CSR, nonprofit, and foundation professionals see the fall leaves turn and smell something in the air – conferences. The economy didn’t change the attendance numbers, energy, or engagement at this year’s Independent Sector Conference in Detroit, Michigan or the NetImpact Conference in Ithaca, New York. This particular thoughtscrap will focus on the highlights from the Independent Sector Conference in Detroit, Michigan. 

 

The opening plenary by Melody Barnes, President Obama’s chief domestic policy advisor, was nothing short of insightful and inspirational. I’m glad she gets to play golf with President Obama. 

 

Melody made clear that one of the Administration’s top domestic policy goals is to identify transformative, innovative practices and to scale those strategies to communities across the country.  Examples she used were Teach for America and the Harlem’s Children Zone. Melody noted the following integral components to success in the sector and the government’s role in furthering and achieving social impact: 

• Collaboration between all stakeholders including: nonprofits, the government, and funders. We no longer operate in a vacuum in which collaboration is a “nice to do” but a practice that is absolutely necessary for success in this field. 

• Identification and development of a common set of metrics to measure success of these communities of practice. The government is searching for metrics that can be used across all programs and practices. What are those metrics? Mission Measurement has some ideas…more to come in the next thoughtscrap!

• More support needs to be provided to those serving in the front lines. The Wal-Mart Foundation’s President, Margaret A. McKenna made a salient  supporting point that we often put those that are the least qualified and under-resourced in the front lines of teaching and community service: young, recent college graduates who are paid almost nothing and are not trained or funded adequately to address the most pressing social issues we face. 

 

There are big issues that need to be addressed. No administration can solve all of those issues. What was so energizing about the Independent Sector Conference is that the nonprofit community’s conversation is focused on the right issues such as collaboration and metrics to track progress towards achieving greater social impact.   

 

Tune in next time for more thoughtscrapping on the Independent Sector and NetImpact!