by Adaobi Okolue
Follow me on Twitter: @aokolue

As I waited for my interview in an inconspicuous section of Loring Pasta Bar—which seemed eerily perfect for having big conversations with important people—I read over the blog post that caused a number of nonprofit and foundation water coolers to gurgle this past January. Maybe it was the suddenness of it all or the vagueness surrounding Peter Hutchinson’s announcement of him stepping down as president of the Bush Foundation. Wherever your mind took you, it was clear that there were some ripe lessons to be picked from a man who considers his sudden departure just the way he does business.

In your post you talked about knowing what part you’re best at and recognizing that part is done. How did you come to learn what you’re best at, what you love doing, and when do you know when it’s the right time for change?

There are two parts to this answer. The first is that you need to notice what you’re good at. When we’re babies and teenagers, we don’t know. We’re mostly trying stuff. On my very first day of college, it was the president who said, “Everyday notice one thing”. I thought it was so dumb when he said that, but it’s true. The way you find out what you’re good at is to find out what you’re good at—to pay attention.

Many of us are focused on doing. We take our signals mostly from the outside world. We’re waiting for affirmation. We’re waiting for recognition. We’re waiting, waiting. The truth is we experience it every day. We know better than anyone how things feel to us. The key is to pay attention, and notice what gives you a sense of fulfillment and energy.

This leads to the second thing. After you pay attention, you have to go with it—whatever ‘it’ is. Don’t deny the stuff you’re good at or what gives you joy simply because someone else says you shouldn’t do it or you can’t figure out how to make money. The most important thing is to go with your heart. Your head will always sort things out, but your heart is what will always give you fulfillment.

And it’s not a crime to say, I’m not right for this. It’s actually better for you and the organization you’re part of. If you’re trying to fit your round peg into their square hole, it’s not going to be good or fulfilling. It’s going to be painful, and even hurt you.

But really, we’re all experimenting all the time and getting feedback both internally and externally all the time. The question is: are we paying attention to what we’re learning, and using that to move ourselves forward?

The truth is there are trillions of opportunities and millions of jobs. The challenge in life is to find the opportunity where your love and skill matches the need. That’s where you’ll flourish. Keeping yourself somewhere because it’s the only opportunity you can imagine is actually making yourself a prisoner.

If you’re in the right place at the right time doing the thing that brings you joy, then do it forever. But if you wake up one day and it doesn’t feel the way it used to then do something about it. Notice that, and then be okay with it.

When you’re talking about experimenting, you’re also talking about risk of failure. How do you approach failure when it’s staring you right in the face and asking which direction you’re going to go?

What I always ask myself and others who are afraid is tell me exactly: what’s the worst possible thing that can happen if you did X? Most of us are afraid of stuff in the abstract. But if you ask people to be concrete, to be very specific—I could get fired—then they can actually deal with it. What can’t be dealt with is this abstract fear.

When we’re afraid we go into this fight or flight response, and we either go crazy or get real conservative or protective. It’s justified, if it’s really a threat. But if it’s this abstract fear that hasn’t been articulated or really looked at, then it’s hardly worth going in either direction. And I find time and time again, when people start to talk about the worst thing that can happen they actually start to imagine what happens after that and after that.

Another thing I always tell people about risk is: doing something that’s never been done before or is unconventional is not the same as doing something at random. The thing about risk is you have to understand it. What is the risk? Why would this fail? I had a boss that would tell me, “If you want me to do something, make it impossible for me to do anything else.”

If you think through all the questions and risks, then what you’re doing isn’t risky. It still might not work, but risky is doing something in which you are unprepared. If you’re prepared, have thought it through and believe in it, then you’ve increased the odds exponentially that it’ll succeed. It doesn’t guarantee it, but you’re no longer rolling the dice.

Things don’t just happen by accident. Things happen because people do the work. Change is all about putting energy behind something that you’ve actually thought about.

Look for Part 2 of this interview in next month's edition of The Bridge.

We're so excited about the movings and shakings of our members that we can't help but share them each month! Learn what your fellow YNPN-TC members have been doing lately in May's edition of The Scoop.

Here's what's new with YNPN-TC members in May:

Leah Lundquist graduated with her Masters of Public Policy from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and will be starting as a Program Manager for the University of Minnesota's Center for Integrative Leadership! 

