Robert Egger´s Piece of Mind

So…as you’ve probably seen, we’ve been tearing it up over here in Historyville, USA, as we ushered in a crazy bold new era with our new President. I love this city!!! 

And DCCK was smack in the middle of it all, and we got some choice coverage of our work and the vision for change we’ve been driving for 20 years. Please check out the DCCK homepage if you haven’t for a full roster of what’s going DOWN in DC.  But I got a sweet little treat today, as we prepare to launch a new V3 Campaign initiative—a note that the Nonprofit Street blog listed the V3 campaign as one of the top three events for nonprofits in 2008.

And we’re going to pushy it even harder in 09. That’s why we are launching the Nonprofits Are Businesses initiative today. I know it sounds obvious to most of us on the inside, but in reality, for most of the people in the country, nonprofits are viewed as “lesser thans” when it comes to our economy….and it’s ALL about the economy right now.  Nonprofits are in the legislative crosshairs today. We’re fatted calves. Our untaxed assets (property) and the new wave of family foundations and donor advice funds are massive targets for starving treasuries and the elected officials who are charged with replenishing them. 

Simply put—we must make the case that we are giants of the economy. In fact—we should be viewed as almost equal, if not better investments than traditional businesses in every community. With some serious thought, we might really re-align our tax codes and redesign how cash flows. We could totally change the dynamic that forces newly minted college grads to choose between making money and doing good. The future is the hybrid—-with the ethics and values of nonprofits trumping the failed dogma of “get rich or die trying” that has permeated our economy (and business schools) for far too long.

 That’s what the Nonprofits Are Businesses intiative is ALL about…making the case. We’ve added economic impact studies to the V3 Campaign Value Page, which details the growing number of reports that provide clear evidence of the role we play. We’re also asking colleagues to send in pictures of themselves or their clients with signs that detail what they do to drive the local economy. Heck…we’ve even created a button you can put on your homepage, so that you can make the case everytime folks come a calling. So…if you want that kind of dialogue, if you believe that we must usher in a new era of nonprofit inclusion, if you think we need to elect a new generation of politicians—then JOIN the V3 Campaign. NOW.

Today we take it up to 11.

Share on Facebook

Tweet This Post Delicious Digg This Post

I have spent a lot of time in a lot of states and cities, and for some reason, I have been rolling south to southern Florida a lot in the past few months. This time I wheeled into West Palm Beach, where I spent quite a bit of time during my golden youth, visiting my grandparents.

 This time, I was invited to speak to the local chapter of the Fundraising Professionals, but (as always) I put my skirt out there with an offer to work it for anybody who asked. Four did….so I spoke at an “Empty Bowls” dinner for the Palm Beach Coalition for the Homeless, met with nonprofit colleagues at the Lord’s Table to talk about ground floor work, as well as two friends who wanted to follow up on previous dialogues about purpose and politics.

 Long story short—we rocked it. But the best part was the unexpected joy of meeting Chef Nick and the men and women enrolled in the Café Joshua training program. They built their program on the DCCK model (which is always an honor) and like us, they are boldly challenging the stereotypes of both nonprofits AND the folks we serve. Nick’s a righteous dude…check it out.

Share on Facebook

Tweet This Post Delicious Digg This Post

On January 4, 1965, during his State of the Union Address, Lyndon Johnson outlined his vision for the Great Society, which included a declaration of “war on poverty”.

On the 44th anniversary of that auspicious act, I spoke with close to 1,000 college students, instructors and nonprofit colleagues at the annual American Humanics conference in Indianapolis.

Talk about a solid way to usher in a bold new year…and talk about a wildly motivated cohort of future leaders. I tell you what, I’ve spoken all over the country, and flat out— this upcoming generation is our salvation. They are wholeheartedly into the “what’s next” debate and I aim to help them find their voice. I love my generation, and I will continue to try to be part of the dialogue that helps them loosen their grip on the sector, so that this new generation (who have more of an economic stake in the race than we do) can begin to try new ideas, new tactics and…at times, entirely new economic and political approaches to solving really tough social issues that charity alone cannot even dent.

And that’s what 2009 is going to be about for me, the Kitchen and the V3 Campaign. It’s not going to be an easy road. Too many feel that the heavy political lifting is done, now that we have a new President (the first to get their first job at a nonprofit). We know that the real work of taking it down to the smallest community in America has just begun. Join us…and I’ll see you on the road.

Share on Facebook

Tweet This Post Delicious Digg This Post