Becky Witmer, MBA

In my latest for Pacific Research Institute Right the Bay, I look into #AB886, one of the most controversial end of session #caleg bills and make the case that free markets, not a proposed new link tax, is the best way to preserve CA journalism. https://lnkd.in/grBARqEk

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It's a big day for my alma mater, Oregon State University, and the Oregon State University Foundation. For this year's Dam Proud Day, I'm supporting the Finish in Four scholarship program because I believe that more Oregonians should be able to attend OSU and graduate with little to no debt. OSU aims to become a university where every student graduates. But some just don’t have the resources they need to stay in school. Currently, students with high financial need and underrepresented students of color typically graduate at rates 10% lower than their higher-income peers. The university’s new Finish in Four program is designed to close those gaps and make it possible for more Oregon resident students to graduate in four years with little to no debt. Finish in Four provides four-year scholarships, but the program is more than monetary aid: it’s part of a multifaceted, university-wide effort designed to help students thrive. Program participants will be part of a supportive cohort that builds a sense of belonging and provides programming and services to ensure academic success. https://lnkd.in/gvP65jiv

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Colorado Creative Industries is creating its next strategic plan, and we need your input on what’s working well, what’s needed, and what big ideas we should consider. Join a public conversation and help shape our statewide priorities. How’s Colorado’s arts and culture sector doing today? What are our biggest needs and opportunities? How can Colorado Creative Industries support the statewide arts, culture, and creative industries ecosystem? You tell us! Take the survey by August 8, 2024 👉 https://lnkd.in/gx2VEKfx

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Excited for an important webinar from Center for Effective Philanthropy — What Funders Need to Know: The State of Nonprofits and Grantee Well-Being. 6/20 at 2p ET. I hope you’ll join me in attending! Info & register here: https://lnkd.in/djHGZnNU This webinar is about their latest CEP “Nonprofit Voice” research on the state of nonprofit sector. The study focuses on staff burnout, org finances, and funder practices. The webinar will also discuss new CEP research on how funders perceive nonprofit burnout, and what the funders say they’re doing about it. To get my take and Fund the People’s response to this research, here are three resources we’ve produced in cooperation with CEP: 1. To Ensure Nonprofit Well-Being, Invest in Wages, Workload, and Working Conditions: A new guest post on the CEP Blog about the 2024 findings. https://lnkd.in/eguhhFhX. 2. Funders, Listen Up: It’s Time to Invest in Nonprofit Workers: Guest post on CEP blog about findings from last year’s study. In it, I compare the 2023 findings to findings from 2018 and 2013. https://lnkd.in/eeXfHky6. Here’s a brief podcast episode based on the 2023 blog post: https://lnkd.in/ed46h9B5 3. How Funders can Support Nonprofit Workers in the Age of Burnout: FTP held a session at the CEP conference in fall 2023 featuring Jamie Allison, Jennifer Roller, and Desiree Flores — three foundation CEOs who are investing in grantee staff in various ways. Following the session, these leaders shared their work in a series of conversations on our podcast. You can get links to a playlist of the series, links to each episode, and more here. https://lnkd.in/eay3xKA7 BONUS: Elisha Smith Arrillaga, Ph.D. , Vice President of Research at CEP, will be our guest on the FTP Podcast this fall discussing all this research! Can’t wait to dive in. Subscribe to the podcast to make sure that Elisha and other great guests on Season 7 appear in your feed! just search for “Fund the People” wherever you get podcasts or visit our podcast web page here: https://lnkd.in/esgV-maX.

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My most pensive face for San Diego's budget process at today’s Community Budget Alliance press conference. Mayor Todd Gloria's proposed budget cuts $40 million from essential programs that serve low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. A rising tide lifts all boats. In tight budget years, our city has the choice to invest in programs that make the rich richer, or make San Diego a city where everyone can thrive regardless of their zip code. On the mayor's chopping block: ❌ a $15 million reduction to the Housing Commission ❌ canceling the city's $8.5 million contribution to our climate equity fund that helps neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis respond to storm damages ❌ $3.1 million from the community equity fund, which provides job readiness and childcare programs in low-income areas ❌ cutting $1 million from youth centers that provide safe spaces and mentorship for young people ❌ $900K from after school and teen center programs ❌ cutting $700K from homeless shelters ❌ completely eliminating the Office of Immigrant Affairs ...and so much more.

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Community Journalism is important.

