Community Opportunity: 2016 Park Side Partner Program

1. Summary and Background

Park Side Credit Union has developed an annual program that provides local non-profit organizations with increased awareness and exposure in addition to direct financial support. The campaign assists in funding service projects and invests in the communities where the bulk of our membership resides. The program evolves each year to better serve our Park Side Partners.

 

1. Proposal Guidelines

A formal request for partnership should be prepared by the non-profit organization’s Executive Director and/or Board President and must contain a brief statement of interest and a commitment to the limited requirements listed in this outline. Please submit an e-mail to marketing@parksidefcu.com by 5pm on Friday, January 8^th, 2016.

 

III. Project Purpose and Description

The Park Side Partner program facilitates a cooperative environment on a local level between the credit union as a not-for-profit financial institution and other non-profit service organizations in the Flathead Valley and Missoula. Establishing a business relationship with focused efforts to cross-promote and engage each other will allow both entities to receive the respective benefits of the partnership.

 

1. Project Scope

Park Side Credit Union commits to participation in fundraising events that have been scheduled and coordinated by the Partner’s staff and directors and approved by Park Side Credit Union. The Partner will offer a visible connection to Park Side in media outlets and in all community activities while involved in this program. Fundraising efforts of the participant will be supported and advertised by the credit union and often paired with staff volunteer groups. In the interest of a true partnership, both Park Side Credit Union and the non-profit organization will assume a number of deliverables.

Park Side Credit Union will provide each Partner with the following:

• Online and social media presence
  • Corporate website parksidefcu.com
  • Facebook posts and engagement (Over 1,500 likes)
  • Twitter – @ParkSide_CU (Over 800 followers)
• Advertising
  • Radio spots on major local broadcasting station groups
  • In-branch lobby marketing (material display, coupons, information table, etc.)
  • Media coverage (as available)
• Donation
  • The non-profit will receive up to $5,000 paid in 2016
• Involvement
  • Staff volunteers at a key fundraising event or awareness campaign

 

Each partner is expected to provide Park Side Credit Union with the following:

• Online presence
  • Organization’s main website (link to http://www.parksidefcu.com)
  • Shared content on all established social media platforms
• Inclusion in e-mail or newsletter publications for joint communication efforts
• Attendance at one Park Side staff meeting and/or board meeting to further the relationship and to explain and present the organization’s mission/vision
• Credit union membership and an active account at Park Side Credit Union (*if unreasonable, please explain)

1. Request for Proposal and Project Timeline

All interested parties should respond by e-mail (marketing@parksidefcu.com) no later than 5pm on Friday, January 8^th, 2016. Evaluation will take place beginning the following Monday and conclude by January 29th – during this time, Park Side Credit Union will schedule presentation meetings at which the non-profit representatives will share their vision with a staff interview/selection committee. The official partnership program will start immediately and run through December 31, 2016.

 

1. Program Qualifications

Partners must confirm and verify that the organization is a legitimate 501(c)(3) that provides benefits and services locally in the Flathead Valley or Missoula and also has established fundraising efforts in place.

 

VII. Evaluation and Selection Criteria

The non-profit organization representative(s) will be asked to present to a Park Side Credit Union selection committee and cover the following:

• History & mission
• Staff & board
• Local services/programs
• Current fundraising efforts
• Proposed support of Park Side Credit Union – be unique and innovative!
• Any other information relevant to partnership

 

marketing@parksidefcu.com

Park Side Credit Union

1300 Baker Ave

Whitefish, MT 59937

406-862-2652

Community Event: Flathead Fund Development Book Group

Fundraising professionals are invited to join a new book group in the Flathead to promote continuing education and networking. This event is hosted by Cathy Cooney of Montana Community Foundation.

The Flathead Fund Development Book Group is holding the first meeting on Wednesday, December 9, from 4-5 p.m. at the development office of Immanuel Lutheran Communities. The facility is located at 185 Crestline in Kalispell. (The development office is located in a small house at the end of the street next to the main facility. For more specific directions, contact Ronalee Skees at 752-9243 or rskees@ilcorp.org.)

