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Apr 3, 2024

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1-1 Discussion: Nonprofit Leadership First, by way of introduction, share your major concentration and how this course and program fit into your career goals. Next, evaluate the nonprofit agency background provided in the case study dossier to prepare yourself in assuming a leadership role. Discuss the key attributes of a strong leader and why those are important characteristics. Consider whether leadership qualities for a nonprofit leader are different than other types of leadership. In response to your classmates' posts, justify the importance or relevance of the leadership characteristics described. Hello Class, My name is Kylie Ferland and I am Majoring in Business Administration with a Minor in Accounting. My concentrations are Nonprofit Management and Entrepreneurship. I am hopefully going to open my own nonprofit organization in the very near future. I want to open my own tutoring center that focuses on assisting low-income students whose parents are unable to afford tutoring services. I would base all payment on a sliding scale so that those that cannot afford it are able to get the services that they need. There are many attributes of strong leader. My top four attributes would have to be communicative, visionary, accountable, and ethical. Communication is a two-way street. To be able to communicate effectively, a leader also needs to be able to listen. Too many times leaders will hear from employees about an issue but they do not listen and think that the problem or the idea is not a good one. This can lead to employees not wanting to communicate with leadership and then the problems do not get resolved. Being a visionary as a leader means that the vision for the organization is clear and viable. Leaders must also be able to communicate this vision to the employees so that the employees can be successful. An accountable leader means that no matter what happens, the good and the bad, leaders take responsibility for their actions. They need to show that they are human too and when they make mistakes they are willing to learn and grow from them. They will also take responsibility for the actions of the organization as a whole because then the organization shows that they stand together and they are learning from their mistakes. Finally, an ethical leader will not only follow the policies and procedures of the organization, but also the laws and regulations and the unwritten policies that are in place. They are honest and admit when an error is made. They are the model for their employees (Indeed, 2023). Other important attributes of a strong leader are that they are hardworking, open-minded, confident, humble, passionate, disciplined, and motivating. A leader has more than from four key attributes. Every attribute works in tandem with other attributes. That is what makes up a strong, well-rounded leader. A nonprofit leader does not have attributes that are different from other types of leaders. The difference between a nonprofit and any other leader would just be what type of organization they run and what they need to do to help make that organization successful. It also depends on what

the leader wants to do to make the world a better place. A leader for a retail business can make a difference in the world that is just as important and big as a nonprofit leader. All the Best, Kylie References Indeed. (2023). Taking the Lead: A Leadership Qualities List for Effective Team Management . Indeed.com; Indeed. https://indeed.com/hire/c/info/leadership-qualities-list? gclid=CjwKCAiAqNSsBhAvEiwAn_tmxZh9kUg3MSwtvxOz8xNx4hqYBv9gnXbbGIC TncZvUvy2SpcNt1K80hoCywAQAvD_BwE&aceid=&gclsrc=aw.ds

2-1 Discussion: Financial Skills In this discussion, you will address financial skills. In your initial post, argue whether financial acumen is the most important leadership quality for a nonprofit leader. Can a nonprofit leader succeed with no financial ability or training? In response posts to your classmates, justify whether nonprofit agencies have different financial pressures than for-profit companies. What particular fiscal challenges do nonprofit organizations encounter? Hello Class, To answer this question, we must first understand what acumen means. According to Merriam- Webster, Incorporated (2024), acumen means to be able to make judgements that are of good quality. It also means that you can make those judgements quickly. Financial acumen means to make financial judgements that are of good quality and that are made quickly. As a nonprofit leader, it is not the most important quality. Every nonprofit needs to have finances to be able to operate, but many times the money received will be dictated to be used in a certain way. Another thing about the grants and donations is that even if they are not being used for specific things as dictated by the grantor or the contract, the money is being used to take care of things that the other things that are not covered by grants and donations. Therefore, being good at financial acumen is not the most important quality for a nonprofit leader. As a nonprofit leader, you must be able to adjust to the changes in many things very quickly. Laws and regulations can change with little to no notice. The needs of the community that you serve can also change in a heartbeat. One example that I remember from my time working through AmeriCorps with the Greensboro Housing Authority (GHA) was in 2018. That April, we had a tornado come through the city that caused a wide path of destruction. Our program was in a community, that while not hit by the tornado, had lost power for a week. The program was a reading based program that assisted children from birth to third grade in the ability to learn to read. For that week, we served food, handed out donations, and worked with GHA in making sure that all residents were able to eat, keep their medications cold, and get to where they needed to be for safety reasons. The focused changed in a matter of minutes because there was no way we could help the children read with no power. It is important to have a skill like acumen, but it does not have to be financially motivated. Looking at leaders who are successful in not only the nonprofit, but the for profit world, you see that many cannot be successful without any financial training. When it comes to the nonprofit sectors, there are many rules and regulations when it comes to the financials that are not seen in the for profit world. This means that leaders of a nonprofit need to be able to make financial decisions that can be good for the company. If they make bad decisions, the nonprofit will not be successful. If the leader has had training, they will be able to understand the rules and regulations as well as the ability to test if a decision is going to be good financially. They will also be less likely to rely on others to make financial decisions. However, they may be more likely to seek help when they need it. If they go into it thinking that they know what they are doing with no training, then they will be more likely to fail. The ability to determine whether a decision,

