Has COVID brought the end of the fundraising chicken dinner? Will organizations continue to bring in the money they need if they stick to virtual events?

In 2008, I began my Masters in Nonprofit Management (MNM) program at Regis University hoping to prove some of the detractors that I met in job interviews wrong. After being turned down for two jobs because I “didn’t have enough work experience or continuing education,” I wanted to prove that I could get real life experience and enhance my education at the same time. I never wanted either of these factors to be the reason I didn’t get a job.

One of the best ways to learn and grow as a professional is to attend professional conferences and this is no different in the nonprofit world. While attending these conferences and summits can be very rewarding, there are also many downfalls which impact a conference run by a nonprofit organization, its staff and its volunteers. Over the last three months, I have had the opportunity to attend three conferences where I have witnessed strengths and weaknesses.

As I stood in front of the 90 students, a smile swept over my face. Here were these students who were attending a youth service led by teenagers on Rosh Hashanah. I realized that this is why I love what I do. I took my seat and watched my wonderful high school leaders lead an hour long service and gained such an appreciation that these are going to be the leaders of the Jewish community for many years to come.

The time is now for nonprofit professionals to begin making changes on nonprofit boards across the country. For too long, these professionals have sat idly by and watched as many boards become too involved with an organization or too complacent. There are many boards who have board members in name only but many of these board members don’t even attend a board meeting throughout the year.

“Hands On, Fingers Out.” On a weekly basis my teacher, David Henninger, uses this phrase to describe one of the most important aspects of board governance. I never knew what he truly meant until I attended a recent board meeting for an organization I volunteer with. Nonprofit organizations are looking for a board to be hands on but doesn’t want the board’s fingers in every aspect of the day to day operation of the organization.

When thinking about Memorial Day and the soldiers who have served the USA, all of them have something in common…they volunteered. We are lucky to be currently living in a country where no one is forced to join the armed services. Every single man and woman who serves is signing up as a volunteer (in the end they get paid) but they are volunteering to protect our basic rights. Imagine what our military would look like if these people did not volunteer.