The FFD book group will meet every three weeks for structured discussions. It is open to all fundraising professionals (paid or unpaid) or those interested in entering the development field. There is no fee for joining, but all participants are required to read the book selections in advance to allow full participation in the discussion.

The first selection is Strategic Fund Development: Building Profitable Relationships that Last by Simone Joyaux.  The newest version of the book is expensive so participants are encouraged to buy a used or  Kindle version. (The third edition is the newest, but the 1^st or 2^nd edition will be fine.) At the first meeting, we will discuss the first three or four chapters of the book.

This groundbreaking book offers important insights, critical strategies, and useful tools to enhance your organization’s performance and raise more charitable contributions. Joyaux challenges the fundraising profession to focus on organizational development rather than merely promoting fundraising technicians. Joyaux integrates staff work with that of volunteers and demands a basic change in the way we do business.

If you have questions, contact Cathy Cooney, Director of Donor Services at Montana Community Foundation, at ccooney@mtcf.org or 441-4954.

Advocate Coordinator

CASA for Kids, Flathead County

ADVOCATE COORDINATOR

Full-time.
Pay rate begins at $12.00 .

Educational requirements are a Bachelors or Associate with 2 years’ work experience in a relevant social/legal service field. Resumes can be submitted to jcampbell@flatheadcasa.org. Questions about the position can be directed to Jamie at 406 755-7208 or via e-mail at jcampbell@flatheadcasa.org.

Position closes when filled.

Job Description

SUMMARY

The Advocate Coordinator primarily provides professional staff support to CASA advocates, ensuring that children involved with the CASA program receive sound advocacy and early permanency planning. Support provided to CASA advocates will include CASA Coach and advocate supervision, ongoing training and coordination of cases, and assistance with court report writing. This position works in tandem with another Advocate Coordinator. The Advocate Coordinator is a multi-faceted position and will provide administrative support, event support, etc as needed. Working with and/or at the request of the Executive Director or Program Coordinator this position provides professional staff support to the CASA program, ensuring that documents and office space are well organized and easily accessible.

RESPONSIBILITIES

General Duties

1. Responsible for general clerical duties.
2. Courteously, empathetically and professionally receive incoming telephone calls and visitors to the office.
3. Route phone calls to the appropriate person.
4. Purchase office supplies as directed and within budget guidelines.
5. Participate in staff meetings.
6. Supervise volunteers who assist in the office.
7. Maintain current mailing lists on active CASA advocates, and other pertinent lists.
8. Coordinate CASA child support activities such as CASA Gift Drive and CASA Scholarship program.
9. Provide event support and participate in various program events.
10. Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Advocate Duties

1. Complete CASA training within one year of employment.
2. Disseminate program information to any person making an inquiry.
3. Receive applications, mail reference forms, initiate background checks and set up advocate files. Monitor screening process.
4. Assist in recruiting, screening, and interviewing new advocates.
5. Plan, schedule and coordinate CASA 201, under the direction of the Program Coordinator.
6. Plan, schedule and coordinate CASA book club under the direction of the Program Coordinator.
7. Assist with advocate training and in-services; send notices of meetings to all volunteers.
8. Assist with advocate reunion’s and socials.
9. Assist advocates with necessary correspondence and Court Reports; distribute Court Reports to appropriate court personnel and professionals.
10. Consult with advocates and coaches as appropriate.
11. Maintain advocate files; record training and in-service attendance; document advocate hours.
12. Provide support and assistance to the CASA Coaches as needed. Contribute to the development and maximization of the CASA Coaching program under the supervision of the Program Coordinator.
13. Implement programs that support the recognition and retention of advocates.
14. Provide training for assigned advocates on specific case issues as needed.
15. Maintain CASA case files.
16. Forward discovery documents to advocates and maintain discovery files.
17. Support the program through reminder calls to advocates re: court attendance, meeting attendance, time logs, well-being reports and so forth. When available, utilize volunteer phone tree, to make the actual calls and follow-up as needed based on the results.
18. Distribute Foster Care Review and Family Group Decision Making Meeting notifications. Confirm attendance. Attend meetings on behalf of any advocates who are not available.
19. Date stamp, copy and distribute court documents to advocates and staff. File as appropriate.

