In 1889, Paris hosted the Word’s Fair (L’Exposition Universelle) to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution. In anticipation of the international event, the French government held a design competition for a monument that was to be built on the Champs-de-Mars in central Paris. More than 100 artists submitted their designs, but the selection committee chose Gustave Eiffel’s plan for an open-lattice wrought-iron tower—a monument that, once constructed, would be the world’s tallest man-made structure standing almost 1,000 feet above Paris. Eiffel’s great tower, completed after two years of construction, opened to the public on March 31, 1889 to much skepticism. Many believed it was structurally unsound, while others complained it was an “eyesore in the heart of Paris.” Today, the Eiffel Tower—remaining largely unchanged—is now regarded as an architectural masterpiece that is synonymous with the heart and soul of the City of Lights. Before you start daydreaming about a trip to Paris, check out these five nonprofit headlines from the news this week.
1. Before You Make Your Next Donation . . .
Charitable giving is a year-end practice for many of us. But the hustle and bustle of the last few months of the year can leave donors feeling overwhelmed and charities hard-pressed to meet fundraising goals. According to Forbes¸ donors can have more control of their giving by spreading contributions evenly throughout the year. Avoiding the last-minute scramble to donate allows for a more thorough vetting of charitable organizations. Want to take control of your giving efforts? Click on the link above to discover three benefits of making donations throughout the year.
2. National Geographic's Self-Examination of Racism
Highly respected for its writing and world-renowned for its photography, National Geographic has a 130-year-long history—a history that came under careful examination in the April 2018 issue of the magazine. Editor-in-Chief Susan Goldberg titled her introduction to the issue, “For Decades, Our Coverage Was Racist. To Rise Above Our Past, We Must Acknowledge It.” This admission of the publication’s history of racism is the first step toward changing a long history of reporting the world through a narrow, white and elite Western lens. According to the Nonprofit Quarterly article linked above, this type of public acknowledgment of a past streaked with racism reveals valuable lessons for nonprofit leaders. A self-examination may raise questions as to how your nonprofit may err on the side of historically white perspective.
Hiring managers know how rewarding it is to onboard a candidate that is a perfect fit for their company. And while nothing is better than hiring an employee that is exemplary in their work, there is nothing worse than a valuable member of the team handing in their two weeks’ notice. According to Emplicity, exit interviews help gain insight for the future but are not enough to bring an esteemed employee back once they’re headed for the door. Is your organization struggling with employee retention? Consider the ways in which your organization manages its employees and check out the link above for five insights into why good employees quit.
4. Corporations and Social Good?
While operating within the bounds of market-based capitalism, is it possible for corporations to inspire social good? According to a model developed by Jay Coen Gilbert’s nonprofit, B Lab, corporations can contribute to culture and improve the environment all while maximizing their bottom line. Gilbert’s team created a scorecard—the B Impact Assessment—for measuring a company’s social good along a 200-point scale. To date, B Lab has certified approximately 2,500 B Corporations (B Corps) which are expected to create quantifiable positive impact in conjunction with continual financial return. Check out the above link from Stanford Social Innovation Review to learn more about B Corps and how they demonstrate using the power of markets as a means to do good.
5. #MeToo and the Nonprofit Sector
Taking its cue from national news headlines, a recent webinar from The NonProfit Times directed its focus to the #MeToo movement. Leaders from the legal, risk management and fundraising sectors were convened to discuss the movement and its impact on the nonprofit world. However unpleasant to address, the topic of sexual harassment in the workplace is one with which even nonprofit leaders are familiar. The webinar discussed systematic issues relating to harassment and measures leaders can take to prevent problems from occurring. Are you a nonprofit leader that could have benefited from the webinar? No need to worry. Click the link above to listen to the hour-long program in its entirety.
That’s it for this week’s Friday Five! We’re browsing last-minute flights as we long for a glimpse of the Parisian skyline. See you next week… or not!
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