The Sarah Ralston Foundation’s Post

Curious about the real impact of leadership? When I joined Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, my start coincided with Darren Walker joining the Board. From the outset, I was struck by his leadership—particularly his self-awareness and a precise understanding of the value he brought to our discussions. Darren’s tenure at the Ford Foundation exemplifies the transformative power of philanthropy as a tool for justice and systemic change. He adeptly navigated both praise and criticism, demonstrating a profound grasp of the nuanced pressures inherent in leadership roles with extensive societal influence. His commitment to transcending simple financial aid to foster significant, lasting change reflects a visionary approach—one that targets the root causes of inequality rather than just its manifestations. His time in the role also underscores the vital importance of self-awareness and humility in leadership. The influence of his role, extending well beyond his personal identity, showcases a deep appreciation for the dynamics of leadership transitions—essential for leaders across all sectors, especially those whose decisions impact social dynamics profoundly. Darren’s leadership journey provides crucial lessons on the importance of aligning organizational goals with societal needs and managing challenges with integrity. His thoughtful approach to succession planning highlights his foresight and dedication to the ongoing evolution of leadership. This repost aims to highlight how his tenure has set a standard for thoughtful, impactful leadership in organizations.

“Know the difference between partners who simply want to be seen with you vs the ones who want to see you win.” — My friend Stephen Green recently shared this in response to the wave of DEI rollbacks, and I couldn’t agree more. In 2020, many organizations, who had never shown interest in building equitable systems, launched DEI programs because it was the popular thing to do. They fundraised under the DEI umbrella without any true commitment to equity. The larger the organization or ‘brand’, the more funding they received—often at the expense of smaller, grassroots organizations that had been doing the real work for years. Many of these big players not only hoarded resources but also outright stole programming ideas, funding, and credit from the very organizations they claimed to support. Fast forward to today, and as the spotlight dims and the environment is challenging, those same organizations are walking back their commitments. That’s what we call performative allyship—and it’s a massive part of the problem. I don’t just blame those organizations though. The funders and investors who chased the shiny, performative initiatives instead of investing in authentic, grassroots efforts are part of the problem. I say this not to judge, but to encourage us to do better. When we know better, we do better — allegedly.

📣 📣 📣 Reconcile New Orleans (Café Reconcile) CEO Kheri Billy recently joined Bureau of Governmental Research Board of Directors. Nonprofit leaders are powerful advocates for change. As a new #BoardMember for BGR, Kheri will elevate the experiences of #NewOrleans young people and push for positive, sustainable public policy in for our city. 💡 What's one issue you think should be discussed more? Comment below to let us know! #advocacy #publicpolicy #opportunityyouth

In an elevator speech, How quickly & accurately could you explain your purpose in business or non-profit or sports while holding a burning match between your two fingers? It is too easy to drift with too much information that somebody doesn't want to hear and we don't even recognize the signals. but if you can cover your point with the least number of words and then let your listener ask for more information, now you've engaged at least their interest and maybe also their imagination.

The Co-op Model..... How did any of us find out about the cooperative business model? I learned by accident. Our organization was looking for a new kind of business structure to have a community owned classic amusement park museum. When our local amusement park (Whalom Park) closed the surrounding communities were upset that our park wasn't going to open and no one asked us what we as the citizens of those communities wanted. Then it was stripped and sold for development before our eyes. In one of our many meetings we had at my house one guest said that it sounded like a ski mountain her friends owned shares of. After that meeting I Google searched that information and found the Mad River Glen Cooperative MRG a skier owned mountain. For the next two years of researching MRG and co-ops in general we formed our organization as a consumer cooperative called the New Whalom Cooperative. As a business model it makes sense for us but it makes sense for many businesses but it's so hard to find all the information and tools needed to create a co-op. In today's world you can set up a business structure through a website in 5 minutes but you can't find a way to do that as a co-op. Why is that? Over the years since I've/we've found more resources and great people who help guid our co-op journey. One of those resources is the Everything Co-op radio show hosted by Vernon Oaks. For 11 years the show has dived into many types of co-ops and different programs that help educate and create cooperatives. Within this episode referenced here in this post the question arises. How can we market the co-op business model more? It's the business worlds best kept secret. How many of you have an account at a credit union? Did you know that a CU is a financial cooperative?! I didn't either. As cooperators we need to spread the word about the co-op business model. October is co-op month and if you have a platform you need to post, share or download as much information as we can so maybe in the future any cooperators can structure there co-op business on that same site that only takes 5! minutes....

