Common Good的动态

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Sure, summer camps are great, but what if there was something more impactful for your child to do this summer? Here's the facts on the benefits of youth volunteering ? ? Volunteering builds empathy ? Volunteering improves self-confidence ? Kids can gain transferable skills ? Build leadership skills Interested in getting your family started in volunteering with Cypress Missions? Visit our website ??

When I started using outdoor and experiential education as my primary approach to teaching high school I immediately saw the changes in my students' faces, their body language, and how they navigated and interacted with the world. I could see and sense in their interactions with the world the shift in what we now call 'mindset'. Back in the day, people would ask me how I knew that what I was doing with these teens would be effective, long-lasting, and have an impact. In short, they asked, "What is the evidence?" Back then, my stock response was to say "Ask me in 10 years, then we will know how they are doing and how we did." Here are two personal stories that demonstrate the power of outdoor education to change lives. Last week, I saw a post (linked below) about OBCA staff member Roger Lopez and the critical role he plays as a lead instructor for Outward Bound California. His life journey is inspirational and out on course he is a role model for his students. It is not a coincidence that Roger is an alum of Get Out and Learn (getoutandlearn.org), a high school experiential and outdoor education program in the SFUSD. His experiences in that program offered him the chance to go on Outward Bound, which turned the outdoors into a lifetime career and put him on the pathway toward becoming an outstanding OBCA staff member. Similarly, Belynda Ray is an alum of GOAPe, a predecessor program to GOAL. Her success in that program led her to become an OBCA Pinnacles scholar and a life-changing experience in the wilderness. Today, decades later, Roger and Belynda continue to pay it forward to the next generation. The partnership between OBCA and community organizations give youth like Belynda and Roger the opportunity to go on life-changing experiences with Outward Bound California. None of this is possible without the scholarships OBCA offers. IT IS individual donations that make what seems financially impossible, possible. Yes, it was a previous generation of generous donors like you who changed Roger and Belynda's lives. Tomorrow (May 8th), we rappel to support the next generation of Rogers and Belyndas. Please join us with your financial support. It's worth it. https://lnkd.in/gMVc-mTU Roger's Journey with OBCA https://lnkd.in/gT34Rb9V

Founded in 2004, Higher Heights Youth Empowerment Programs, Inc. is a state-wide college access organization that promotes equal access and opportunities for under-represented college bound student to obtain a post-secondary education in Connecticut.??Our goal is to increase college readiness, participation and completion in Connecticut among low-income students, first-generation college-going students and students of color.Each year HHYEP has had 100% high school graduation rate, 100% college acceptance rate, and 80% parent involvement rate.?Higher Heights has personally employed over 95 youth, 100% have graduated from high school, 95% have enrolled into college receiving over $10 million in scholarships and grants.? The mission of HHYEP is to change the lives of?under-represented college bound students to?EMPOWER, ENCOURAGE, and EQUIP?them to obtain a post-secondary education. We’ve raised $3,000 so far and I am asking for you for support in Day 2 of The Great Give: https://lnkd.in/epBRpZ-t

As an Executive Director of a nonprofit, recruiting and engaging volunteers is part of the daily work. But there's something transformative about stepping into a volunteer role myself as an advisory board member for the school district. It reminds me that no matter our titles or responsibilities, giving our time connects us to the heart of the mission. Volunteering grounds me in the values I champion, offering a fresh perspective on the challenges we face and the people we serve. It’s more than just asking others to join in—it’s about actively living out what we believe in. By rolling up our sleeves, we lead by example and show that our commitment goes beyond the boardroom.

Here is a fun activity! Two years ago, I produced some materials for nonprofit boards to educate board members, volunteers and staffers on key governance, fundraising and strategic planning duties. And truly, they’re free and available on my website for downloads. They can be used in entirety or as individual sheets for board education “lessons.” But my next question is - what else does your organization need when it comes to well-curated, edited and available FREE educational resources. Because … I’m feeling productive and creative so I plan to deliver several more resources for nonprofits this summer. Some include understanding program evaluation, better human-centered program design and collective impact through collaboration. I will also put together my advocacy and education guides complete with how to build your own platform. So what else do you all need? What can I get for you? Information and education must be free and democratized. Regardless if you are a past, current, future or “probably never” client, nonprofits and the people we serve deserve free access to information.

Access to resources offered at Catholic Charities Northside Child Development Center and at V3 Sports is particularly important in North Minneapolis, because young adults under 18 make up roughly 40% of the population in the Near North neighborhood. Our children's futures will rely on the work we do today — Near North's unemployment rate is twice that of the rest of the city, and many organizations are working to promote economic stability, job opportunities, and education equity. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3LEjFTg

This webinar is based on a simple truth: before you get to explain to a donor how a Charitable Gift Annuity works, you must find somebody who wants or needs an income stream! Before you ask for a charitable distribution from an IRA you need to confirm your donor owns a qualified retirement plan. :) In this CGP webinar for emerging professionals on July 17th, Dan Shephard will introduce you to Intentional Inquiry, how to use proven tools to uncover bigger gifts - tools that don’t leave so much potential on the table. Click through to learn more!

It's interesting to see what happens when you speak out. In this case, it’s an invitation via Tim Eby to join the board at the St. Louis Civic Pride Foundation and the honor that comes with serving. The Foundation is an education non-profit, part of Explore St. Louis, our local convention and tourism bureau. The mission:?to energize St. Louisans to support their community. Here’s where I editorialize. This is an example of passion + need = opportunity. I'm passionate and vocal that each of us needs to SHOW UP to improve the cities we live in, for ourselves and the generations to come. And my home town, which has so much potential and resources, also has many challenges. Improving civic pride is one of dozens of things needed to address those challenges. Which leads to opportunty: when someone comes knocking, asking for help, in my experience you find a way to help. Bottom line: just say yes! I’m excited to join my fellow board members, roll up my sleeves and get to work!

This is your moment! ?More money for mission closes in 3..2..1 ? Registration for Values-Based Major Giving Academy is about to close!? https://lnkd.in/ghbXAu8H ? You comin’? ? A “YES” to Values-Based Major Giving Academy could mean THIS, in just a handful of weeks.?? ? ? Logging off work at a reasonable hour (or early!) because you see the path to individual donors covering a chunk of your annual budget and some of next year’s ?? ? ? A wide-open calendar. Not a single burn-out-inducing tabling “opportunity”, golf tournament, or gala in sight ?? ? ? A database full of thoughtful responses from donors. They want to learn more about equity. They had no idea who you were before the course. (Making your power for changing the status quo pretty limitless ????) ? ? Afternoon walks. Long weekends with your besties. A relaxed, confident vibe on your fundraising team. Feeling proud about the money you are moving and HOW you’re doing it.? ? (See this note from values-based fundraising client Tory, that, honestly, is what it’s all about. ??We can do this, together ya’ll. ? “...Sarah and Laura are true experts at crafting practical, real-world strategies for nonprofits like ours who are seeking to cultivate a joyful community of advocates…” -Tory) ? Today’s yes to Values-Based Major Giving can lead to many more yeses. ?