Court Duties

1. Proof read, edit and distribute advocate court reports.
2. Attend court hearings as needed. Take notes, track court dates and share info with staff and assigned advocates.
3. Comply with statues, court rules, administrative order and rules, as well as the policies and procedures of the CASA program.
4. Collect documents from the court house. This will be daily and will rotate through volunteer support staff on a schedule that complements their other responsibilities.

Administrative Duties

1. Enter advocate time logs in CASA Manager. Contact each advocate monthly who has outstanding time logs, taking the information over the phone. When available, use the volunteer phone tree for this purpose.
2. Enter case information into CASA Manager, under the guidance of the Program Coordinator.
3. Provide clerical support to the Board as needed.
4. Provide clerical support to the program as various program activities require, under the guidance of the Executive Director or Development Coordinator.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong word processing and computer skills.
• Excellent communication and follow up skills.
• Ability to interact positively with the public, advocates, board members, court and state personnel.
• Ability to maintain statistical program data, files and record systems, and financial records.
• Commitment to CASA’s goals and mission and a passion for the health and well-being of children.
• Ability to work flexibly as part of a team, filling various roles as needed for the good of the project.
• Ability to work cooperatively with different types of personalities.
• Ability to communicate with, supervise and empower advocates to be effective in their roles.

ACCOUNTABILITY

The Advocate Coordinator is hired by the Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the Executive Director of the program. The Advocate Coordinator reports directly to the Executive Director who is responsible for his/her performance evaluations.

Administrative Assistant

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flathead County

Administrative Assistant Job Opening

Our mission: to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported 1-to-1 relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.

Reports to: Executive Director

Works in coordination with: Agency staff and volunteers

Hours per week: 20-30

Compensation: $11.00 + Paid Time Off

To apply: Email, or mail cover letter, resume, and at least 3 references to jesse@bbbsfc.org. Resumes without cover letters will not be considered. Position will remain open until filled.

Job Summary: The Administrative Assistant is responsible for the general day-to-day operations of this small, community-based nonprofit organization.  This includes all aspects of administrative support for agency activities and fundraising events as assigned by the Executive Director – including but not limited to word processing, data entry, photocopying, filing, and recordkeeping.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Positive background check (cost covered by BBBS)
• Ability to work with confidential information on a daily basis and respect the nature of the data
• Ability to be a self starter and quick learner, prioritize effectively, organize workload, meet deadlines, be flexible, pay careful attention to detail, work independently, and thrive as part of a team
• Ability to maintain professional work standards with little supervision
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel; Social Media; basic website updates
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Basic knowledge of office equipment and procedures

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree
• Experience with nonprofit and community-based organizations
• Fundraising experience
• Educational or professional experience in social work case management

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

General Administration:

• Answer all incoming calls and route to appropriate staff
• Make outgoing calls as requested
• Process all incoming and outgoing mail
• Filing and photocopying as needed
• Assist with agency record /database maintenance
• Coordinate mailings as needed to families, donors, and volunteers
• Order and maintain office supplies
• Receive, record, and deposit payments
• Help support and maintain email listservs
• Track donations, both cash and in-kind
• Provide administrative assistance to the Executive Director, program, and fund development staff as needed

Program Support:

• Process all client and volunteer inquiries and applications
• Maintain accuracy and confidentiality of client and volunteer records and database information

Fundraisers and Special Activities:

• Promote fundraisers and special activities
• Design and distribute brochures, posters, and tickets as necessary
• Assist with agency special events for children, parents and volunteers

Fundraisers and Special Activities:

• Promote fundraisers and special activities
• Design and distribute brochures, posters, and tickets as necessary
• Assist with agency special events for children, parents and volunteers

Program Coordinator

Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley

Position:  Program Coordinator
Full-time: FT
Hourly:     $14/hour
Benefits:   YES; Health
Start date: Immediately
Supervisor: Executive Director

