Strategic Guidance. Stronger Nonprofits.
In This Issue
Project Leader Applications
Project Launch Event
Meet the 2014-15 Clients
Compass Welcomes New Faces
Announcements
Join Our List
Join Our Mailing List
2014-15 Clients

Greater Washington

Achievement Prep PCS

City Gate

Community Foundation of Northern Virginia

Community Ministries of Rockville

DC Bar Foundation

DCTV

Easter Seals Serving 

Emmaus Services for the Aging

FRESHFARM Markets

Friends of the National Zoo

Friendship Children's Center

Georgia Avenue Family Support Collaborative

Housing Unlimited

Insight Memory Care Center

Latin American Montessori Bilingual PCS

Leadership Greater Washington

Literacy Council of Northern Virginia

Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities

Montgomery County Food Security Collaborative

National Cherry Blossom Festival

Northern Virginia Family Service

NOVA ScriptsCentral

Sasha Bruce Youthwork

Scholarship Fund of Alexandria

Seabury Resources for Aging

See Forever Foundation/Maya Angelou Schools

SOME

St. Ann's Center for Children, Youth and Families

Urban Alliance

Washington Area Bicyclist Association

YouthBuild PCS


 

Greater Philadelphia

Chester County OIC

Community Learning Center

Habitat for Humanity - Philadelphia

Hope Partnership for Education

Mercy Neighborhood Ministries of Philadelphia

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Philadelphia Works

Programs Employing People

SeniorLAW Center
Vol. 11, No. 3
September 2014
FROM THE PRESIDENT

 

I DIDN'T HAVE TIME FOR A DOG

 

I definitely didn't have time for a dog. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I couldn't possibly fit one more thing into my life. But then our old dog Prowler needed a home. It's a long story, but Prowler is the puppy I got for my middle son 11 years ago. After several years with us, Prowler went to live with another family in a different state. In April, when his family couldn't keep him any longer, they asked if we wanted to take Prowler back or if they should find another home for him. The look on my son's face told me the answer. So in May, Prowler came back to live with us. Over the summer while I was house-sitting in Maine and taking care of that family's dog (and not working, I might add), I realized that I couldn't possibly fit in a dog once I was home working full-time and taking care of my youngest son. I would have to get up even earlier to fit in a morning walk. I'd have to rush home from work to let him outside. I'd have to board him when I traveled and take him to the groomers regularly. On top of all that, I've never really been a dog lover like my son.

 

And then I came back from vacation. Almost immediately, one son went to college while the other two went on a trip with their dad, and I found myself alone at home with Prowler. I walked him, cleaned up after him, and sat on my porch steps watching him walk in the yard. And I was glad to have him. He is good for me. He makes me slow down. He makes me laugh. He is company when I'm on my own. This thing I really didn't want to do, and will probably still grumble about on cold, rainy days, is definitely the right thing for me.

 

It often is like this when we decide to take on something we're not quite sure we can fit in. I know, because for many years now I have talked to people this time of year about volunteering with Compass. We have just announced our 31 clients for the upcoming year. (See the list below of our amazing 2014-15 nonprofit clients.) We have begun recruiting Project Leaders for the projects, and we will soon open team member applications. Although it doesn't take a lot of time to volunteer with Compass, on average 2-5 hours per week between October and May, many people wonder how they can find time to volunteer.

 

I understand the hesitation. In our busy lives here in the nation's capital, sometimes we can't imagine finding two more hours per week. But I know from past volunteers that the two-hour investment of giving back to the community more than pays for itself. Like me with Prowler, you'll find yourself happier than you expected - leaving a client meeting feeling uplifted, and even finding time to stop to watch children on a playground. You'll see caregivers helping the elderly, and volunteers feeding the homeless. You'll marvel at our wonderful cultural offerings like the National Zoo and the Cherry Blossom Festival. And despite leaving work early and grumbling about "not sure why I decided to volunteer with Compass" as you navigate the traffic to get to your Compass client, you'll leave that meeting with a big smile on your face and feeling more relaxed and content because of the time you've just given to a nonprofit that needs you.

