Lessons learned and a question

I thought I would share with you a couple of the lessons I’ve learned in the process of my job search.

The first comes from Sam Friedman, principal at S. Friedman and Associates, and has to do with the importance of schmaltz in my job search.  Schmaltz refers to rendered chicken fat in Jewish cuisine.  But more importantly, schmaltz is the secret ingredient in many recipes that transforms a merely tasty dish into one that is mouth wateringly delicious.  Sam reminded me that, while I can do a good job for many organizations, my passion for the organization’s mission will be the schmaltz that transforms my good work into exceptional work.

On a more conceptual note, Dave Wyher of Delta Community Supports mentioned his company’s use of the “Baldrige Framework” (http://www.nist.gov/baldrige/) as an approach to assessing and improving Delta’s deliverables.  The Baldrige Framework is a dynamic process where an organization assesses its leadership, strategic planning, customer focus, measurement, analysis, and knowledge management, workforce focus, and operations focus with a view to improving its deliverables for all of its stakeholders.  Fully implemented, it helps the organization not only align, but integrate its systems and processes to further accomplish its mission.  The advantage of the Baldrige Framework, as Dave described it, is that it is not prescriptive like ISO models.  Rather than placing the organization into a box, it frees the organizational leadership and staff to innovate in ways that help it accomplish its mission.

Several of you spoke about impending cuts in reimbursement rates for human service organizations, both as a result of the Affordable Care Act, and as a result of the pressure to cut costs the federal government will continue to experience as it seeks to balance the budget.  Scott Schultz of Schultz and Williams suggested that, while some human service organizations will seek to add fundraising as a revenue stream, most will likely “hunker down” and ride out the storm, much as they did in in the 80s.  As I listened several of you in the human services sector, you expressed concern that fundraising will somehow distract you and your staff from accomplishing your mission.  Some even equated fundraising with hosting events like golf outings, notoriously the least productive, though the most visible, approach to fundraising.

I wonder what human service organizations could learn from healthcare organizations like CHOP and the Visiting Nurses Association that use fundraising as a tool to further their mission?  Betty Marmon at the Inglis Foundation appears to be applying some of these lessons.

All the best,

Don

CONNECTIONS:

Matt Hugg introduced me to the Nonprofit Consultants Network of Greater Philadelphia, where I met Bob Fogal, who introduced me to Robbe Healey, who introduced me to Scott Schultz.  I also met Sam Friedman through NCN.

Russ Johnson introduced me to Dave Crosson, who introduced me to Rob Reid, who introduced me to Dave Wyher.

Lou Beccaria introduced me to Gavin Kerr, while Matt Hugg introduced me to Bette Marmon.