Jennifer Tonko recently joined the Minnesota Center for the Humanities staff as a program assistant.

Brady Gervais is now Social Media Specialist at Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.

Jeff Achen will be ending his full-time employment with Minnesota Philanthropy Partners in June to pursue his own video production/photography/social media consulting company full-time. He will stay on with GiveMN.org half-time as a digital strategist.

Lori Saroya was featured in MinnPost’s YPN 5Q in April.

Jamie Millard was interviewed by the Chronicle of Philanthropy for an article on cultivating a culture of writing in the nonprofit sector. Read the article here (flip through to page CE-3).

Four YNPN-TC members won tickets to the sold-out InCommons Social Innovation Lab on May 22^nd through our Twitter ticket giveaway: Colin McLain, James Faghmous, Sherilyn Howes and Valerie Steffl. We look forward to hearing about their experience!

Alison Griffin helped organize “Beer, Bread and Ballots: Crafting Community from the Ground Up,” a great fundraising event for the League of Women Voters held on May 10.

Jenna Wade launched a personal blog on her rehabbed/redesigned thrift store purchases: thefindandthephoenix.com.

Mentorship was a hot topic at YNPN’s Turn It Up to 11 event last November and continues to be on the minds of our board as we look toward the future of YNPN and our own personal career paths. Just as YNPN looks to other organizations to show us next steps, we members can do the same in our personal lives and careers by choosing mentors who have collected knowledge, experience and finely honed talents we admire and hope to emulate in the future.

I have been surprised as the number of folks I meet that have never considered mentorship as a conscious practice in their personal development. I can tout the amazing gifts on both ends of the relationship from personal experience. Rather than convince you of the awesomeness of having a mentor, I’d like to give a few tips on best practices in the mentorship/protégé relationship and leave the finding of the awesomeness in the relationship up to you.

• Know Your Needs: Before you go out and hit someone up to take you on, it is smart to do a personal assessment. THREE simple things to look for: 1) Find out where you are, 2) where you are going and 3) if it is where you want to go.

• Set Goals: Take a look at your biggest needs and set goals that you can clearly articulate. Yes! There is room for creep, and being comfortable with “I don’t know” is one of the bonuses of these relationships. But having a few clear, basic goals will help you with choosing folks that can help you most.

• Build a Range of Mentorship: A mix of casual and formal mentorship with a sprinkle of variety in network, age and experience ranges is part of a healthy professional diet. This includes taking on the role of mentoring yourself. You’ll have a broad support network that may serve you through unexpected turns in your career.

The final and most important consideration is to:

• Let Go of the Idea of Your Mentor: Picking mentors that we admire for skills, connections, knowledge and experience we hope to achieve can sometimes mean we have a preconceived notion of what they can offer. My best experiences are ones where the mentor/protégé relationship can be reconsidered over time. Growth and relationship building can go both ways and the farther the relationships go beyond the idea of the mentor or position of the mentor the greater chance for a long term relationship.

Do you have a mentor? Are you a mentor? What recommendations do you have for making the most of this relationship?

by Bridget Ulrich
follow me on Twitter: @BridgetMPLS

CRAVE Restaurants exploded onto the scene in 2008. While most were checking out their great happy hours I focused in on their then lesser-known CRAVE CARES initiative. Over the years I have watched this innovative program evolve into a full-fledged power house within the nonprofit community. CRAVE projects that by the end of 2012 they will have raised nearly $400,000 for hundreds of local nonprofits including Children’s Cancer Research Fun, Smile Network, the Animal Humane Society and Girl Scouts of MN. To learn more about this ever evolving program I spoke with CRAVE’s Marketing Director, Zach Sussman.

Why was the CRAVE CARES Program founded?

The CRAVE CARES program was created out of our desire to give back to the organizations that are the heart of our community. These organizations provide incredible services and support. CRAVE CARES gives us a chance to connect our customers with nonprofit organizations and everyone benefits.

How exactly does it support local nonprofits?

CRAVE CARES supports nonprofits by hosting fundraising events, creating special menus to raise funds and awareness, making donations to silent auctions and most recently sponsoring the CRAVE CARES Heart of the Event Awards.

How can I get my nonprofit involved in The CRAVE CARES Program?

 We are always considering new organizations to work with. Just visit our website and select “CRAVE CARES” from the drop down menu to submit your contact information and voice your interest in being a CRAVE CARES partner.