 

I hope you'll volunteer with Compass this year. Here's one lesson I've learned from Prowler: Sometimes when you do something because it's the right thing to do, it turns out to be the right thing for you.

 

Warm regards,

 

Suzanne

PROJECT LEADER APPLICATIONS DUE SEPTEMBER 10

Compass is seeking MBA graduates from top business schools to lead pro bono consulting projects for the amazing nonprofits listed below. If you want to have a personal impact on the broader community, Compass offers a substantive, intellectual experience addressing the unique challenges facing a particular nonprofit.  

 

Project Leaders spend, on average, two to five hours per week on the Compass project. Project Leaders work closely with the nonprofit Executive Director and Board Chair, and manage a team of volunteer consultants to execute the work.

 

Project Leader applications are available here:

 

 Project Leader Application - Greater Washington 

MEET THE CLIENTS IN PERSON
OCTOBER 1 - PROJECT LAUNCH
Join us for Compass' annual Project Launch! 

Wednesday, October 1
6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
The National Press Club

Prospective Volunteers are invited to meet this year's Clients and Project Leaders. Watch for an electronic invitation, or find details and RSVP on our website: www.compassprobono.org.

Thank you to Capital One, our Project Launch sponsor.

COMPASS ANNOUNCES THE 2014-15 CLIENTS

The short descriptions that follow hardly do justice to the work of these amazing nonprofits. For more details about each client and the specific project they have requested, click here: Client List, and join us at Compass' Project Launch on October 1 to meet the clients in person.

 

ACHIEVEMENT PREP PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL 
(Washington, DC)

http://achievementprep.org/

Founded to close the achievement gap between low-income and affluent students in DC, Achievement Prep serves over 600 children in grades 1-8 in Wards 7 and 8. 

Strategic Planning (Year 1)

 

CITY GATE (Washington, DC)

www.city-gate.org

City Gate operates several community centers in D.C. and Prince George's county to serve over 400 youth and their families. Board Development

 

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA (Oakton, VA)

http://www.cfnova.org

The Community Foundation is a grant-making and endowment-building organization in Northern Virginia, which awarded over $2 million in grants in 2013. Funding Strategy

 

COMMUNITY MINISTRIES OF ROCKVILLE (Rockville, MD)

http://www.cmrocks.org/

Community Ministries assists over 4,500 people per year in Montgomery County with healthcare, emergency services, language, and housing for the homeless. Board Development

 

DC BAR FOUNDATION (Washington, DC)

www.dcbarfoundation.org/

The DC Bar Foundation is dedicated to providing individuals in Washington, D.C. with equal access to the justice system by supporting legal representation for the vulnerable and disadvantaged. Strategic Planning (Year 2)

 

DCTV (PUBLIC ACCESS CORPORATION OF DC) (Washington, DC)

http://www.dctv.org

DCTV provides DC residents the opportunity to create and telecast their own shows on cable television, ensuring the presence of diverse cultural groups. Strategic Alignment

 

EASTER SEALS SERVING DC | MD | VA (Silver Spring, MD)

http://www.eseal.org

Easter Seals supports people with disabilities through early childhood education, medical adult day services, respite care, therapy, family caregiver training, veteran employment services and wounded warrior support. 

Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations

 

EMMAUS SERVICES FOR THE AGING (Washington, DC)

http://emmausdc.org

Emmaus provides education, nutrition, advocacy services and social programs to over 2,000 older adults living at or below the poverty level in DC. Strategic Planning (Year 1)

 

FRESHFARM MARKETS (Washington, DC)

www.Freshfarmmarkets.org  

FRESHFARM Markets' mission is to build and strengthen the local, sustainable food movement in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Strategic Marketing

 

FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL ZOO (Washington, DC)

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/

FONZ provides visitor services and educational programs, such as camps and classes for students and support materials for teachers, in partnership with the National Zoological Park.  Strategic Alignment

 

FRIENDSHIP CHILDREN'S CENTER (Washington, DC)

http://www.friendshipchildren.org/

Friendship Children's Center is a small early childhood education nonprofit with a mission to instill every child with a love of learning and community outreach. 

