We are thrilled you’re here! In the posts below, you will find resources, updates, news, and information about a variety of topics in philanthropy and the social sector. Enjoy!
MODERATOR:
Elizabeth Rowley, CFRE, President and CEO, Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan
GIVING USA PRESENTATION:
Amy Hines, Senior Vice President, The Alford Group
EXPERT PANEL:
Sally Cross, President and CEO, Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley
Walter J. Dillingham, Jr., CFA, Managing Director, Wilmington Trust
Online | June 28-30
Save the date for AFP ICON 2021. You can find out more information about AFP ICON 2021 here.
AFP Advancement Northwest Annual Conference | Open to the Public
May 14 & 21st, 2021, 8:30 am – 2:15 pm PT both days
Hear from leaders in the nonprofit community share their practical advice for fundraising.
Highlighted Session:
Day 2, 12:30 PM – Assess the Culture of Equity in Your Organization
Panelists Include:
By Molly Hansen, Vice President
As a consultant with The Alford Group and former development professional with more than 30 years’ experience in the nonprofit sector, when my colleagues and I see what is happening all around us, we regularly ask “How might we have the most positive impact with our clients? How can we improve our work so that our clients can better serve their participants, members, families, patients, students, children and youth?” Continue reading “Board Members and Nonprofit Leaders: It’s Time.”
By Brenda B. Asare, President and CEO, The Alford Group
On the heels of Black History Month and at the beginning of Women’s History Month, it is not lost on me that we need to celebrate diversity now more than ever. And it is important that we do not relegate our recognition of the contribution of Blacks and women to just one month.
Sankofa is an African word from the Akan tribe in Ghana. The symbol, based on the mythical bird with its feet firmly planted forward with its head turned backwards, serves as a reminder that the past serves as a guide for planning the future. It is the wisdom of looking back to look forward.
Diversity has been a core value of The Alford Group for our 41-year history and we recently renewed our commitment to fostering and creating adaptive cultures that are more inclusive and equitable in our work as a firm, with our clients and in the entire social sector. We are elevating equity-centered philanthropy as intentional action toward changing the structures, roles, processes, representation and practices that perpetuate inequities in how organizations communicate, engage and build relationships to support philanthropic endeavors.
By Karen Rotko-Wynn, CFRE, Chief Business Enterprise Officer, The Alford Group and Immediate Past-Chair of the AFP U.S. Foundation for Philanthropy
As I have stood side-by-side this last year with some of the brightest and most creative fundraisers that I know, I have continued to be amazed and in awe of the strength and utter tenacity of the individuals who lead our sector. It is an understatement to say it was an unusually challenging year. Continue reading “Planning for the New Normal in 2021: The 3 Cornerstones to Success”
By Michelle Bibbs, Associate Senior Consultant
“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” – Coretta Scott King
The start of a new year usually inspires goal-setting. In the social impact sector, we all strive for more than to just get things done. We aim to drive impact, to change outcomes – sometimes to change entire systems that affect outcomes for people and communities.
The times we are in have made clear that in order to make an impact for more of us, the nonprofit sector – like the public and private sectors – have to center inclusion and equity as core values and lean on those values to guide our work.
If we are not taking an equity-centered approach in our work, then we are only creating impact for some of us, not all.
If you change nothing, nothing changes. Uncertain times demand that we constantly explore new ways to make change in our workplaces and communities. In the current “new normal” the question becomes how? Continue reading “Be a SMARTIE: An Equity-Forward Approach to Goal Setting”
December 17, 2020
MacKenzie Scott, billionaire, author and philanthropist, announced this week she had given nearly $4.2 billion to 384 organizations in the last four months.
STATEMENT FROM BRENDA B. ASARE, PRESIDENT & CEO, THE ALFORD GROUP
With deep gratitude, The Alford Group applauds MacKenzie Scott for her transformational philanthropy to many Alford Group clients and other worthy organizations. We know these well-deserved gifts will be put to work to fuel their trailblazing work. Ms. Scott noted her full trust in these proven management teams who demonstrate high-potential for impact. Congratulations to our clients for being recognized for the work they do everyday to make their communities better, more equitable, and places where people reach their potential and realize possibilities. The Alford Group is proud to be your partner as you accelerate and amplify your impact as a result of these extraordinary gifts.
February 24-26, 2021 | Virtual
Creating an Equity-Forward Board Culture
As our nation grapples with racial inequality, the need for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in governance structures has become even more apparent. This session will illustrate how nonprofit boards benefit from DEI, can integrate DEI within their structures and systems, and equip board leaders with the tools to build or strengthen an equity-forward culture. Despite where your organization is at on its DEI journey, you will gain insights on how to approach governance for a better tomorrow.
Presenters:
By Alexis Cooke, Senior Consultant
Organizations have been in constant flux to respond to 2020. Your organization likely implemented crisis response plans quickly after the onset of COVID-19. These response plans may have transitioned into scenario plans to navigate the ongoing crises of this year and/or your organization made substantial pivots or even pauses to your organization’s strategic plans. As the non-profit sector continues to respond to the devastating realities of the pandemic and our country’s social and racial injustices, The Alford Group elevates four specific elements that will strengthen your implementation and positioning for success, if embedded into your planning processes – crisis, scenario or strategic.
Continue reading “Four Elements to Strengthen Your Planning”
MODERATORS:
PANELISTS:
Slide Deck: Planning Webinar Presentation_The Alford Group
MODERATOR: Alexis Cooke, Senior Consultant, The Alford Group
SPEAKERS: Dan Kowitz, Founder & CEO, JSB Partnership Consultants; Strategy Partner, The Alford Group
Nancy Wright, Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana
Slide Deck: Corporate Partnerships Webinar_The Alford Group
Service One-Pager: TAG_OnePager_CorporatePartnerships