an outreach strategy and, most importantly, a feasible fee structure for their services

As a result, the organization is now delivering trainings that will reach approximately 200 area youth and their families through a paid partnership with District of Columbia Public Schools. Among other partnerships, Family Matters' work with District of Columbia Public Schools will potentially net a 70% increase in the organization's fee-for-service line item in the budget.

In addition to Resource Development, Next Level Leadership & Capacity Building (www.nextlevelnonprofits.org) provides nonprofit management consulting services in the areas of Board Development, Strategic Planning, and 501c3 establishment. Please contact Quinci Moody, Senior Consultant at qmoody@nextlevelnonprofits.org.

HSC SUMMARY STATEMENT Jobs First Act 2011

Lee Mason, HSC's Coordinator of the Homeless Services Project, offers a comprehensive look at the bill recently proposed by Councilmember Mel Franklin (MD-D, District 9) outlining significant changes in small business procurement and, as a result, jobs creation and community development practices.

The HSC Summary Statement asks some thoughtful questions about the transparency of the new budget process and the real outcomes it could achieve. Then, he breaks down the nuts-and-bolts of Community Benefit Agreements, a budget tool intended to ensure that representatives of local communities--such as nonprofits--have a say in how commercial developers plan their projects and how they provide human services that matter most to residents impacted by their work.

We urge HSC members to get a clear understanding of the Jobs First Act and what's at stake for local organizations and our community. Tell us what you consider the pros and cons of CB-17-2011 and how you would measure community improvements. Submit your input to info@hscofpgc.org before August 17 and our Public Policy Committee, made up of HSC members who are public policy experts led by Committee Chair former Senator David Harrington, will respond during their next working session.

BOARD ANNOUNCEMENT HSC Adopts New Procurement Policy

The Human Services Coalition recognizes that a successful, vibrant community is one with healthy companies committed to the Prince George's community. As such, when seeking vendors, consideration will be given to those businesses with a significant Prince George's County commitment or presence. Consideration may also be given to those businesses that support philanthropy in Prince George's County. In all instances the goal of the procurement process is to obtain the highest quality services, materials and equipment for the most reasonable prices possible.

Policy approved by Board of Directors July 7, 2011.

Copyright © 2011 - Human Services Coalition. All rights reserved. Insight is published monthly by Human Services Coalition of Prince George's County, Inc. E-mail: insight@hscofpgc.org, Web site: www.hscofpgc.org. Phone: 301-429-0414.

Editor: Dawn Goodman Washington. Contributors: Jerry Adams, Gable Barmer, Lisa Burford Hardmon, Lee Mason, Quinci Moody, E. Kim Rhim.
Publication Advisor: Colette Gingles.