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Cal Poly Receives Top Five-Star Ranking from Money Magazine’s Latest Best Colleges List!! Check it out: "While Cal Poly is a highly selective school, with an acceptance rate of 30 percent for students with an average 4.0 grade point average, it enjoys a graduation rate of 84 percent (taking an average of 4.3 years) — or tied for 19th among the 94 Best Public Colleges in the U.S. Cal Poly also scored well postgraduation. Nine in 10 graduates (91%) are working full time or in graduate schools within a year, the magazine cited. Students go on to earn median salaries of over $85,000 in their early careers, a premium over similar schools, according to Money’s analysis. https://lnkd.in/grge5nZX"

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San Diego has a rich history of social justice activism.     As San Diego’s largest regional community foundation, San Diego Foundation (SDF) focuses its efforts on identifying and addressing our county’s greatest needs, many of which overlap with racial and social justice issues.     Learn more about how we’re working to accelerate access to economic opportunity and remove barriers that have historically stood in the path of inclusion, making San Diego County a better, stronger and more equitable region.    Learn more about social justice activism in San Diego: https://bit.ly/3XIwTWk     #SocialJustice #Blog #EqualRights

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𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟱: It's time to register for Arizona's biggest conference for nonprofit and grantmaking professionals. There are sessions tailor-made for the head of an org or someone just starting their career. Opportunities for networking and learning throughout the day, and the price is great. See what the pros at AZ Impact for Good have planned: https://lnkd.in/gFxGe6Zv

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This Thursday! Will I see you there? The Basement UC San Diego is holding this workshop at the Women's Center in the heart of UC San Diego campus: Struggle with the dreaded "Tell me about yourself" question? Dive into an interactive workshop where you'll unlock your natural storytelling talents and master the art of public speaking. Whether it's for your startup journey or professional growth, this session has you covered. Using the power of improv, you'll sharpen your storytelling and presentation skills, learning to captivate any audience authentically and articulately. Discover why authenticity and empathy are your essential tools in your entrepreneurial and leadership journeys. Gain the skills to confidently share your story to the world!

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Thank you to Wynn Hotel Las Vegas for your support of Desert Research Institute's AWE+ 2024 Summit. As more than 90 major wildfires burn across the U.S. and Canada amid another summer heat wave, DRI is holding open the registration window for our upcoming summit entitled Wildfire Recovery and Resilience: Working Across Silos to Drive Solutions.   The event will be held at Encore in Las Vegas on Aug. 21-22 and will mark the launch of DRI’s new global initiative, #AWE+, a call for accelerating and sustaining community resilience in the face of a growing number of catastrophic environmental events. At the heart of the initiative lies a sobering fact: Wildfires are increasing in number, size, and intensity at an alarming rate, and at-risk communities are not prepared.   The summit’s slate of researchers, wildfire management experts, social scientists, and leaders from the public and private sectors will share subject matter knowledge, identify workarounds for barriers to progress, and collaborate in the creation of achievable action plans summit delegates can immediately begin to implement in their communities. Register now below. #SupportDRI #DiscoverDRI

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Worth the read. Wise words from Angel Medina.

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Watch this fascinating conversation with the two top women leaders at the California State University as they talk about their journeys and obstacles they had to overcome: https://lnkd.in/g6bFCXQm

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In a recent meeting with a client about strategies to engage major donors, they said "we don't have time to build relationships with funders!" I've heard similar responses over the years as a consultant, but for some reason this time it really hit me: this key aspect of development (especially major gift fundraising) is precisely the thing nonprofit leaders often just don't have time to do. In the frenzy and everything-is-a-priority aspect of our work, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we don't have time to nurture and build key relationships. But, given how important this activity is to the sustainability and success of your organization, finding time -- or maybe making the time -- is critical. I share more on how to make this time and to best use the little time you have in my April blog post on cultivating and forging strong ties with donors. https://lnkd.in/gqUrPcuU

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If you didn’t already know about the incredible team at RYSE, here’s a peek behind the curtain. I am so happy to help amplify the critical, life-altering work they do, and cannot think of a better way to spend our dollars than to help them continue it for as long as possible. Watch the full story: https://lnkd.in/g9NGcKpP

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What the US needs for film production to STAY HERE! Many years ago, I had a million dollar production.. and the tax incentives were honestly the single most effective lure for my company to do business in the states. In fact, those who may remember the Elizabeth Smart story wasn’t made in Utah… it was in Canada. That wasn’t my show, but you get the gist. Any one else out there looking for tax credits in the states who’ve had difficulty? If so, in which state? And - which state is the BEST for show production (or the WORST!) It can be above the line or below.. and specify if it was episodic, film or what. #content #film #television #production.

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Remember to register, and then hurry and download our campaign template to get your marketing and communications plan together stat. 👻

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Well this is goofy. I wanted to re-post Sallie Olmsted, APR's comment. Is that a thing I can do? LinkedIn, we need to talk. #alliehasnotes But anyway, read Sallie's comment. Go #PRismAwards!

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"I hate boards." Boards, councils, advisory committees. Call them what you want. The truth is I have heard non-profit leaders express this sentiment of frustration time after time. And to be fair, there are some really terrible boards out there. But it doesn't have to be that way. Maybe the problem is, you aren't inviting the A Team to be a part of your committee. So why are you surprised when you don't get an A Team effort? My Co-Host Greg Jeffrey highlights five ways you can build an A Team of volunteers in this week's podcast episode. Check out the comments for the link. #justask #nonprofits #development #boards

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