Family Services

* Assisting individuals interested in the homebuyer program through the application process and determining eligibility
* Provide ongoing support to individuals in the homebuyer program.  This includes: screening, intakes, assessment, service plan development, monitoring, linkage to appropriate community resources, follow up, appropriate progress tracking, etc.
* Family recruitment to maintain family pipeline of 18mos of production
* Maintaining up to date activity and progress in the database regarding all partner families
* Keep up to date spreadsheet of family recruitment inquiries
* Coordinate the members and needs of the family selection committee; recruit, train and involve
* Serving as the liaison between the ED and the homebuyer at the time of closing and communicating the needs required between the two sources
* Ability to provide program evaluation and outcome reports
* Establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with community resources
* Attend appropriate community resource meetings, chamber events, etc.
* Develop strategies to inform the community about the homebuyer program to increase applicants
* Keep resource materials updated

Marketing

* Attend monthly chamber events and promote Habitat need for families
* Prepare for and attend community opportunities to table and promote Habitat
* Prepare monthly newsletter for mass distribution via eblast
* Get pictures from volunteer coordinator from ReStore and Build Site on weekly basis
* Manage Facebook promotion for build site/restore/office

Financial Responsibilities

* Prepare and deliver bank deposits
* File invoices, receipts and important financial and housing documents
* Weekly mortgage payment and disbursement recording in database, sending delinquency letters
* Handle sending/collecting lien waivers from subcontractors prior to closings

Office Administration

* Answer the phone (including retrieving voicemails), greet/direct office visitors.
* Organize and maintain all partner family and general business files
* Keep ED updated on all pertinent events and issues
* Deliver outgoing mail, manage incoming mail
* Maintain a clean, well-organized and professional work place
* Assist in preparation and organization of mass mailers and volunteer assistance
* Oversee volunteers in the office as needed and provide feedback to ED

There will be other duties as assigned as needed.  The Program Coordinator will be expected to assist with fundraising, affiliate and volunteer recognition events

TO APPLY:  Please send resume to Erin Falcon at efalcon@habitatflathead.org or drop off at the office at 307 1st Ave E, Suite 24, Kalispell, MT.

Habitat for Humanity Flathead Valley is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer

Job Openings: Abbie Shelter

Come join the Abbie Shelter team while 3 of their 4 employees have babies.

(Applicants may apply for both positions if interested.)

Two Positions:

Interim Case Manager

Court Advocate

ORGANIZATION
Founded in 1976, The Abbie Shelter’s mission is to promote safety, independence and empowerment for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. For more information, please visit http://www.abbieshelter.org

INTERIM CASE MANAGER
Job Posted: May 18th

Applications should include resume and cover letter send to director@abbieshelter.org by June 5th.

Position Dates:

Fulltime October 12th – November 20th [40 hrs/week + 1 night/week on-call]
Part-time November 23rd – December 31st [20 hrs/week + 1 night/week on-call]

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Bachelor’s degree in human services related field
2. Experience working with trauma survivors and high risk populations; knowledge of human service best practices and local community resources; investment in trauma informed systems of care
3. Natural ability to provide nonjudgmental support  and trauma-informed education to survivors of violence
4. Passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude; must be mission-driven
5. Ability to express and enforce clear, healthy, and compassionate professional boundaries
6. Must prioritize personal self-care and sustainability; demonstrated history of wellness and work-life balance
7. An action-oriented, creative, flexible, and innovative approach to problem solving
8. Ability to collaborate successfully with diverse groups of people
9. Strong communication, interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills; strong written communication and documentation skills; proficiency in Microsoft programs (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc)
10. Ability to legally operate a motor vehicle and provide own transportation

RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. DIRECT SERVICE: Provide trauma-informed, structured, and compassionate services to all program participants with focus on core mission of safety, independence, and empowerment.
2. HOTLINE: Respond to calls on the crisis hotline during day and night shifts providing safety planning, information and referrals, action plan development, peer counseling, and advocacy with community resources as necessary.
3. VOLUNTEERS: Provide supportive oversight for volunteer program including recruitment, training and retention. Facilitate monthly volunteer meeting, providing continuing education and support for volunteers. Prepare and distribute monthly call calendar. Maintain a positive relationship with answering service.
4. THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS: Provide organizational oversight of therapeutic programs, including weekly Support Group and Children’s Program with a commitment to program safety and excellence. Communicate regularly with therapeutic intern to coordinate consistent support and education for program participants.
5. SHELTER FACILITY: Facilitate maintenance of all shelter physical plan systems. Facilitate and monitor acquisition of shelter supplies and storage of in-kind donations. Maintain a safe, structured, and comfortable living environment for shelter residents.
6. COLLABORATION: Work collaboratively / in coordination with second Case Manager on healthy distribution of tasks for all above programming.
7. DOCUMENTATION: Complete documentation and keep statistics as needed. Protect confidentiality of client information.
8. Provide transport for program participants when eligible.
9. Must be able to lift 40 lbs.
10. Other duties as assigned.

COURT ADVOCATE

6 months full-time transitioning to permanent part-time position

Job Posted: May 18th

Applications should include resume and cover letter sent to director@abbieshelter.org by June 5th.

Position Dates:

Full-time July 27th – January 15th
Position becomes part-time on January 18th

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Bachelor’s degree in human services related field
2. Experience working with trauma survivors and high risk populations; knowledge of human service best practices and local community resources; investment in trauma informed systems of care
3. Natural ability to provide nonjudgmental support  and trauma-informed education to survivors of violence
4. Passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude; must be mission-driven
5. Ability to express and enforce clear, healthy, and compassionate professional boundaries
6. Must prioritize personal self-care and sustainability; demonstrated history of wellness and work-life balance
7. An action-oriented, creative, flexible, and innovative approach to problem solving
8. Ability to collaborate successfully with diverse groups of people
9. Strong communication, interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills; strong written communication and documentation skills; proficiency in Microsoft programs (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc)
10. Ability to legally operate a motor vehicle and provide own transportation

RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. VICTIM ADVOCACY: Be a supportive resource for victims of violent crimes engaged in the criminal and civil legal justice system; provide long-term support to victims as they navigate the justice system.
2. ORDERS OF PROTECTION:  Assist victims in petitioning for orders of protection and hearing preparation. Educate victims and community members on how to obtain and enforce protection orders. Accompany victims to court.
3. SAFETY PLANNING: Provide educated, trauma-informed safety planning support to victims of violent crimes.
4. RESOURCE REFERRALS: Provide community resource referrals to relevant local programs and resources; assist with applications for Victim Compensation.
5. COLLABORATION: Serve as liaison between victims, Law Enforcement, City Attorneys, attorneys, judges, allied professionals, and other community members to ensure a coordinated community response to violent crimes.
6. OUTREACH: Assist with organizational promotion of domestic violence issues and education to the wider community, allied professionals, Law Enforcement, and justice system professionals.
7. HOTLINE: Respond to calls on the crisis hotline during day and night shifts providing safety planning, information and referrals, action plan development, peer counseling, and advocacy with community resources as necessary.
8. DOCUMENTATION: Complete documentation and keep statistics as needed. Protect confidentiality of client information.
9. Must be able to lift 40 lbs.
10. Other duties as assigned.

Part-time Managing Director

Position

Reporting to the Board of Directors of Share Your Voice Foundation, the part-time Managing Director will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for SYVF’s staff, programs, expansion, and execution of its mission. S/he will initially develop deep knowledge of field, core programs, operations, and business plans. This is a part-time position, with growth potential based on contributions to fundraising and revenue expansion efforts.

Organization

Founded in 2008, SYVF’s mission is to provide empowering opportunities for people to find, believe in, and share their own voice through the transformative creative process and power of the arts.

Revenues: $0 to $25k annually. Revenues to date have been generated for the execution of one core summer outreach youth program.

Growth: We are looking to expand our programming and reach in the Flathead Valley to include more programs and opportunities to incorporate opportunities for youth and adults to “share their voices” through art and performance.

For more information, please visit www.shareyourvoicefoundation.org

Responsibilities

Leadership & Management:

• Ensure ongoing local programmatic excellence, rigorous program evaluation, and consistent quality of finance and administration, fundraising, communications, and systems; recommend timelines and resources needed to achieve the strategic goals.