Succession planning for finance leadership in the nonprofit sector must be integrated into every organization's strategic framework. The gap in accounting skills and financial leadership is not just a challenge—it's an equity and justice issue. For long-term sustainability, financial leadership in the nonprofit sector should reflect the communities we serve. Join Monica Marie Avery and Shannon Ellis from CompassPoint , Curtis Klotz and myself from Diverge Finance Cooperative, with facilitator Sade Dozan, CFRE from Borealis Philanthropy as we discuss succession planning in financial leadership!

Understanding nonprofit finances is critical in elevating organizational priorities, current and long-term sustainability, and mission effectiveness. If you're building your foundation of nonprofit finances, check out Propel Nonprofits's next Financial Leadership Cohort; applications close Friday, June 28 👇🏻

Are you a nonprofit Executive Director/CEO who is planning to move on from your organization within the next 1-3 years - or perhaps you have a colleague who is? Eos Transition Partners is excited to announce the fall dates for our Thresholds Cohort Program where you can join other executives on the same journey and create a path for a graceful exit for yourself and a smooth transition for your organization. Our two upcoming programs commence on October 2 Thresholds: For Retiring Executives Thresholds: For Mid-Career Executives Begin your departure planning, share with kindred spirits the highs and lows of leaving your life's work, and employ tools to evaluate your organization's vulnerabilities and the steps required to leave with grace. Your participation is held in the strictest confidence, and you need not have a fixed departure date in mind. Two to three years out is just fine! Cohort participants will benefit from: * Four 2.5-hour virtual group sessions designed for an engaging and interactive experiences. * A collaborative experience with 6-8 fellow executive directors on the same journey. * Between-session reading, tools and assessments, and assignments to amplify the learning and the virtual experience. * An exclusive one-on-one coaching session ensuring that your plan aligns perfectly with your organization's unique identity. It’s led by Eos’ longstanding transition consultants, Nancy Jackson and Catherine Bradshaw. If you’d like a 15-minute conversation with Nancy or Catherine prior to signing up, simply email Nancy at njackson@eostransitions.com. For more information and to sign up, go to https://lnkd.in/gB6KUGPb

From worldredeye - "A new nonprofit, the Partnership for Miami, has emerged, spearheaded by influential figures such as Orlando Bravo, Ken Griffin, Jorge Mas, and Tom @garfinkeltom. https://lnkd.in/gHedeqnA The coalition of business, sports, and civic leaders is set to address key challenges in Miami, focusing on areas like housing affordability, public transportation, and education. Their ambitious plan, outlined in the “Miami 2035” report, aims to leverage Miami’s growth as a global hub for business, sports, and the arts. While specific solutions are yet to be proposed, the Partnership promises a long-term strategy to collaborate with various stakeholders, including elected officials and nonprofit organizations. Unlike previous secretive groups, the Partnership emphasizes transparency and public engagement, marking a new era of collective action among Miami’s influential business community.

💭 How can centering lived-experience leadership promote equitable systems change? The Black Systemic Safety Fund was a social lab that explored exactly that, through a social lab and participatory grantmaking process. Join us and our partners, The Ubele Initiative and Impact on Urban Health for two upcoming webinars as we share key learnings, outcomes and insights from this unique process 👇🏾 ⚖️ Black Led Systems Change to Accelerate Equitable Outcomes | 27th June 2024, 4:30pm (BST), 5:30pm (CEST) | Register here: https://hubs.li/Q02BJgdh0 💸 Funding, Power and Participatory Grantmaking | 4th July 2024, 10:00am (BST), 11:00am (CEST) | Register here: https://hubs.li/Q02BHKS90 We invite you to attend both webinars but you need to register for them separately using the links above. #systemschange #equity #leadership The Ubele Initiative, Impact on Urban Health