Strategic Planning (One Year)

 

GEORGIA AVENUE FAMILY SUPPORT COLLABORATIVE (Washington, DC)

http://gafsc-dc.org/

GAFSC offers services to assist low-income children, youth and families in the Ward 4 community. Board Development

 

HOUSING UNLIMITED (Silver Spring, MD)

http://www.housingunlimited.org

Housing Unlimited provides affordable, independent housing for adults with psychiatric disabilities in Montgomery County. Board Development

 

INSIGHT MEMORY CARE CENTER (Fairfax, VA)

http://insightmcc.org/

Insight provides care, support and education for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, their families, caregivers and the community. Strategic Alignment

 

LATIN AMERICAN MONTESSORI BILINGUAL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL (Washington, DC)

http://www.lambpcs.org

LAMB is a Montessori bilingual school for early childhood through 5th grade focused on English and Spanish languages. Strategic Planning (Year 2)

 

LEADERSHIP GREATER WASHINGTON (Washington, DC)

http://www.lgwdc.org

LGW connects diverse leaders and stimulates their collaborative efforts through dynamic education and membership programs. Strategic Planning (Year 2)

 

LITERACY COUNCIL OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA 

(Falls Church, VA)

http://www.lcnv.org/

LCNV is the largest provider of literacy services in Northern Virginia through one-on-one and classroom instruction. Strategic Alignment

 

MARRIOTT FOUNDATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (Bethesda, MD)

http://www.bridgestowork.org/

The Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities' centerpiece program, Bridges from School to Work, provides young people with disabilities with the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed through employment. 

Strategic Planning (Year 1)

 

MONTGOMERY COUNTY FOOD SECURITY COLLABORATIVE (Bethesda, MD)

(Website not available yet)

The Montgomery County Food Security Collaborative is a collaboration of nonprofits working to redistribute fresh, perishable food and increase collaboration among businesses, nonprofits, food providers, and families in need. 

Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations

 

NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL 

(Washington, DC)

http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/

The Festival attracts over 1.5 million attendees to DC every year to celebrate the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Japan in 1912. Funding Strategy

 

NORTHERN VIRGINIA FAMILY SERVICE (Oakton, VA)

www.nvfs.org

Northern Virginia Family Service provides workforce development programs, early childhood services, housing, health services and legal support to low-income families. Funding Strategy

 

NOVA SCRIPTSCENTRAL (Falls Church, VA)

http://www.novascriptscentral.org/

NOVA ScriptsCentral is a collaborative pharmacy whose mission is to provide life-saving medications and quality pharmaceutical care for the uninsured. Board Development

 

SASHA BRUCE YOUTHWORK (Washington, DC)

http://www.sashabruce.org

Sasha Bruce Youthwork improves the lives of runaway, homeless, abused, neglected and at-risk youth and their families. Strategic Planning (Year 2)

 

SCHOLARSHIP FUND OF ALEXANDRIA (Alexandria, VA)

www.AlexScholarshipFund.org

SFA provides Alexandria City Public Schools' students with financial aid information and need-based financial aid to help them attend college or get post-secondary education. 

Funding Strategy

 

SEABURY RESOURCES FOR AGING (Washington, DC)

http://www.seaburyresources.org/

Seabury provides personalized, affordable aging and disability services and housing options to elderly residents of Washington, D.C. and Maryland. Funding Strategy

 

SEE FOREVER FOUNDATION/ MAYA ANGELOU SCHOOLS (Washington, DC)

http://www.seeforever.org/

The See Forever Foundation serves at-risk children by creating learning communities in lower-income urban areas where all students can reach their potential and prepare for college, career and a lifetime of success. Board Development

 

SOME (Washington, DC)

www.some.org

SOME (So Others Might Eat) is an interfaith, community-based organization that provides the poor and homeless in DC with food, clothing, health care, and other services. 