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financial or not, is good is a skill that is developed over time. It is not something that you can teach fully. You can learn by looking at others’ decisions and the ramifications of those decisions, but you have to actually make decisions to learn if they are good or not. So, should a nonprofit leader succeed with no financial ability or training? No. They will need to know at least the basics to have a chance of being able to grow and succeed. All the Best, Kylie References Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. (2024). Definition of ACUMEN. Www.merriam-Webster.com. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acumen

3-1 Discussion: Importance of Outreach In this discussion, you will consider outreach styles. In your initial post, argue the following: Which style of outreach works best: flamboyant or understated, subtle or showy, flashy or modest, calm or colorful? Justify how an agency should decide. In response posts to your classmates, evaluate to what extent an agency takes on the personality of its leader and what this means when that leader leaves. Hello Class, When looking to do outreach for an organization, the organizations must look at many different factors. The two biggest factors are the audience you are trying to reach and the message you are trying to send. If you were to want to send a message to children and their families, then you are going to want a short, flamboyant, flashy, colorful, and showy advertisement or flyer. The reason is because you want the children interested and wanting whatever the message is conveying. This will allow for the attention of the children to be caught and you can get them more interested in hearing what you have to say. Something geared toward another company may still be colorful, but it is not going to be flashy, flamboyant, or showy. It is going to be a more formal flyer or advertisement. This is because businesses want to see professionalism. The only way you want to have something flashy and flamboyant geared toward a business is if that business if meant for children or you are helping them advertise for children. You need to look at the context of the outreach, the audience, and the goals. If you just want donations then colorful but professional is the way to go. If you want children to come to an even you want flashy and exciting. The other thing that needs to be considered in what the target audience prefers and the cultural norms. Some cultures are offended by flashy and flamboyant while others embrace it. Depending on the target audience, you can gear your outreach toward them. Being able to adjust outreach to a particular audience or message is important because bother types of outreach styles can be used by a single organization if done in the proper way. All the Best, Kylie

4-1 Discussion: Political Correctness In this discussion you will consider governance structures in terms of political correctness. In your initial post, evaluate the value of being purposefully inclusionary and politically correct in all correspondence, policy documents, social media, outreach, conversations, and so on. What are the downsides of doing so? In response posts to your classmates, debate whether being politically correct inhibits an organization's ability to effectively and efficiently operate. What are the costs of not being politically correct? Hello Class, In the current business environment, organizations have to do what is best for themselves, the people they serve, and the stakeholders that are invested in the organization. The information that is put out to the public is carefully vetted as well as put through multiple revisions to show the organization in the best light. It also helps the organization to prevent offending anyone that may see the information. In today’s world, the cancel culture is big and the public is quite to condemn someone or something for making a mistake. The information that is kept in-house is still vetted, revised, and looked over by many people, but it is less likely to be known to the world. The cancel culture and the condemnation by the public is less likely to occur. However, it is still important that the organization are politically correct and inclusive within the government structures and all correspondence. When it comes to the social media and the outreach that the organization does very much has to be vetted so that the organization does not face the cancel culture that many people and organizations face. It also shows that the organization is inviting and welcoming to everyone, not just certain groups of people. When it comes to the policy documents that are kept within the organization, you want all employees, members of management, and the board of directors to feel valued. If there is anything in those documents that keeps someone from doing or wearing something that is important to them or that uses terms that are unacceptable within the cultures that are represented within the organization, then those stakeholders will not feel valued. They will not have a heart in the organization and only be there until something better comes along. A prime example that I have faced has to do with the fact that I am Jewish and working within a company that does not pay attention to religious activities that are not widely celebrated. In order for me to take time off for certain holidays or to wear certain items of clothing that are important to my religion, I need to get to religious accommodations through a 3 rd party company or use PTO to be able to celebrate my holidays. Many of my Christian counterparts do not need to do that because their religious holidays are usually celebrated as secular holidays and they do not have religious articles of clothing that are important to them. Do I feel valued at my company? Sometimes, but it is an uphill battle in other aspects that makes it feel like I would have more freedom if I was not Jewish. The policy documents can help to avoid that because they could help alleviate the stress that groups of people may feel. When it comes to the conversations that people within the organization have, it all comes down to making sure that all stakeholders feel welcomed and valued. The more they feel welcomed

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and valued, the more likely they will be invested in the organization and the bigger the organization can grow. Being politically correct and inclusive is only going to help the organization grow and expand which can allow them to reach more people. All the Best, Kylie

