Give thanks.

Thanksgiving is upon us, and for many that means plates full of turkey, mashed potatoes and Minnesota wild rice. It means cheer with people we love. For some, it means working to provide a Black Friday for shoppers.

Whatever you'll be doing on Thanksgiving, we, as nonprofit professionals and aficionados, have a lot to be thankful for about the nonprofit sector in the Twin Cities. We've got a robust and diverse nonprofit sector, an awesome nonprofit job board, a 15% increase in grantmaking by Minnesota corporations and foundations, and one of the best tumblrs ever (holla, When You Work At A Nonprofit - you know me so well). We recently put out a call about what people are thankful for in the Twin Cities nonprofit sector, and here's what a few people had to say:

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"I am grateful that the Twin Cities sector continues to be a leader in the nation. We may not be as big as the DC or NY markets, but we're dedicated, innovative, and refuse to rest on our laurels. The Twin Cities is a leader in nonprofit thought, philanthropy and volunteerism. We're all lucky to be a part of that. I certainly feel that I am." - Virginia Brown

What are you thankful for about the Twin Cities nonprofit sector? Leave us a comment, a note on our Facebook page or tweet it out and use #YNPNTCTHANKS.

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Networking without borders

by Amina Harper
Follow on Twitter: @aminaharperart

Do you remember those kids in school that just seemed to get along with everyone? Those kids that could hop from lunch table to lunch table and always had the crowd in front of them excited by their presence? How did they have the confidence to put themselves out there without fear or self-doubt?

Networking can be especially difficult. Regardless of what sector you work in, you are likely to encounter some networking possibilities that are outside your comfort zone. And even though it’ll be awkward at first, putting time and energy into networking within diverse communities bridges us together and creates many more opportunities for everyone. Here are a few tips to help you do just that:

HAVE EMPATHY: When it comes to social situations, especially professional ones, have empathy. Everyone in the room you walk into has feelings and is probably just as anxious and self-conscious as you are. Once you recognize this, strangers become new friends instead of obstacles that need to be overcome. Realizing this can also help with your own social anxiety: it’s a reminder you aren’t the only one feeling out of place.

FOLLOW YOUR INTERESTS: Your interests are your best wingmen in unfamiliar social situations. If you’re more focused on the reason why you’re there, you’ll be less distracted by the possibility of embarrassing yourself in front of new people. Your interests can also open you up to new things you didn’t even know you were passionate about, introducing you to new people and opportunities.

ASK QUESTIONS: The hardest part about networking outside of your comfort zone is the talking part. Asking other people about who they are and what they do is a great way to take the focus off yourself and place it on someone else. Gearing your energy towards learning something new means you’ll be less worried about whatever you perceive your shortcomings to be. Asking questions can be a great way to break the ice.

DON’T CLIQUE UP: We all hated this type of behavior in middle school—try to avoid it when networking as well. It’s fine to have a core group of people that you do the bulk of your socializing with, but never limit yourself to that. Segregating yourself for any reason means that you are missing out on the experiences, stories and talents of others. The Twin Cities is rich with countless inspiring, skillful and creative people that have a wealth of knowledge to offer. Not only do you miss out on them when you cut yourself off, but they miss out on you.

OFFER YOUR SERVICE: If we want quality facilities, fun events, structured education and strong relationships, we all have to build it together; no one can do it alone. When I see that someone is working on a project that deserves more exposure and appreciation, I let that person know they have my help and support. Don’t be a shrinking violet when it comes to the skills you can offer: if you really think that your abilities can help someone, let it be known.

USE SOCIAL MEDIA: If you can effectively wade through the pictures of abused animals and political rants, those accounts can be put to good use exposing you to different events, images and people. Nowadays, people meet others via a friend request before ever meeting them in person and we learn about activities by someone clicking an invite button.

My mother once told me that everyone, regardless of race, gender or socio-economic background, wants the same things. We want our skills to be recognized and valued by as many people as possible, we want to be able to progress within our chosen field, and we want a rich human community that can grow and thrive. With this in mind, the things that keep us from coming together seem unimportant at best. Socializing and striving for diversity are ongoing exercises and these tips won’t turn you into the most popular person in any room overnight. But keep some of them in mind when you feel stressed or uncomfortable in a room full of strangers, and you’ll have that extra boost of confidence to be a wallflower no longer.

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Five Minutes in Hell in 500 words

by Helen Young Kouba
follow me on Twitter: @HanoCatherine

On a cold and blustery October night, over 100 YNPNers descended on Hennepin Avenue for YNPN-TC’s Five Minutes in Hell. Don’t let the name fool you—in its second year, this member event is quickly becoming one of our best. Eleven brave and talented souls took the stage to give quick and witty presentations on the topic of success and failure. With GiveMN’s own, Jeff Achen, as the evening’s emcee, our presenters shared life lessons and professional wisdom on everything from playgrounds to the Green Bay Packers. For those of you who couldn’t make it, here are the highlights, packed into 500 words:

Why social responsibility matters in dating
Danami, @iamdanami
Social responsibility is not just for the workplace. Use it to up your dating game by being conscious and open minded of how your actions may affect your date. Be interested in helping your significant other become a better person and you’ll create a memorable date, regardless of how long the relationship lasts.

