Published: October 07, 2009 10:00 am      

Thinking outside the money box

By Cynthia Pierce, an AmeriCorps VISTA at the Family Support Council in Dalton



During this time of economic unrest, America has been forced to rethink its priorities. A home-cooked meal can be more satisfying to both the pocketbook and the psyche than a night out at a restaurant. All Americans have been tasked with finding creative ways of cutting back on spending. Sometimes, however, the notion of not spending any money at all might be the best solution.

Such was the thinking when the United Way of Northwest Georgia created a collaboration of major community entities including the United Way, the Shaw Industries Learning Academy and the Dalton State College School of Business. United Way president Amanda Burt was responsible for the genesis of the collaboration when she posed the question: “What non-monetary resources can be brought to the table?”

“Creativity arises out of the tension between spontaneity and limitations ...” said Rollo May, an American psychologist. This may explain how an organization whose campaigns are to raise funds to distribute to local agencies could possibly think outside the box. Burt and Andrea Dobbins, manager of the Volunteer Center at the United Way of Northwest Georgia, felt compelled to think beyond those campaign dollars to find new and innovative ways of assisting the communities they serve.

Thus, The Non-Profit Leadership Consortium was born. Beginning this fall, the Consortium will be available to the local nonprofit sector. The Consortium will include classes and workshops on subjects such as leadership, marketing, presenting, fundraising, time management and volunteer management and training. Historically, nonprofits cannot afford training that is available in the for-profit world. So when surveyed about the Consortium, local nonprofits jumped at the chance to become involved.

U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., had this to say about the Consortium: “Ensuring that employees in our state have up-to-date training for the industry they plan to work in is something Georgia has focused on for many years, and rightly so. We must continue this trend in order to increase our economic development opportunities for the benefit of communities throughout the state.”

At a time when federal and private funds that normally subsidize nonprofits are drying up, nonprofits are being forced to adapt, improvise and overcome. Burt feels that the Consortium will enable nonprofits to more effectively deliver services by training them how to better utilize their resources. This will create a trickle-down effect of benefits: by enabling nonprofits to better serve those in need, the entire community will see the effects.

With a finger on the pulse of its community, the United Way of Northwest Georgia feels that it can offer resources beyond campaign dollars by encouraging such collaborations to develop organically.

As nonprofits grow at a rate nearly double that of their for-profit counterparts, they are forced to develop business and marketing skills that have been neglected in the past. Staff training is a way to assist and develop local nonprofits as they evolve. Shaw’s Learning Academy is one of the top 125 such programs in the country. Opening this up to the nonprofit sector could potentially change the landscape.

“This is also a prime example of skill-based volunteering,” said Burt. "With professors from Dalton State College’s School of Business offering classes in their area of expertise and Shaw and the United Way doing the same at no cost to the participant, this is volunteering at its best.”

Asked who will most benefit from this Consortium, Burt suggested that it would not only assist area nonprofits. The United Way will be able to cast an even broader net via education and resources. Therefore, those who are most in need of services provided by area nonprofits will see results.

Lest we forget, while money is more difficult to come by these days, the need is still there to raise funds. The Northwest Georgia United Way began its annual “Kickoff” campaign on Sept. 22. Campaign director John Relaford suggested that while the United Way can’t expect current contributors to come up with more money, their hope is to make more people aware of the United Way’s mission: Give, Advocate, Volunteer.

“There are more people needing services and fewer dollars coming in, so becoming involved in any way is a positive thing,” Relaford said.

By thinking outside the money box, the Northwest Georgia United Way can stay on mission, even in these challenging times.

The Non-Profit Leadership Consortium will roll out this fall. Visit www.ourunitedway.org for more information.