• Actively engage and energize SYVF volunteers, board members, event committees, alumni, partnering organizations, and funders.

• Ensure effective systems to track scaling progress, and regularly evaluate program components, so as to measure successes that can be effectively communicated to the board, funders, and other constituents.

• Serve as an external presence in the community and the face of the organization

Fundraising & Communications:

• Individual and business fundraising and sponsorship development

• Grant research and writing

• Deepen and refine all aspects of communications—from web presence to external relations with the goal of creating a stronger brand.

• Build partnerships with other nonprofit organizations in The Valley, and establishing relationships with funders and political and community leaders

Qualifications

The Managing Director will be thoroughly committed to SYVF’s mission. All candidates should have leadership, coaching and relationship management experience. Concrete demonstrable experience and other qualifications include:

• College degree is preferred
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Exceptional organization and planning skills
• Strategic thinking ability
• Desire and ability to be part of an entrepreneurial organization and drive its growth
• Unwavering commitment to quality programs and data-driven program evaluation.
• Excellence in organizational management with the ability to coach staff, manage, and develop high-performance teams, set and achieve strategic objectives, and manage a budget.
• Strong marketing, public relations, and fundraising ability with the ability
• Passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed.

Resumes with cover letters can be emailed to: info@shareyourvoicefoundation.org

Administrative Assistant/Program Coordinator

DREAM ADAPTIVE RECREATION, INC.
PO Box 4084
Whitefish, MT  59937
406-862-1817
ccarlson@dreamadaptive.org

JOB DESCRIPTION

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT/PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Email resume and letter of intent to ccarlson@dreamadaptive.org by 2/10/2015

Responsibilities include data entry and management, scheduling of volunteers and participants, answering calls and inquiries, correspondence to include emails, thank you cards, donation receipts, assist with social media management, assist in recruiting and managing volunteers, assist the Executive Director with execution of programs and/or as needed, assist with and attend fund raising events, general office duties. The candidate will be proficient with computer skills and software programs to include Word, Excel, Publisher, Power Point and be willing to learn the GiftWorks database management program.  Knowledge of accounting basics and event coordination.  The candidate will be self motivated and highly organized, able to work under pressure in a chaotic environment.  Experience working with disabled individuals helpful but not required.

Job is 20 hours week year round.

Forum on Board Governance – notes from January 8, 2015 Brown Bag

At our first Brown Bag of the New Year, we kicked off NpDP’s Year of the Board with an open forum about Boards of Directors in the Flathead, and issues faced by many in fulfilling their important roles. About 35 people attended, and there was lively, thoughtful discussion, with a lot of honest sharing and helpful ideas. Below are notes from the easel that summarized the group conversation. Thank you to all the participants for their engagement,

What’s Working with Boards of Directors?

• Belief in what we do (the mission)
• Time commitment
• Support for executive directors as we talk through problems
• Backing up the executive director/CEO
• Diversity of skill sets and knowledge
• Global perspective
• Build support among their community networks
• Oversight and taking ultimate responsibility

What Challenges do Boards face (What Needs Work?)

• Ensuring diversity of all kinds (including background, profession, and opinion)
• Communicating all expectations clearly as recruitment is happening
• Getting lost in “Acronym Soup”, the internal, technical terms of a complex organization
• Recruitment – Attracting people to the cause
• Finding the right person, with skills we need, who fit with the culture
• Knowing what to expect, and the role that Boards should play (now that there is a board, what do “I” do with them?)
• Accountability between volunteers, and with staff
• Leadership – casting the vision, getting people on board, and holding each other accountable
• Unity about decisions, and getting to consensus
• How do we evolve, when new staff is brought in, or when a founder moves on?
• Busy people have less time to be involved
• Defining roles, hierarchy, mentoring process, and the level of formality we want
• Changing Board cultures, which are often unconscious; there is a spectrum of board control from authoritarian to hands off, and you want to be more in the middle for a healthy organization
• There are not a lot of models for how to “do it differently”
• Sometimes we try to apply experiences or models that don’t work in nonprofit settings
• New members often don’t get the education about “how we do it around here”
• Challenge is recognizing the world has changed, and then adapting to it
• Integrating younger generations into leadership
• We are leading human beings, and sometimes there can be “drama”

