Cut the Fat Already!

If one more person tells me that I either need to “cut the fat during these lean times” in my non-profit budget, or that I need to “look for money elsewhere” due to all the state and federal cuts, I may say something I regret.  When that happens, I pity the catalyst.

Since writing is therapy for me – let me address these statements here.  First, the “fat.”  There is no fat.  Since we canceled the staff meetings in Cozumel, we could not be leaner.  Oh wait - I'm sorry, that was uncalled for.  Of course we’ve never had such luxuries.  Our staff sit cross-legged on the floor on 15 year old industrial carpet in the lobby during staff meetings and wish they were in Cozumel.

In all seriousness, I am afraid that we are too lean.  In our agency, lean means that our few enrollment staff have hundreds of volunteers in their queues waiting for interview slots that just are not available.  It means that criminal background and reference checks are stacking up.  It means that our match support staff members have too many families on their caseloads to be able to effectively address all their needs.  It means that we currently have 1,376 unmatched at-risk students on a wait list for a Big Brother or Big Sister. 

So lets move to this issue of “finding money elsewhere.”  The implications in the statement “you’re just going to have to turn to other sources to make up for cuts” are, frankly, almost insulting. That statement assumes that we are not always aggressively searching for “other sources” of funding.  It implies that we are not compelled to be able to hire the staff to match those 1,300+ students with mentors.  It insinuates that we are content to sit back and relax while “government funds make it easy for us.” 

All of this is most certainly not the case.  Make no mistake here:  When parents, teachers, counselors, therapists, principals, judges, probation and parole officers, CPS staff and other social service providers call us with a student referral, we know that we are at a crossroads in the life of that youth.  We know that the time to provide that student with a mentor is now. We know we could lose them while they sit on a wait list.  We are acutely, heartbreakingly aware that many of these students will not get the mentors they need; mentors who could help them develop the life skills necessary to overcome the environmental cycles of poverty, failure, abuse,  drop-out and incarceration they face everyday. 

But, just in case, if there are places we aren’t looking, and anyone who reads this happens to know of a source of funding, please, please let us know. Here is a summary of our current efforts:  We receive funding from many, many local businesses and corporations.  We conduct several friend- and fund-raising events, large and small – enough to keep our staff working overtime – every year.  We are the beneficiary of others’ fundraising activities.  We write tons of grants to foundations and receive our share.  We do all kinds of social media campaigns.  We are lucky enough to be a United Way agency and receive wonderful support from that organization.  We apply for and receive city, county, state and federal funds from a variety of funding streams.  We ask all of our volunteers and parents for donations and many of their companies also make matching contributions. The members of our Board of Directors make personal contributions and work to identify other sources of revenue for the agency all year long. 

We do all this alongside thousands of other non profit agencies in San Antonio and the surrounding areas.  It is the hardest work I have ever done in my life.  But it is worth every second!

A Ludicrous Job

One of the nicest things that my ex-husband, who is an attorney, ever said to me was that working for a non-profit is a ludicrous job, and he greatly admired me for taking it on.  But admiration, while nice, only gets you so far, to which I can attest, working in the social service sector for over 17 years.  I understand the point he was making regarding the ludicrousness, which is that so many non-profits not only have to provide services, but then they also have to find the money to pay for those services, on behalf of the clients they serve.  Crazy!  He rolled his eyes at the idea of not only having to provide legal services for all of his clients but then turning around and having a second full time job finding a way to pay for doing so.  

Those of us who are working to provide services for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, especially children, in order for them to be able to surmount the environmental challenges they face from birth, are being shafted, right along with our clients.  This really is a ludicrous job.  I am the CEO of a very well known youth development non-profit organization that has been providing a highly effective and well researched service for over 100 years.  Yet year after year we can’t meet the demand for our services, and year after year we struggle to find ways to pay the bills associated with the services we do manage to provide.  And we fund-raise our tails off.  Writing grants, putting on special event fundraisers, exploring the “infinite possibilities” of social media, and asking, asking, asking everyone and their mailmen for money.  And these efforts occur right alongside the thousands of other non profit organizations in this city doing the exact same thing.  Charitable competition.  What’s THAT all about?

I will never forget a lovely conversation I was having at a cocktail party, with the hostess, when I was new to my non profit.  About 10 minutes into this conversation she asked me what I do.  When I answered, she couldn’t get away from me fast enough.  I was frankly quite bewildered and had to experience this phenomenon several times again in my career before I caught on to the fear that caused her retreat.  She didn’t want to be hit up to support my cause.  To her credit, she was probably doing well more than her share of philanthropy at the time, but to my credit, I was not in the habit of asking for money from virtual strangers at social events.  Then. 

