FROM THE PRESIDENT

IT'S THE JOURNEY THAT MATTERS 

In each of the past two years, I've watched my oldest sons embark on a new journey. As we packed the car and headed to their new home - college - I knew that the road trip ahead was just the beginning of their journey. For the four years that followed, they would explore new worlds, meet new people, and learn new information. At the end of the four years, they would hopefully have a plan for the "just out of college" years. While the objective was clearly to get a college degree, the four-year journey itself was actually the point - the learning, the introspection, the questioning, and the decisions. Interestingly, my sons reacted differently to the journey. One jumped in head first, quickly finding the classes and friends he loved. He never looked back. The other found the transition a little harder. While taking all the right actions - joining clubs, meeting people, trying out for groups - his heart was slower to follow. For him, the journey got off to a tough start and truly challenged his assumptions about everything. Watching and supporting from the sidelines, I also learned a lot. Throughout his transition, I have tried to remember that some journeys start slowly, but all journeys lead somewhere.

Interestingly, in my professional life, I spend a lot of time involved in journeys. When nonprofits come to Compass for assistance, I know that our amazing volunteers cannot provide answers on their own. Our nonprofit clients must be part of the journey. Throughout a Compass project, many of our clients will challenge their own assumptions, rethink the way they have always done things, dream about future possibilities, and come away with a plan for the journey that begins when the Compass project ends. I have seen nonprofits jump in head first and love every minute of the questioning and the dreaming. I have seen nonprofits come in with great intentions, but then find themselves challenged by the realities of funding, leadership, and the idea of change itself. Whichever way the journey starts, always at the end our nonprofit clients know more than when they began. They can decide about their journey forward with a much clearer understanding of the costs and benefits, risks and rewards.

Today, the Compass client application opens for 2015-16. This year, nonprofits can choose from six different service lines (see details below). If you are involved with a nonprofit, chances are good that we can help with the strategic challenges and questions facing the organization. The application deadline is June 15, so if this is the first time you are hearing about Compass, there's still plenty of time to figure out how Compass can help your organization.

I strongly encourage you to consider applying for a Compass project. Compass provides a team of eight business professionals for each project. Our volunteers will help you look at information in a new way, provide an ear for stakeholders to be heard, evaluate different options, gently guide, and fully support. Like all journeys, you'll be changed at the end. Perhaps your Compass volunteers will become friends or board members, maybe you'll learn new skills, maybe your organization will better understand its potential to serve your clients. The outcomes are varied, but anything is possible. I hope you'll join us for a remarkable journey.

Happy spring!

Suzanne

Compass' Client Application for 2015-16 is now open for Greater Washington nonprofits. The deadline for applications is June 15 at 5:00 p.m. Clients will be selected in August, and projects will begin in September.

Compass clients must meet the following criteria:

• Have 501(c)3 status
• Have a minimum of three full-time paid staff members and a minimum budget of $750,000
• Provide services that specifically benefit the Greater Washington community
• Not promote a specific religion, or religious or political beliefs
• Have an active board of directors

Compass offers pro bono consulting in the following service lines: Board Development, Funding Strategies, Strategic Alignment, Strategic Planning (two-year projects), Strategic Partnerships & Collaborations, and Strategic Marketing. See descriptions below.

If you have any questions about which project would be most useful for your organization or about the application process, please contact Kristalee Overdahl ([email protected]; 202-864-6492) to discuss. Or plan to attend our Prospective Client Information session on May 6. See details below. 

NONPROFIT JOB OPPORTUNITIES

The following are current jobs available in the nonprofit sector listed on the Compass website:

Washington Jesuit Academy, Chief Operations Officer 

The News Literacy Project, Vice President for Development

Mental Health Association of Montgomery County, Chief Development Officer

United Planning Organization, Director of Communications and Community Relations

Send your job listings to Elizabeth Elliott at [email protected].