How are Boards stepping into their roles in Fund Development (fundraising)

• Often, expectations are unclear about board members’ role in fundraising
• Question often is: How do I get involved?
• Skill deficit
• No experience in making the “ask”
• Funding fatigue – experienced people who do fundraising get tired
• Some people don’t want to be approached for a gift
• Fear of failing or “blowing it”
• Board members don’t always give themselves
• We struggle with cultural beliefs about money
• We don’t often ask, “what is the return on investment” for any given fund development effort, like events, or mailers

Ideas for Addressing or Solving Challenges

• Encourage all board members to give
• Put policies in place that encourage the Board to manage the Board
• Rotate leadership responsibilities to develop skills in others
• Do a Board retreat
• Have ongoing education at meetings about Board responsibilities and roles, maybe 15 minutes to share an article or watch a video
• Intentionally recruit people to the Board with a conversation about expectations for governance and fund development before they are invited to join
• Provide an orientation session “live” in person with a chance to talk about how the Board functions
• Give provide documents about structure and policies electronically or on paper
• Assign new members a Board Mentor or “Buddy”
• Address Founders Syndrome with sensitivity and focused on the organization, not the person
• Have a nominating committee that identifies and recommends new board members based on assessed needs of the organization; better yet, have a Board Development or Board Governance Committee that includes the nominating function, and also looks at education and support for Board members, evaluating the Board, and other functions of the Board managing the Board
• Committees can have non-board members on them, which is a great way to engage new people and mutually assess their fit with the Board
• Do a field trip to connect with the mission, or visit another organization
• As chair, or executive director, have regular lunches with each board member (but be careful of manipulating the Board)
• Give rooms for introverts to have input; they will not speak up in a large group
• Stop saying (and thinking) “My Board” – unlike a business, it’s not “your” organization as leader, executive director, or founder; it’s “Our Board” or “the Organization’s Board”. Share the “ownership” and the responsibility for success!

Flathead Valley Outreach Coordinator

Job Title: Flathead Valley Outreach Coordinator
Supervisor: Amy Robinson, NW Montana Field Director
Classification: Part-time, ~10 hrs per week, $9-12 hr, contracted
Location: Whitefish, Montana

About the Montana Wilderness Association
Our mission is to work with communities to protect Montana’s Wilderness heritage, quiet beauty, and outdoor traditions now and for future generations. We envision a future where from the rugged mountains to the vast prairies Montana’s wild places are protected, connected, and restored because the citizens of our state value wilderness as essential to our heritage and way of life. Founded in 1958, the Montana Wilderness Association (MWA) is the nation’s oldest grassroots Wilderness advocacy organization.

Summary of Position
The Flathead Valley Outreach Coordinator will work to grow awareness and support for MWA and our public land protection programs in the Flathead Valley. The Intern will identify and lead public outreach opportunities, work with members and volunteers on programs and campaigns, represent MWA at public events, and perform administrative duties. The Outreach Coordinator will be energetic, positive, open-minded and able to work with diverse interests.

Major Duties

• Represent MWA by distributing outreach materials, educating the public about programs, and relaying the mission and vision of the organization
• Assist with organizing and representing MWA at events
• Expand, promote and lead winter and summer Wilderness Walks
• Engage and inspire community members to support active projects and programs in our area
• Participate and engage members and the public in forest plan revision
• Creatively recruit new youth and adult members and volunteers
• Perform local membership and administrative duties such as database management, calling members, and writing and sending e-blasts
• Write engaging newsletter, website content and press releases
• Organize and conduct community and group presentations

Qualifications

• Eagerness to learn and be a part of a team
• Ability to build relationships and work cooperatively with diverse individuals and groups
• Valid Montana drivers license and vehicle
• Ability to work some nights and weekends

How to Apply

Please submit cover letter and resumé to Amy Robinson, arobinson@wildmontana.org

Deadline

January 9th.