How do you think the CRAVE CARES Program is changing our local dining scene?

We have seen cause-related marketing in our restaurant industry increase dramatically over the past few years- which we love! We encourage our fellow restaurateurs to jump on the bandwagon and support the communities we serve. CRAVE is excited to be a part of this movement and we see it as a huge win for the Twin Cities non-profit community. We have taken some great steps with the CRAVE CARES program, but we can’t do it all on our own, and we’re thrilled to see others engaging and supporting our non-profit community.

Check out their next event- CRAVE CARES Pink Carpet Event

Why: This inaugural event honors the 20th anniversary of Susan G. Komen’s “Race for the Cure” with net proceeds benefiting the Minnesota Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

When: Friday, May 11, 7pm- 12am

Where: CRAVE Downtown Minneapolis

What to expect: The evening will feature custom pink creations by local designers, food and drink experiences along with exclusive patio access and more surprises.

For more information and tickets click here,

It's hard to keep up with all the moves of YNPN members, but we're trying. Find out what's new this month, from promotions and grad schools to conference presentations and brand new jobs.

Here’s what’s new with YNPN-TC members in April:

Kate Borman was promoted to Communications Coordinator at Nonprofits Assistance Fund.

YNPN-TC board member Leah Lundquist and YNPN national Executive Director Trish Tchume will be partnering to present a session called "Creating leader-ful spaces" at the June 26th Minnesota Council of Nonprofits/Humphrey School Nonprofit Leadership Conference on July 26.

Julia Quanrud was recently selected as a Civic Scholar for the 2012 National Conference on Volunteering and Service. The Civic Scholars Program, an initiative of the Points of Light Foundation, is "an opportunity for the brightest, most-promising civic entrepreneurs to connect and collaborate for greater community impact."

Michaela Charleston accepted a new position as Membership Manager at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.

Nick Scheibel is now Philanthropic Services Advisor at The Minneapolis Foundation.

Masha Finn took a new position as College to Career Program Coordinator in the Alumni Relations office at the University of Minnesota's College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences.

Andrea Salazar was accepted into the University of St. Thomas Full-Time MBA program and will be starting classes in the fall.

Regan Smith has taken a new position as Community Engagement Program Associate at AchieveMpls.

Carl Atiya Swanson has taken a position as Executive Assistant at Springboard for the Arts.

Jeanna Hensler was recently promoted to Philanthropic Services Associate at The Minneapolis Foundation.

Ben Schatz is now the Lead Analyst at The Stone Arch Bridge Group.

Share your news for our May edition by emailing bridge@ynpntwincities.org.

by Lauren Van Schepen
follow me on Twitter: @lvanschepen

As a young nonprofit professional I had, until very recently, no idea what a board of directors did. Even as someone fascinated by the structure and composition of nonprofits’ organizational charts I could give you only the vaguest of answers when asked what the responsibilities, activities, and benefits of board service actually are. (I’m completely aware that this last sentence outs me as a governance geek, which I hope you will not only forgive me for, but come to see as endearingly dorky.)

The truth is, even as the worker bees of nonprofit hives, we rarely know what the queen and her posse are up to on a daily basis. Sure, when there’s a crisis we get a statement from a board chair. When there’s an Executive Director search in progress we may hear more. But what do boards do? What is “executive committee” and what goes on there? Why would someone even want to be on a board?

We are hoping that in this regular column, “On Board,” we will be able to discuss some of these questions. Not only do we want to focus on governance content, but also encourage you to consider your own leadership development, and possible service on a committee or board. Governance is a mysterious term we often hear, but rarely define. So, stay tuned! We look forward to delving into these questions and conversations with you over the coming months.

*If you have a topic you would like to see covered in “On Board,” please email Lauren Van Schepen.

YNPN-TC members are all over the place, from MinnPost to the Star Tribune to upcoming conferences and more. Learn what your peers are up to in this month's edition of The Scoop. And email updates for April to bridge@ynpntwincities.org.

Here's what's new with our members this month:

Richard Matson-Daley will be leading a session at the NTEN Conference this year on Wednesday, April 4^th from 3:30-5pm.. The session is called Asking Good Questions: Keys to Assessing your Technology Needs and will be a discussion-style session aimed at understanding how technology assessments can fail and how to make sure that they succeed.