For 17 years, I have been relatively dignified and restrained in my fund raising efforts.  But these days, in light of local, state and federal budget deficits and the cuts I am expecting for my non profit going forward (coming right after all the cuts I have already experienced throughout the recession), no one is going to be safe from me.  I mean, how else in the world am I supposed to do this ludicrous job?  Our phones are ringing off the hook at the office.  The demand for services is astronomical.  And we can help.  We have the answers – but we can’t do it without funding.   

When I said that we have been shafted, I meant it.  We social service providers bear the lion’s share of responsibility for addressing some of our community’s most pervasive problems.  Problems like poverty, abuse and neglect, failure, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, and juvenile crime and incarceration.  These are problems that prevent our children from growing up and experiencing the American Dream that we continue to tell ourselves is still achievable for all in the United States of America.  But while we have all that responsibility, we certainly have not had the support to make it happen.  It’s not only ludicrous, sometimes I am afraid that it’s impossible. 

I'm So Glad I Answered the Phone Today!

In 1995 I was working at Big Brothers Big Sisters as a part time case manager.  One day a young man called the agency and changed my life forever.  He told me the story of being mentored in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program many years before.  He told me that he was now 24 years old and graduating from college and he was sure he would never had done it without the encouragement of his Big Brother.  He described how his Big Brother had opened his eyes to endless opportunities and gave him hope for the future.

This phone call, about a life changing mentoring relationship inspired in me a life long passion for the mission of mentoring.  For the past 15 years I have been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters as either an employee or a mentor, or both.  My Little Brother, Christian, and I have been matched for 7 years; he is 13 and just finished the 7th grade.  As the CEO of the organization my days are filled with fundraising and these are tough times for fundraising.  Budget cuts are being made much faster than I can make up the revenue.  It can be discouraging.  That's why, today, I am writing this blog post to express my sincere gratitude to a program Mom who called me up to thank me for the program.

About an hour ago, Mom M. called to tell me that her son and daughter just graduated from high school, and she wanted to thank the Big Brothers Big Sisters agency for providing them with a Big Brother volunteer and a Big Sister volunteer who helped her kids during some very challenging times in their lives.  She described some of the outings the kids and the volunteers did together.  She told me how the Big Brother inspired a love of cars in her son that has helped him think in terms of making career decisions and keeping his future in perspective through the hard times.  She shared that the Big Brother recently took his Little Brother to dinner to celebrate his accomplishments.

Her phone call was a much needed reminder for me of why we do what we do at Big Brothers Big Sisters - even during times like as we encounter cuts, and more cuts - and then even more cuts - and no replacement funding in sight.   Today there are over 1,400 kids on the waiting list for a Big Brother or Big Sister, and I think about them every day.  Thanks to Mom M., today I am thinking of them with renewed energy and passion - and a commitment to do everything I can on their behalf, so that one day, they too can graduate high school and look into a future in which their dreams can come true.

CHOOSING EFFECTIVENESS: Our children only have one childhood, and it is now.

About 10 years ago, a kindly reverend, who also happened to be a 2 time Mayor of Philadelphia, visited a prison in Pennsylvania, and in that prison he met a grandfather.  He also met that grandfather's son and grandson – incarcerated in that prison.  Not only were all three IN prison, but they had all MET there.  And the grandson had a young baby boy—born on the outside.  The grandson appealed to the reverend, he said – “I am afraid – so afraid that I will meet MY son – in here.  Is there anything that can be done to make this stop?”  So that reverend started the Amachi mentoring program for children of incarcerated parents.  He began this program to stop the devastating, destructive, hopeless and generational cycle of incarceration that an overwhelming majority of youth in our country are facing, especially minority youth.  This program came to Texas in 2006, funded out of the Governors office and administered by Big Brothers Big Sisters. 

Since 2006, the Amachi program has served thousands of children of prisoners across Texas – MANY here in Bexar county.  Since 2006, 99% of these vulnerable youth have stayed OUT of the juvenile justice system.  In the current Texas state budget this program is completely eliminated. 

I understand that we have to make cuts.  I understand that we have to balance our budget. I understand that we must be fiscally responsible.  But I don’t understand cutting programs that are so effective, so necessary, and so economically beneficial.  I don’t understand making cuts so arbitrary and capricious in the sense that they do not appear to take program performance and outcomes into account in any way.  99% of youth who were statistically on their way to going into the family business are making different decisions in THIS program. They are making these decisions because their mentors are showing them that they have other options. 

Now there’s a word.  Options.  We too have options. Texas has options other than totally eliminating the highly effective programs and services that are so critical to the continued growth and development and success of our youth.   Programs like Amachi that without a doubt keep kids out of trouble and in school. 

