United Way of the Bluegrass develops "Community Connectors" initiative to spur innovation and collaboration on community issues
 There are two kinds of community leaders. The first is obvious: mayors, county judge executives and the heads of companies, civic groups and non-profits. Then there are the "connectors."
Connectors are people who bring others together for the common good but often don't attract much public attention. They are grass-roots dreamers and organizers who know how to engage the right people, gather the right information, connect the dots - and get things done.
What is it?
United Way of the Bluegrass's "Community Connectors" project will identify 100 key connectors in Central Kentucky, based on analysis of nominations from the public. Those individuals will then be connected with each other, which should naturally increase communication, cooperation and collaboration across city limits and county lines.
Why do it?
Because United Way of the Bluegrass (UWBG) believes change can only come about by a committed group of citizens, they want these individuals to know their commitment to community and civic efforts is important. The day-to-day demands of community issues may prevent these connectors from being appreciated for the great things they accomplish and for the important role they play in making the community a better place to live. Their personal commitment of time and resources to promote the greater good of the community is what it means to be civically engaged.
UWBG initiated this connector study in an effort to recognize these people and honor them for their work in the community. They have something we all respect - an authentic and unwavering commitment to make their community a better place. This project "shines a light" on these unsung heroes for their work on behalf of the greater common good. Want to learn more? Check out the project website by clicking here!
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 Getting the most from your audit
The online board resource, Blue Avocado, describes having an audit as something akin to "having an autopsy...without the benefit of death". In an article published in their most recent e-newsletter, Dennis Walsh (CPA) attempts to help non-profits get the most out of their audit by helping them answer the following two questions: - Is our auditor doing a good job for us?
- Are we doing a good job managing our audit?
Walsh offers two questionnaires designed to address these questions. He also gives advice on the benefits of developing a good relationship with the auditors (trust, independence, timeliness) and why it is important to change auditors regularly. While audits are a necessary exercise in good governance and accountability, they are expensive and time consuming for both the staff and the board. When organizations commit that level of resources to any project, they deserve to get the most out of it. You can read the full article on Blue Avocado's website. |
Learning About Finance: Advice for Nonprofit Leaders
In the words of a seasoned nonprofit executive, organization leaders must recognize that "margin is mission": Nonprofits are created on dreams but run on money. Dione Alexander of the Chronicle of Philanthropy posted this recent article, interviewing successful nonprofit executives about how they mastered nonprofit finance and what advice they had for those considering nonprofit leadership roles. The article comes with four detailed recommendations:
- Build Financial Literacy
- Get Expert Advice
- "Look and Listen"
- Focus on Quality
Check it out at Philanthropy.com!
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One Million Volunteer Readers, Tutors and Mentors - Readiness Assessment
On June 21, 2011 - United Way Day of Action, United Way Worldwide launched a three-year initiative to recruit one million volunteer readers, tutors and mentors to help us reach our education goal of cutting by half the number of young people who drop out of high school by 2018. Local United Ways all over the US are invited to participate. To begin, fill out a quick survey online or download this form.
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