Chris Biggs

In PolicyLink's series in Stanford Social Innovation Review so far, our colleagues have explored what achieving a flourishing multiracial democracy requires of each of us, and what it could begin to look like for governments. In this new installment written by Jeff Bradach and I, we explore what this foundational change will require of nonprofit institutions. To play their part, our institutions will need to embrace their own transformation, build from a past rooted in charity and move toward a model of liberation—a future where our laws, regulations, customs, and institutions are structured so all people can thrive.  This work calls us to struggle, and may look different depending on a nonprofit’s starting point, mission, assets, and challenges. Hard decisions will need to be made and missteps will happen. Until we bring love and accountability to our internal practices, external partnerships, and the nonprofit sector more broadly, we cannot expect to realize a nation where everyone can flourish. I look forward to continuing this journey towards liberation together. https://lnkd.in/g5ZVkCJf

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I highly recommend this discussion between Amy Webb and Brene Brown about responding to our current environment. Some takeaways: ✍️ we're going through a "super cycle" of change right now: AI, wearables and biotechnology. It means the volume and speed of change may feel unmanageable. ✍️ we need leaders who can "drive into the skid" - i.e. when you drive on ice and start to skid, you need to avoid the kneejerk reaction which is to slam on the brakes. Instead, you need to drive into the skid. An Aussie equivalent would be to swim with the current if you get caught in a rip rather than fighting it. ✍️ a key skill for leaders is to cultivate our ability to respond calmly, even when faced with seemingly urgent situations. That will require intentional practice, and may require training. ✍️ the need to nurture organisational cultures of "learn it all" rather than "know it all". I'll always be a work in progress, but this has reinforced my intention to continue to cultivate practices that support me to be fully present, and to carve out time for deep thinking and abstract thought. For me that looks like regular coaching sessions, a daily "square breathing" practice, a return to journalling, and reconnecting with #Gestalt practices through a postgrad learning circle. https://lnkd.in/dcY9k3zr

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This powerful article from @NonProfitQuarterly dives into the harsh realities facing women of color leaders in the nonprofit world. The piece is a must-read for any woman, especially women of color, stepping into leadership roles. It pulls no punches in highlighting how racial and gender biases can hinder the "fullest expression" of their leadership if not carefully navigated. The author's candid advice? Treat the board relationship like a strategic chess game, thinking multiple moves ahead to maintain your power and ensure your voice is heard. As women of color often have less financial security and perceived authority, she argues you must be savvy in how you wield influence. While the examples hit hard, the overarching message is empowering. It calls on women leaders to be highly intentional about preserving their safety, voice and leadership -- through strategic relationship management, political awareness and refusal to be demonized or diminished. For women striving to lead with authenticity and impact, this perspective is essential. The nonprofit world still has a long way to go in actualizing equitable leadership. Articles like this keep the dialogue blunt and the change processes accountable. https://lnkd.in/gV-GqKfv

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Honored to be featured by Authority Magazine to share about big ideas that might change the world in the next few years.    Take a read to see what mine is, and let me know which takeaway in the article resonated with you most! #socialinnovation #socialimpact #entrepreneurialnonprofits

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This trend of diversity leaders and executives closely collaborating with others in adjacent positions in order to create mutually beneficial strategies is one of the more exciting ways these leaders are leaving their mark on the structures within companies that so often hold diversity initiatives back. It's an important lesson to internalize, the most important fights are never fought alone. #Justice #DEI #Leadership

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Check out our guide to learn the ins and outs of volunteer board committees, their duties and what best practices you can use to ensure the effectiveness of your board.

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So thrilled to be part of the selection committee for Nonprofit ENG(INE), a philanthropic program working with America’s leading nonprofits on their most mission-critical tech priorities to 10X their impact. Founded and funded by AlleyCorp one of NYC’s most prolific venture builders and investors, ENG(INE) will deliver $1M in awards to eligible nonprofits to build cutting-edge technology that advances social & economic opportunity. Full details here: nonprofitengine.org. Leveraging AlleyCorp’s 70+ person engineering team, ENG(INE) pairs nonprofits with a team of engineers over 6 months to deliver major, strategic technological builds. At a time when corporations and startups are rapidly deploying advanced data, AI, and design tools, we believe that the greatest technologies must also be available to the best social innovators. US-based nonprofits focusing on workforce, financial security, or women & girls are encouraged to apply by Friday 7/26/2024! Interested? Start an application today: apply.nonprofitengine.org.

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Foundations wondering about how to get started with AI, this podcast is for you! Jean Westrick shares insights and practical advice. #philanthropy https://lnkd.in/gpmxbj69

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In more than 20 states, Governors have issued orders to open state jobs to folks without degrees, creating opportunities and opening doors that were previously closed. Our question: What happens next? Annelies Goger and I started exploring this question at a session with leaders at the National Governors Association's Skills in the States convening, where we took some early steps in understanding the questions that public sector employers are asking about upskilling and mobility and framing an agenda. From my perspective, there is no question about WHY the public sector needs to drive pragmatic and effective skill development strategies for its workers. Let's talk about HOW. We'd love to hear your thoughts about these ideas, and places where you'd like to see some focused energy.