Lan Freitag of the Greater Twin Cities United Way was featured in MinnPost's YPN5Q on March 2.

Rinal Ray, staff attorney at the Minnesota Justice Foundation, was featured in MinnPost’s YPN5Q on March 9.

Bridget Ulrich was quoted in a Star Tribune article on The LEAD Project and its five year anniversary celebration.

Ada Okolue has joined The BrandLab as their new Connect Director. In this role she will be working to engage students who have completed the BrandLab program through peer networking and career-building opportunities outside of the classroom.

Andrew Nilsen was promoted to Regional Field Director for Obama for America, the President's re-election campaign.

Jamie Millard, Regan Smith and Megan Murphy of Paper Darts Magazine have teamed up with Pollen in the upcoming launch of bepollen.com on April 1.

Azra Thakur recently signed on board to be a volunteer YNPN-TC blog editor.

Amanda Bingham's guest blog post for NPTalk.co was published on March 9: The Subtle Art of Online Marketing on Twitter.

Austin Wiebe just began a new job as Web Marketing Coordinator at National MS Society, Upper Midwest Chapter.

by Lisa Joyslin
follow me on Twitter: @ltjoyslin

Have you ever seen a request for conference proposals and thought, “Hey, I should do that,” only to find a million excuses to miss the deadline? I’m a terrible public speaker. They wouldn’t accept me anyway. What could I teach a group of experienced professionals?

You’re not the only one. Presenting at conferences or seminars can be a daunting task, particularly for young professionals who may be addressing a more experienced audience.  But, fortunately, there are brave souls who have gone before us and – despite being younger and less experienced than some of their peers – presented at a professional conference.

So what do you need to know to put on a great presentation? Read on to discover the dos and don’ts of presenting at conferences, straight from the lips of those who have already been there.

Do Arrive Early

Arriving early allows you to scope out the room, determine where you’ll speak from and plan the logistics of any group activities that may require people to move around. It also allows you a bit of time to relax before your presentation, and ensures you won’t be flustered from running late or having inadequate time to set up.

“Show up for your session early so you can get set up and settled in before people get there. Starting on the right foot makes all the difference!” – Jason

Do Play to Your Strengths

No matter your age, you have valuable experience in the nonprofit world and valuable insights from which others can benefit. Know your strengths – both in content and presentation style – and play to them.

“Own your own knowledge and experience, and let your confidence and your enthusiasm for the subject matter show.” - Cary

Do Involve the Audience

There’s a lot more to presenting than simply speaking to an audience. People are more likely to be engaged with your subject matter – and, over time, remember it – if you involve them in your presentation. This is especially true in longer sessions.

“An audience-participation component breaks up a presentation that otherwise might begin to feel like a lecture.” - Tom

Do Allow for Flexibility

While it may be tempting to plan your presentation to the very last detail, it’s important to remember that each audience is different. What works for one may not work for another. So be ready to change up your plans if the audience isn’t responding.

“You simply won't know who will be in the room until your session gets underway. So whether everyone is an expert or a novice on the topic at hand, be ready to tailor your presentation to their level.” - Kelly

Do Spice Up Your Visual Aids

Visuals are an important part of an engaging presentation, but using the same old wordy PowerPoint slides that audiences have seen a million times won’t necessarily enhance the learning process. Be creative – whether you use PowerPoint or something else – and try using visuals in new, memorable ways.

“Prezi still has the ability to wow a crowd. Even if you do end up using PowerPoint, ponder deeply on how to make your slides something more than just a series of bullet points that you read out loud. Your audience will thank you for it.” - Chris

Don’t Dismiss Opportunities to Collaborate

It’s common to have multiple presenters at a conference or seminar session. Think about this when you’re considering submitting a proposal. Collaborating with one or two others can make your presentation stronger and, as a result, more likely to be accepted.

“You’re not an expert on everything. Collaborating with a colleague or friend allows you to draw from a broader base of expertise. And it means you’ll only need to present about half the time.” - Lisa

Don’t Speak Too Quickly

A very common mistake, particularly among younger presenters, is speaking too fast. People who are nervous about public speaking may speak quickly without even realizing it. If it’s your first time presenting, consider having a friend or colleague sit in the back and subtly signal you if your pace is too rapid.