Strategic Alignment

 

ST. ANN'S CENTER FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES (Hyattsville, MD)

www.stanns.org

St. Ann's provides residential care, transitional housing, and services to at-risk mothers and their children. 

Strategic Marketing

 

URBAN ALLIANCE (Washington, DC)

www.theurbanalliance.org

Urban Alliance provides year-long employment programs for under-resourced high school seniors through paid internships, formal training, and mentorship. Strategic Marketing

 

WASHINGTON AREA BICYCLIST ASSOCIATION (Washington, DC)

http://www.waba.org

WABA promotes bicycling for fun, fitness, and affordable transportation and advocates for better bicycling conditions and transportation choices. Strategic Alignment

 

YOUTH BUILD PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL 

(Washington, DC)

YouthBuild is an alternative high school that aims to transform the lives of young people who seek to re-engage in their education. Strategic Planning (Year 2)

NEW FACES AT COMPASS

Compass welcomes three new people on our staff.

 

Beth Dahle joins Compass as the first Executive Director of Compass' Philadelphia office. She has been actively engaged in the nonprofit community in Greater Philadelphia for 20 years. She has served on the Awards Review Committee for the Inglis Foundation's Awards for Continuing Excellence. In 2008, Beth co-founded Impact100 Philadelphia, a women's collective giving organization, which has awarded over $1,000,000 in grants during its first six years. Beth graduated from Duke University and began her career as an employee benefits consultant for Fortune 100 and 500 companies.

 

Anne Hefter joins Compass as the Director of Development and Strategic Initiatives. She has experience in nonprofit, strategic and operations consulting with education, fundraising and arts organizations, and telecommunications, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical companies. Anne spent several years at A.T. Kearney, the Conservation Company and Accenture in New York and Philadelphia. She received her MBA from the Wharton School, and her AB from Brown University. Most recently, Anne participated as a volunteer on Compass' project for the National Center for Children and Families/The Neediest Kids.

 

Elizabeth Elliott is Compass' Assistant Program Manager. Before Compass, Elizabeth was Assistant to the Director of the Reston Zoo where she assisted with day-to-day zoo operations. Before that, she worked as a Marketing Intern at RoundPeg, a marketing and communications firm focused on helping clients committed to the social good. Elizabeth also spent several summers at Elliott Marketing Group, a family owned database-marketing company. Elizabeth graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2013, where she majored in Marketing and minored in Economics. 

INCREASE YOUR IMPACT - DONATE TO COMPASS
Every $1 donated to Compass translates to $14 of consulting services to local nonproits. Donations from individuals, companies, and foundations make it possible for Compass to bring over 350 business professionals into more than 50 nonprofits each year. You can donate to Compass to support and expand our impact - and yours - by clicking the Donate Now button below.

Donate Now  
WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT
Compass' nonprofit clients benefit from the amazing volunteers who give their time, expertise and intellectual energy. We couldn't recruit these amazing volunteers without the support of the local business schools clubs. A huge thank you to the Partner MBA Clubs that help spread the word about Compass. 

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Columbia Business School
Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University
Duke University Fuqua School of Business
Harvard Business School 
Michigan Ross School of Business
MIT Sloan School of Management
Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management 
NYU Stern School of Business
Stanford Graduate School of Business
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth
University of Virginia Darden School of Business 
The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
Yale School of Management

And a big thank you for the ongoing support from
Booz Allen Hamilton, Arnold & Porter LLP and our Project Launch sponsor:

Capital One

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Nonprofit Sector Job Opportunities

The following organizations have job openings, which can be viewed on our website here:

Reading Partners - Executive Director


Leadership Greater Washington - President and CEO

Tudor Place Foundation, Inc. - Development Manager 
STAY IN TOUCH WITH COMPASS

 

Please join one or all of our online communities: 

 

Like us on Facebook "Like" us and watch for fun announcements, pictures and videos.

 

Follow us on Twitter Follow us @Compassprobono.

 

View our profile on LinkedIn Join the Compass Volunteer Network 

 

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 Compass Blog - Read the latest post by Compass Volunteer, Martha Searby: Snapshot of a Board Development Project