Everything I know about social media, I learned on the playground
Jake Levy-Pollans “aka Dr. Dreidel”, @_jakelp
Much like 4th grade recess break, many of us don’t have the luxury of spending all day improving our organization’s social media presence. Make the most of the time you do have: pick only a few platforms to “play” with, be willing to share, check before you jump (post), and always follow the rules.

What does program “success” really mean? Cultural sector edition
Renae Youngs
Just ask Goldilocks; it’s all about finding the right fit. When planning for success don’t aim too big or small and find a goal that fits both your mission and bottom line. Ask yourself, is your program: mission serving, audience serving, and measureable?

Playing God with beer
Brandon Boat, @brandonboat
Homebrewers activate microorganisms to come up with some pretty adventurous beer these days (sweet potato beer?). Nonprofit professionals too shouldn’t be afraid to try new things as well. Just remember to always prototype, ask for advice, and don’t be too ambitious (30 pack vs. full barrel).

A Wisconsin Packer fan in Christian Ponders' court
Lindsay Bacher, @lindsayinMPLS
When you’re on top, it might be difficult to keep perspective. Much like Aaron Rogers in the last MN-GB matchup, follow these rules: celebrate, but don’t gloat; if necessary, qualify your success; always pay it forward.

The more real grown-up field trip: A journey from failure to success
Katie Hill, @czarkat
So your great idea fell flat? It happens. More often than not, you actually learn more from your failures. Allow yourself to see the good in these experiences: give yourself freedom to fail; be honest with yourself; always evaluate to improve.

Taking a people-centered approach to changemaking
Sarah Townsend Morris, @morrissaraht
It’s easy to forget to practice empathy when you’re faced with a difficult situation at work. Don’t underestimate the power of listening. Stop and put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Taking a people-centered approach means taking an empathetical one.

Bullet points are killing small children
Drew Gneiser, @DrewGneiser
When trying to ignite action from our constituents, take a cue from Charles Dickens (i.e. A Christmas Carol). People don’t want facts and stats; they want stories. Stories are what move people, stats simply provide context.

From rejected to accepted
Cymone Fuller
What would you do if you didn’t get accepted to a school that previously promised you admission? Don’t accept decisions handed down to you. Analyze the systems—challenge the processes people and organizations are using. You may find that you’ll go from rejected to accepted.

Bouncing back from failure…when you’re far from home
Emily Shaftel
Ever try and reach for the stars, but ended up falling? Hitting rock bottom gives you more freedom than you’d expect—there’s nowhere to go but up. Reframe your future and dream big. You’re more adaptable than you think.

This Hoyt House aka what NOT to do with a vacant 2-home
Sandy’Ci Moua, @SandyCiMoua
Success cannot always be charted. Sometimes success is realized after years of personal experiences. Keep your successes in perspective and utilize the resources at your disposal to assist those with less access.

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Opportunity, agility, and the kitchen cupboard: lessons in leadership from Kris Kewitsch

by Ruth Hamberg
Follow me on Twitter: @rehamberg

Have you ever gone to an event so awesome that you just wanted to run around and tell everybody you know about it? Normally, when I complete a thought-provoking and inspiring experience, I want to shout what I’ve learned from a mountain-top! (Or, more realistically, bug my cubicle neighbors with tidbits.) So please imagine that the rest of this post is conveyed mountain-top style, with perhaps a yak for good measure. 

Like many people, I spent Halloween with variously costumed friends and coworkers. However, early the next morning, I traded doctors, lumberjacks, and Disney characters for a different crowd: researchers, nonprofit staff, and other YNPNers, all gathered for YNPN’s monthly “Bring Your Own Breakfast” event. We had an appointment with Kris Kewitsch, recently-appointed executive director of Charity Review Council.

Seated in CRC’s new collaborative workspace with coffee in hand, we settled into a discussion on change, networking, and nonprofit and philanthropy careers. Kris didn’t limit her conversation to professional tips. She also spoke to the broader philosophies that have brought her to the leadership position she holds today.

The first pronouncement from the mountaintop: Change is an opportunity. In her journey from Piper Jaffray to a mass lay-off, to re-entering philanthropy at Target Corporation to Charity Review Council, Kris draws on a set of principles that would serve any young leader well. Her positivity was contagious and her reframing judicious.  “As long as you learn something from a choice, it was valuable,” Kris said. She said of the lay-off, “The company offered us a chance to do something else.”