These are turbulent times and we also need to carefully make the right decisions.  How we act now will affect the future of Texas significantly.  Our children are on a precipice; they only have one childhood, and its now.  At Big Brothers Big Sisters, our mentors help kids facing challenges see their way to making the choices that have the best chance for success in the long run. In Texas, we need to make choices that have the best chance for success in the long run. And we certainly cannot choose to abandon youth who are already so deprived of positive adult support.  We cannot send them yet another message that they don’t matter.   Making the right choices is not easy.  But choosing effectiveness is always right. 

What the Wealthy are Thinking about Philanthropy in the “New Normal”

Last week at the Association of Fund Raising Professional’s (AFP) annual Conference in San Antonio, Bank of America's Kenny Wilson spoke at the Friday breakfast.  He began by telling us that he is “not a speaker.” I have to insist that this simply isn’t true.  He was not only witty and articulate but eloquent and genuine as he shared his and others' thoughts about the “New Normal” in philanthropy.   Kenny described how he contacted some of the most generous philanthropists in San Antonio to get their perspectives on how the current economic environment will affect giving.  His research is illuminating.  

Nonprofits across the state and nation are facing catastrophic government revenue budget cuts.  Foundations are strapped.  Event revenues are down.  Kenny asked some of the wealthiest individuals to speak with candor about how their giving will change as a result of current circumstances.  Some of their comments included:  

 “Before giving, I will want a plan; with specifics and careful measuring.”  “My money is more precious than before.”  “I am more averse to risk.”  “I do not expect the growth of the past.”  “I will study the causes to which I will give.”   “I will focus on the top tier organizations.” “I will treat giving like an investment.” “I will expect a multiplying effect from my gift.”  “I will expect accountability.”  “There will be less giving to a friend’s cause because he/she gave to mine.”   “I will ask ‘Can someone do this better,’ or ‘Can we stop doing this and avoid duplication.’”  “I will expect more mergers and alliances for greater efficiencies.”  “I will give where my heart is, but also where the problems are; I want to help solve problems.”  “I want to be hands on; not detached.”  

In light of these insights from individuals who are positioned to invest in our non- profit infrastructure, I think it is both timely and relevant that this Thursday, a local group of funders is conducting a panel discussion on how funding is allocated.  They will ponder what “transformative social impact” could look like in our community.  Discussion points have been culled from the book “Billions of Drops in Millions of Buckets:  Why Philanthropy Doesn’t’ Advance Social Progress.” In this book, author Steven Goldberg postulates that by reducing funding fragmentation we can increase social impact.  This fragmentation is the result of billions of philanthropic dollars being “haphazardly” allocated across as many as 2 million non profits, which significantly dilutes the impact of those dollars.   The answer might be to invest greater amounts of revenue in fewer, highly effective organizations over longer periods of time while rigorously measuring progress.  (Piece of cake, right!?)  The panel was formed by Amy Phipps of the Zachry Foundation and will be moderated by Linda McDavitt from the Genevieve and Ward Orsinger Foundation.  Non-Profits leaders and funders will both participate in the panel discussion. 

Reality TV, potato chips and volunteerism

Ever hear one of these golden oldies?  "Charity begins at home."   "Mind your own business."  "Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you" (translation - treat people the way you would like them to treat you).  Have we completely lost sight of these age old principles to live by?

Increasingly, to me, the world today is just nonsensical.  Take "Mind Your Own Business."  That's usually damn good advice.  Today however, not only can we not mind our own business, but voyeurism is big booming business!  Strange, unreal, unnatural and just plain stupid Reality TV is skewing the development of our children, and wasting unconscionable amounts of the average American's time. What purpose does it serve?  How does it improve an individual, a community, our nation?  And have we become so shallow that it actually entertains?  Why are we entertained by pregnant teenager drama?  Bridezillas?  Why do we enjoy seeing people losing, failing, and being rejected over and over and over again?  

Think of what we could accomplish if we put as much energy into, say, volunteering in the community.  Volunteering makes you feel good.  Really, it does. And it's highly entertaining.  Millions of Americans devote millions of hours to volunteering each year.  Not as much time as they spend watching reality TV, I'm sure, but it's substantial.  And the good feeling probably lasts longer from the volunteering than the reality TV watching.  Kind of like when you're hungry and you go for the bag of potato chips, and boy, they sure taste good, but now you've mindlessly consumed hundreds of empty calories and then 30 minutes later you're hungry again....

I'm not saying that you have to cut out the potato chips completely (although that wouldn't be a bad idea, exactly).  Just choose some of the more healthy (or less horribly unhealthy) chips, maybe "Baked Lays" (not a chip eater, help me out here).  Have a few chips now and then, but go for the more filling, good-for-you and good-tasting foods more of the time.  And check out this link to making healthy foods taste better: 

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food/healthy/tasty-healthy-food-0307

And while you're at it, turn off that TV and find something that makes you feel really good at VolunteerMatch:  

http://www.volunteermatch.org/

It's commonsensical!