This article comes on the heels of Big Omaha, a an interconnected conference on innovation and entrepreneurship, right here in Omaha. A gathering of over 600 like-minded individuals, putting their ideas and passions together to make our community a better place to live and work. Proof that this feeling of endless possibilities and the confidence to make a change in the world NOW is present and among us. The momentum is building right here at home – can you feel it?

“Ayanna’s extensive experience volunteering with nonprofits combined with her ability to connect with people make her a perfect fit for this position,” said Mike Leighton, President and CEO of the Omaha Community Foundation. “We are thrilled that she will be a very visible representative for us out in the community.”

Ms. Boykins joins the Omaha Community Foundation from Metropolitan Community College where she has worked for more than 15 years, most recently as the Career Services Coordinator. With an undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and a Masters in Urban Studies from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Ms. Boykins is a long-time Nebraskan.

Ms. Boykins has extensive volunteer experience, ranging from the National Board of Directors for the NAACP to working within a local elementary school as a “Goal Buddy.” Her volunteer and professional work has earned her several honors, including being selected for Leadership Omaha and Ten Outstanding Young Omahans.

I had the privilege of attending a wonderfully orchestrated narrative and conversation today about the LA Riots organized by the Association of Black Foundation Executives and Asian American/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy.  Self-proclaimed “Student of Expression”, Anna Deavere Smith, gave a moving performance of excepts from Twilight,: Los Angeles, 1992, her one woman play which represents narratives from over 300 people she interviewed following the LA Riots 20 years ago.

As I reflect back on that explosive time, this experience to relive the journey through the real perspectives of those who lived it in very different ways was an emotional walk down memory lane that, unfortunately, did not feel so distant.  It goes without saying that there are important issues of raical and economic equity that still exist.  But not saying it is an injustice in and of itself.  We must own the social issues we face in order to give voice to the conversation about how we progress.

What inspires me today, following this deep reflection, is the promise of philanthropy to change communities.  Philanthropy has both the opportunity and public responsibility to catalyze action.  To bring us together.

Knowing how deeply seeded issues of racial and economic disparity are as the underpinnings of so many of the challenges we face in our community, let us continue to give voice to the heart of these issues so the next 20 year narrative we can write together will be different.  Knowing the quality of leadership with whom I have had the good fortune to connect through the Pathways experience, I am hopeful we can find ways together to rise to the challenge.

Norton also cites data from Gallup’s WorldView World Poll that charitable giving correlates with happiness in almost every country in the world. In fact, charitable giving correlates more strongly with happiness than with wealth.

It’s what economists call a virtuous cycle: donating money makes you happy, and happier people donate more money.

Join NAM for a morning of learning and networking. The day starts with breakfast and a short business meeting. The majority of the morning will be a fun, interactive workshop on ‘Building the Board of the Future: Exceptional Nonprofit Governance,” with Michael Daigneault. For details and to register, please visit the website.

The Women’s Fund of Omaha is seeking applications from local nonprofit organizations for its Excellence in Service to Women and Girls and Community Impact grants.  For details please visit the website.

Ironically, much of the discussion on systemic change plays out in isolated efforts to make a difference.   What it really takes to make systemic change is a system.  A collective body of participants organized around common goals, measures of success, and open communication.  And however easy that may be to write, it’s darn hard in reality to pull off well.

Stanford Social Innovation Review prides itself on research in thinking about how to work together to move the needle on issues of meaning and consequence, with the most recent article providing some guidance on making collective impact.  Locally, we see efforts in various arenas striving to do this well.  The Collective for Youth is but one concrete, local example of efforts to put pieces of the puzzle together for a more far-reaching impact.

At the Omaha Community Foundation, we believe in the potential of our community for greatness.  We support the idea that we are more powerful together than alone.  And we focus much of our work on ways to work together to make the best Omaha possible.

A stronger nonprofit community means a stronger city of Omaha. The Omaha Community Foundation believes it is achieving that through the Nonprofit Capacity Building Initiative, a 15-month program for nonprofits in the greater Omaha area to address organizational and leadership capacity needs.  We are pleased to announce the nonprofits that will participate in this year’s Initiative:

• Ronald McDonald House
• Urban League of Nebraska
• Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance
• Literacy Center
• Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy (HETRA)
• Latino Center of the Midlands
• The Kent Bellows Studio and Center for Visual Arts
• Heart Ministry Center
• Phoenix Academy

Executive directors and board executive leadership will meet throughout the course of the year to focus on assessing their organizational capacity and how to improve it to further their missions. They will also be eligible for a $5000 capacity building grant to be used on organizational priority areas.

Learn more about the Nonprofit Capacity Building Initiative, including how the program has evolved over the last several years and the lessons we have learned.

I am not referring to some extra dollars that are invested and used at the board of director’s discretion for special projects and/or needs. Or a cash reserve to help smooth out the ups and downs of an agency’s operational cash flow. While both are good practices and much needed for an effective nonprofit organization, an endowment is completely different and depending on the size of the agency, may or may not be the right option.

If an organization does decide that building an endowment is in their best interest, Omaha Community Foundation offers agency endowment accounts to nonprofit organization. Besides the management of the assets, our staff provides the nonprofit organization, staff and volunteers with a comprehensive package of resources on planned giving techniques, tools and procedures to assist with building the endowment account.

As the article points out, there are good reasons to have an endowment and good reasons not to have an endowment. The only way for a nonprofit organization to decide is to pursue the strategy and fully educate the board of directors to make the best decision on behalf of the organization. If the decision is yes, then let us help you grow.

What disappoints me about people’s inability to own their role as “philanthropists” is that it demonstrates the disconnect they feel in their ability to truly make a difference.  Merriam Webster defines “philanthropist” as “one who makes an active effort to promote human welfare”.  Nowhere in this statement does it speak to the financial capacity or identify of the individual making the effort.  The key is that these individuals, these philanthropists, take ownership, action, and leadership in a future closer to our potential than where we are today. With that lense, all of the people with whom we are privileged to work at The Omaha Community Foundation are philanthropists.

As we think about our community, how do we come together to redefine our perception of what it takes to be philanthropist?  How can we inspire and grow a new generation of people who can feel comfortable and proud, not elitist, to consider themselves philanthropists.  To read more on the movement nationally, you can learn more about the D5 initiative and the coalition’s efforts to provide visibility to the different faces of philanthropists.  Or better yet, watch the movie (courtesy of a blog post from the National Center for Family Phillanthropy).