“Speak at a conversational speed. People can't keep up if you're talking too fast.” - Amanda

Don’t Memorize Your Content

It may be tempting to plan out every word of your presentation and memorize it so that you get your content “just right.” The most engaging speakers, however, allow room for improvisation. This allows you to interact with the audience and let your own personality shine through.

“Memorizing exactly what you want to say can sometimes leave you seeming like a robot. It removes your ability to include your personality and sense of humor.” - Tom

Don’t Take On Too Much

The time you’re given will rarely be enough to cover the intricacies of your subject matter. Don’t try to include everything you know. Narrow down the topic into bite-sized pieces that people can understand and, in turn, put into practice.

“If you're doing an hour-long presentation, try to narrow down what you're sharing as much as possible to no more than three to four key points.” – Cary

Want more insights on presenting at conferences? Don’t miss YNPN-TC’s Emerging Leaders Network: Showcase Yourself lunch on April 20^th!

by Bridget Ulrich
follow me on Twitter: @bridgetmpls

An Interview with Peter Wagner, LEAD Board Member

What is The LEAD Project?

LEAD was founded in 2006 and stands for the Leadership Emergence and Development Project. Our goal is to engage young professionals in the charitable and philanthropic communities of the Twin Cities.

How do you achieve your goal?

LEAD’s goal, and our mission, is to engage young professionals in the Twin Cities nonprofit community. We host various events that are all aimed at creating relationships between the young professional community and the nonprofit community through skills-based volunteer opportunities. We host several different types of events including Board Bootcamps, PhilanthroFairs and large scale charitable events. To learn more about our events click here.

What has been your impact on our local community?

We estimate that LEAD has helped connect over 250 young professionals with Board and other skills-based volunteer positions at local nonprofits. We’ve helped educate over 1000 young professionals on the expectations of being a nonprofit Board of Director through our Board Boot Camps.  We have held 13 large charitable events and as a result have donated over $130,000 back to nonprofits. We have also partnered with over 50 nonprofits in the past two years through our PhilanthroFairs. But we believe our true impact is making philanthropy accessible to young professionals and maximizing the amount that they contribute by donating their time in meaningful ways. 

Tell us about the upcoming LEAD Event.

A Toast to LEAD celebrates our five year anniversary and the 50+ nonprofits we have partnered with.

When: Saturday Feb. 18 (8 pm- 12 am)

Where: Le Meridien Chambers

What:

• An all-night open bar with a signature drink

• Separate party rooms/floors with two DJs

• Access to Le Meridien Chamber's Ice Bar

• Premier silent auction

• A special tribute to all the nonprofits we have partnered with over the past five years

• The chance to vote for which nonprofit the money we raise should go towards including; Project Success, World without Genocide,  People Serving People, Make-a-Wish Foundation and Bolder Options.

Cost: $75 per ticket through Thursday, February 16th (so don’t delay!), then $95 per ticket

Tickets: www.theleadproject.org

For more information about The LEAD Project visit: www.theleadproject.org

There's change happening all around our network, and we aim to keep you in the know through our ongoing e-news column, "The Scoop." Share your updates for March by emailing bridge@ynpntwincities.org.

Here's what's new with our members this month:

Sara Benzkofer began a new position as Director of Policy and Communications with the MN Association for the Education of Young Children and MN School Age Care Alliance.

Megan Gamble joined Minnesotans United For All Families as a Finance Assistant.

Nathan Magel has embarked on a year's adventure in clarifying personal and professional purpose and values, and articulating commitment, through his participation in the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute.

Chris Oien, Jamie Millard, Cary Walski, Ada Okolue, Jason Samuels and Robyn Perry are presenting at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Technology and Communications Conference on March 16.

Emily Franklin was promoted to Associate Director of Development and Communications at Environmental Initiative.

Matt Beachey began a new job as Blog Manager at Finnegans (the beer brewers that donate all their profits to their nonprofit community fund).

Trisha Reinwald started a new position with MACC CommonWealth as the Director of Member Services. The CommonWealth is a nonprofit collaborative that provides member organizations shared administrative services like finance and human resources- together they can access experts to manage their administrative areas allowing them to focus resources on their mission.

Tanya Cothran will be presenting next month at the Library Technology Conference in St. Paul. Her panel is titled “Plan, Execute, Evaluate, Repeat: Social Media for Libraries and Non-Profit Organizations.”