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This piece below by Erin Reilly (Twilio) calls for a re-look at nonprofit funding. Erin talks about the urgent need for funding models that support not only direct programmatic efforts but also investments in technology and technical talent. Technology-driven scaling of social missions and impact is a no-brainer. And yet many funders focus on programmatic outcomes and just in time impact as their funding principle. Couple of years ago I asked a panel of funders, why they shouldn't learn lessons and adopt a model similar to impact investing? The simplest answer was something like - where should we start? who should take the first step? Anyways, are you seeing a change out there? What is your perspective? #TechInclusiveFunding #Data4Good https://lnkd.in/gi4hvKpZ?

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The conversation around #noncredit #data is decades old, yet little progress has been made and “new” ideas keep being proposed. As part of my due diligence as a funder in the issue space I took time to learn as much as I could about it. This article sums up three key takeaways. Lumina Foundation National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) #continuinged #ceu #credentials #microcredentials

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I am all of these archetypes at once because my anti-racist journey is never ending. This is hard, to be sure. A search for what I am not, isn’t useful. It encourages vanity and discourages personal accountability. This can result in some unhelpful substituons for real, long-term and proactive work. In my own experience that has looked like: - performative action, - prioritizing my own “brand” over the deeply personal and difficult exploration of my own role and my own privilege, - a search for the bad guy/actors which means adding to stereotyping, and - unhelpful binaries that enable notions like being “one of the good ones.” Important read.

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This week, I attended my third social financing convening, and, like every session, I left wondering about the vision for supporting localized, community-driven approaches to financial and social innovation. In this piece, I state: "In our quest to understand and reshape the financing ecosystem, we must look beyond top-down strategies and foster localized, collaborative ecosystems that reflect the diverse needs of our communities. Only by doing so can we create a sustainable, inclusive future that balances economic growth with community well-being." Quoting One Nova Scotia's approach, when it comes to an understanding the true potential of social innovation, we as Atlantic Canada truly need to adopt a now-or-never approach to navigating how Social Innovation can aid our region's transition and, the big question, the financing of the transition for the region.  As emerging regions of Canada navigate the future of development and the capital needed to sustain this development through a seven-generation lens, exploring the financing needed to transition our regions and communities equitably is a regional conversation that needs to start now. After this week, I'm asking for this ecosystem to start strategizing and specializing; if there isn't a regional North Star, what's the point of convening?

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Storytelling is a key relationship-building tool for nonprofit leaders. Discover Orr Group's recommendations for implementing a successful approach to storytelling with your board to create a shared narrative for the future - especially during times of change where maintaining fundraising momentum is paramount.

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My name is Akoss Schuppius, I am a doctoral student in organizational leadership at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland. I invite you to participate in my research survey. The survey seeks to examine the impact non exposure or the exposure to content on self-advocacy had on you as a participant in a leadership program and whether you feel that the exposure was indeed sufficient for you to better advocate for yourself and/or invite others to advocate on your behalf. Through this study, I am interested in understanding the perception of advocacy for self in an organizational context examining discrimination, advocacy at work, and organization support. https://lnkd.in/e4rbwCRD

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great article on the future of civic tech and the vision State Voices has to relieve VANxiety. ’…in December, State Voices issued its recommendations for the tools and technologies that its affiliated organizations could use for the 2024 election cycle and most of them are outside the immediate orbit of Bonterra. Most important, for organizations that need to access, use and store voter data, State Voices recommended two tools that could well make NGP VAN irrelevant: OpenField and CTA PAD. OpenField is a distributed canvassing app similar to MiniVAN, the backbone for campaign field operations, but designed to do more than just turn out people who don’t move frequently and are already registered to vote. And CTA PAD is a centralized data warehouse built by the Community Tech Alliance that groups can use to securely store and manage data, another key function provided by NGP VAN’s Votebuilder...’ https://lnkd.in/e473ZmYv

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Public health + state policy friends - this webinar will have really valuable information about addressing the opioid crisis through public education. The Ad Council's work has impacted public health crises from drunk driving to seat belt safety, and can do it again for the opioid epidemic. Register below!

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The changing dynamics in leadership, especially Black Women’s leadership, is influenced by a broader trend of organizations making decisions that appear to be in direct conflict with the leaders giving their time and effort to those organizations. I thought this piece had some great suggestions for leaders, but it's clear that a broader cultural conversation needs to happen here where nonprofit boards reexamine how conflict can impede an organization's core mission. #Nonprofit #Justice #BlackLeadership

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