Nonprofit Utopia Podcast

Join David Pendleton, the Executive Director of The Door of Hope Rescue Mission and me for a lively discussion. David will talk about the issues facing men in transition, share updates on the work of the Mission and ways to build capacity.

The Door of Hope Rescue Mission opened in 1954 on Chicago's South Side, providing Christian discipleship for homeless men with a focus on empowerment, selfsufficiency and a community mind. This has increased the success ratio of one leaving the Mission for stable housing, and improved outlook on life and renewed and reconciled family and other estranged relationships. They have also distinguished themselves in our approach as well as providing a clean and safe environment.

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener to participate in a live chat. Visit Valeriefleonard.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

Join Peter Creticos, President/Executive Director, Institute for Work & the Economy, for a lively discussion on the Institute’s work and their upcoming conference, The Many Futures of Work: Possibilities and Perils. The participatory conference will crowdsource guests’ expertise and insights and create real solutions that grow the middle; promote  innovation, and tear-down barriers to economic security. The ideas from this conference will inform conversations and decisions  at all levels and places.  Nonprofit “U” listeners will have an opportunity to share some of their concerns and challenges in workforce development as well.

      With an emphasis on workforce  development,  Peter’s purpose in life is to conceive, develop and implement systems that enable people to achieve their own purposes and visions in the context of  well-functioning community

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener to participate in a live chat. Visit Valeriefleonard.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

The UIC Certificate for Nonprofit Management (CNM) program is the longest running 100% online nonprofit management program in the country, and serves students around the world. Students going through the program have managed to cut years off their nonprofit learning curve and implement lessons learned in class as they go along, making greater impact to clients and communities in the process.

Join Princess Currence, PhD, MSW, Director of UIC’s @Work program and Coordinator of the Certificate in Nonprofit Management Program and me for a lively discussion on the UIC @Work program, and the Certificate in Nonprofit Management program. Princess is an experienced data-driven higher education leader and strategist with expertise in directing highly complex initiatives that increase access, academic success and graduation rates for underrepresented groups, as well as promote diversity & inclusion. She is an entrepreneur, consultant and nonprofit leader.

With Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia serving as the Chief Sponsor, the Cook County Commission on Social Innovation was established by ordinance on April 12, 2016. The Commission  is comprised of  Cook County government department heads, economic development experts and community builders  who leverage public and private sector resources to address Cook County’s most entrenched  economic and workforce development issues.

     Join Marc J. Lane, Vice Chairman of  the Cook County Commission on Social Innovation, and  me to hear updates on the  Commission’s accomplishments, including the adoption of  resolutions  to improve regional transit and create contracting opportunities for minority-owned businesses, nonprofits and social enterprises.

Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. The environment can be very competitive and cut throat. Shelby Parchman, a serial entrepreneur and business coach, works with business owners to guide their ideas from concept to implementation through training and relationship building.  Join Shelby Parchman, serial entrepreneur, and me to talk about how new entrepeneurs can navigate the business landscape and create economic opportunities in their communities.

In a December 2016 blogpost on the Tutor/Mentor.org website, Daniel Bassill, PhD, CEO of the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC, wrote "I am one of those people who fear what will happen to our democracy and freedom, and the planet's health, over the next few years.  In some of the posts I've read, writers say 'don't lose hope' and 'get involved locally with a cause you care about'". 

Those kind of articles inspired Dan to build upon his work in connecting youth with tutoring, mentoring and careers to increase civic engagement around issues that present the greatest barriers to community improvement.  In so doing, Dan has created maps and visualization tools to build youth service networks, as well as a planning tool to address issues such as community violence. 

Check out links to handouts in the comments section.

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener to participate in a live chat. Visit Valeriefleonard.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

The Community Law Project helps to build, strengthen, and support community-based organizations that are focused on economic development in Chicago’s low-income neighborhoods and that offer the delivery of social services to residents of these areas.  They bring hope to impoverished neighborhoods by supporting small businesses and home ownership. Working with volunteers from Chicago’s top law firms, the Community Law Project's expert legal staff provides nonprofit leaders and small businesses owners the knowledge to sustain the quality of their programs, improve outcomes, and spur economic development. 

Join us as Angie Hall, Staff Attorney with the Community Law Project, talks about the organizations small business and economic development programs.

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener to participate in a live chat. Visit Valeriefleonard.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

Please note, that we have postponed today's episode of Nonprofit "U". Instead of a live discussion on Veterans' issues, we will discuss reasons the IRS denies applications for tax-exemption. The show on Veterans will be postponed for a later time. I will keep you posted. 

Filing for tax exemption is tedious, time-consuming, and not for the faint of heart.   The process often requires applicants to “go back and forth” with the IRS for a number of reasons, including errors, clarification of statements and omission of key information. Clearly,  following instructions is critical. Tune in as Valerie F. Leonard talks about some of the most common reasons the IRS rejects applications for tax exemption.

Valerie is an expert in community and organizational development, with  a mission of strengthening the capacity of organizations to make a positive impact on the communities they serve through technical assistance, specialized workshops, resource and organizational development and project management. She also teaches online courses in nonprofit management with the UIC Certificate in Nonprofit Management Program. She has designed a number of intensive workshops to help nonprofits build capacity, including Capacity Building Blocks, the 30-Day Disclosure Challenge and the 30-Day Compliance Challenge.

When Paul Norrington, one of the driving forces behind the creation of the K-Town Historic District, suggested that President Obama build his Library in North Lawndale, his neighbors laughed him to scorn. UIC eventually partnered with the North Lawndale community to submit a bid that made it to the final round of the Obama Presidential Library site selection process.   As a result, there is heightened interest in redeveloping the community.

Paul is currently spearheading the celebration of North Lawndale’s 150th anniversary celebration and is working with the Chicago History Museum to re-write the Wikipedia article on North Lawndale. Join us for a lively conversation on how communities can focus on a community’s heritage to drive positive change.

Call in live at (347) 884-8121. You don't need an account to listen, but, if you want to participate in an online chat, open a listener-only account at https://secure.blogtalkradio.com/register.aspx?type=listener to participate in a live chat. Visit Valeriefleonard.com. Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.

The nonprofit landscape is changing dramatically. In spite of the fact that the national and state economies are in recovery, and foundations are giving more money, many nonprofits are finding it difficult to raise funds.  The State of Illinois has unilaterally terminated nonprofit contracts and does not have a budget in place in order to make appropriations.  Foundations’ priorities are constantly changing, and generally speaking, do not fund organizations for the long term. Nonprofits must position themselves for sustainability in the market place.  Any discussion about sustainability must begin with strategy.

Join Valerie F. Leonard for a discussion on strategic planning. She will talk about what a strategic planning process is, and its relationship to business planning; how to develop a theory of change model; how to engage internal and external stakeholders to maximize buy-in; how to align strategies and programs with the organization’s mission, vision , goals and objectives and how to develop and monitor work plans.

Archived episodes may be found at http://Valeriefleonard.com/NonprofitU, iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.