The second mountaintop declaration is: Build a network of people who speak into your life in different ways. Some changes happen to us, and others must be initiated. While you should be intentional about professional development and ensure you are getting to do what you enjoy and excel at, there is a lot to be said for networking and seeking out different perspectives. One way to think of this is a “kitchen cupboard” of people to turn to with different questions. Kris’s openness in sharing wisdom gained from mentors also demonstrated her gratitude and willingness to pass along the favor—two qualities that I appreciate and hope to emulate!

A third piece of advice from the snowy peaks: Be agile, adapting to remain relevant and find the support you need. I gained a lot from Kris’s knowledge of philanthropy and nonprofits. She noted that it is often easier to find a job in corporate philanthropy by making a transition from within the company. The first 90 days are critical when beginning a new role. Board membership is a valuable way to gain leadership experience. And when it comes to fundraising in a tight economy, as donors say “No” more often, we must be creative: Change the way we think about changing the world.

Kris ended with an encouraging reminder: Each of us is intelligent and capable; we can likely excel in many different roles. The question to ask when considering a change, beyond “Do I have the right skills?” is: “Do I have a passion for this organization’s mission?”

One friend noted Kris’s “quotability.” Here are a few closing thoughts:

• Push yourself: Get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable—that’s when you can do great things.
• Find shared value and meaning: An organization's mission may be valuable and necessary, but if no one cares about it, your work won’t get very far.
• Know and advocate for yourself: Articulate what you want to do and become—ask for the opportunities that you are passionate about.

I appreciated Kris’s humble and humorous, frank style, as well as the way she has identified and articulates the driving forces in her career. I am so glad we had the chance to talk with her and other staff at Charity Review Council. The breakfast with Kris was worth the sacrifice of getting up in the dark and relinquishing an extra hour in my costume the night before. Thank you to YNPN for hosting it and for allowing me this mountaintop outlet (I’m sure my cubicle neighbors will be grateful).

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Life moves

By Kristen Wolfe

Recently I connected with a friend who had just returned from the east coast. As we broke into small talk and chatted about our lives, the all too familiar question popped up: “How are you liking your new job?”

From the way social media portrayed it, I assumed her job was nothing less than amazing and drool-worthy (those Instagram and Vine posts had to be true!). Her response quickly deflated the fantasy bubble floating above my head. “It’s okay. It’s just a job”, she said. She went on to say what a difference working in Minnesota was compared to back east. It wasn’t necessarily the job itself but the culture was less than pleasing.

As an Illinois/Chicago native and somewhat recent transplant, I could relate. When the words “passive aggressive” spilled out of her mouth, I winced and patted her arm--letting her know how much I felt her pain.

As we continued talking about work, I asked her what she was going to do next and she responded with: “I’m actually thinking about my next life move.”

Her words really resonated with me as I had continuously thought about this over the past eight years. Since the average lifespan of a position--especially in fundraising and development--is estimated to be about 13-17 months, it should be the question every young fundraising professional thinks about regularly... or at least every 6 months.

It’s important to take a moment to really think about whether or not this change will contribute to your long-term goal and if you’re making this move for the right reason. While it’s hard to deny that entry to mid-level positions can become redundant and less challenging, consider the first of two options before making a change--talk with your supervisor. Sometimes all you have to do is ask and that can make all the difference.

If you’ve considered that option or even tried with failing results, then update your resume and begin your search. Keep in mind, however, that if you’re simply making the move because of an intolerable Minnesota nice co-worker or supervisor, you will in fact find them at your next place of employment. It’s best to learn how to survive and do so quickly if you intend to stay long-term. I suggest practicing some emotional restraint and gaining some coping skills.

It’s also important to keep in mind that the more moves you make, the harder it is to be clearly focused on the ultimate goal, whatever that may be. For me, the decision has been to make life moves once the opportunity for growth no longer exists. I view my resume as a toolkit of skills and knowledge developed over the years through multiple positions that offer me a chance to learn and contribute--not by the number of years I’ve stayed.

Speaking with your boss openly and honestly can make all the difference when considering your next life move. Sometimes by simply asking and stating the case for more responsibility, a life move can happen sooner than anticipated without changing jobs. If you are a transplant like me, telling people how you feel shouldn’t be hard to do. However, be forewarned, this attribute may not be appreciated at first. If the investment is not there from your supervisor or organization and you’ve given it that old college try, take the time to research and begin the first leg of your job search. Just remember to keep the big picture goal in mind so you aren’t making an uncalculated move based on boredom and feelings.

As a somewhat constant “mover” (five jobs in eight years), I’ve found the most knowledgeable thing I’ve learned from mentors and references is to talk with my supervisor before jumping into a job search and putting my non-passive aggressive powers into action. You will never know what your options for growth or change might be if you never ask. Asking also gives you the opportunity to find your voice and assert yourself as a worthy, go-get-em young professional in a middle-aged, versed in life moves kind of world.

So, when you are getting that itch to make your next life move, consider the options and make sure whatever you choose works for you!

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