5-1 Discussion: Management Skills In this discussion you will address management skills. In your initial post, argue the key management skills needed for strong agency leadership. What management skills are mandatory for a good leader and why In response to your peers, compare good and bad managers/leaders/instructors you have experienced in the past. What were the key characteristics that differentiated the good from the bad? Hello Class, The leader of any organization, whether nonprofit or for profit, needs to have many skills. These skills are important because they can allow a leader to help the organization forward the mission and vision or the business goals without any delays, hurdles, or objections. The key skills that are needed for strong agency leadership are planning, communication decision-making, problem solving, delegation, and time management (CFI Team, 2018). Planning is how a leader organizes various activities that have guidelines that need to remain within the limits of the available resources. This is important for a nonprofit agency because there will be many activities and events that have an extremely limited budget, time or labor available to complete them (CFI Team, 2018). There are various ways for a leader to communicate with their team and with the clients or customers that interact with the organization. That communication can be formal or informal and given verbal or written. The communication helps the organization complete the tasks and helps the organization to run smoothly. A leader with good communication skills helps the organization get the message out to everyone involved (CFI Team, 2018). A leader needs to be able to make decisions about various aspects of the organization. The decisions that a leader makes will not always be the best decisions, but how they learn and grow from them determines whether an organization is going to succeed or fail. Decision-making skills allow a leader to help the organization achieve the goals and objectives of an organization (CFI Team, 2018). A great leader does not do it all for the organization. They are able to delegate tasks to others based on the strengths and weaknesses of the other members of the organization. Leaders are very busy people and while they may want to be involved in the day-to-day aspects of the organization, however, it is not always an effective use of their time. Delegation allows for things to be done in a timely manner and by the best people for each task (CFI Team, 2018). Problem- solving is a very important skill to have because an organization faces problems every day. A manager who can find the best solution to a problem is going to be one that is able to help an organization avoid crisis as much as possible. When a crisis does arise, they are going to be able to make decisions and problem solve in an effective manner (CFI Team, 2018). Finally, a good leader is going to be able to motivate everyone within the organization. Motivation allows for the desired behavior or response from everyone involved in the organization. When a leader can motivate someone to do something that they desire, then the results are going to be beneficial to the organization. It can also create a culture in which

employees are willing to participate in activities and events willingly as well as being willing to show up for more than just a paycheck (CFI Team, 2018). Leaders need to have a wide variety of skills to be able to be effective in their position. When one had these skills, then they are going to put forth the organization in the best light and they are going to be in the best position to move the organization in the best way possible. All the Best, Kylie Reference CFI Team. (2018, November 11). Management Skills. Corporate Finance Institute. https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/management/management-skills/ (CFI Team, 2018)

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6-1 Discussion: Leadership Versus Risk Management In this discussion, you will address risk. In your initial post, compare and contrast bold leadership versus managing risk. What actions do strong leaders take that lesser leaders avoid? In response posts to your classmates, interpret how a risky move could be characterized as poor leadership or lack of change as strong leadership. Does avoiding risk mean losing opportunities? Hello Class, Bold leadership and risk management go hand in hand. Bold leaders need to use risk management to be successful, but you do not need to be a bold leader to use risk management. However, if you want to grow your business, you need to be a bold leader. Bold leadership is taking calculated risks, pushing the boundaries, and pushing the organization forward. It can positively impact the organization (Burgess, 2023). Risk management is a way to identify, assess, and lessen any potential threats that the organization might face. It also focus on potential organizational and individual risks (The4, 2023). When it comes to bold leadership, it can push the organization forward and help the organization and its members in a good way. When an organization promotes boldness, they are more likely to be a competitive organization and are able to change with the market as it changes (Burgess, 2023). There are characteristics of risk management that many leaders follow. They will identify and assess the risks. They will develop a plan to manage the risks. When they implement the plan, they will monitor and adjust the plan and strategies. They also communicate with all stakeholders. Data is big in risk management (The4, 2023). A bold leader is going to take risks that are calculated, but there are times that they use risk management. This is because some risks are too risky for the organization. They do not want the organization to fail because of a mistake that could have been avoided. This means that they will use risk management when they need to but otherwise they will do what is best for the organization. Strong leaders are willing to take the risks that many lesser leaders want to avoid. Lesser leaders might feel like they could lose a lot if they take a risk and it doesn’t work, but a strong leader will trust in their team and the organization and will take the risk to propel the organization forward. Without risks, organization will not grow and expand. All the Best, Kylie References Burgess, L. (2023, April 14). The Benefits of Being a Bold Leader — and How to Become One . Entrepreneur. https://www.entrepreneur.com/leadership/the-benefits-of-being-a-bold- leader-and-how-to-become/448911

(Burgess, 2023) The4. (2023, May 2). What are the Characteristics of Risk Management? TeamAcademy. https://teamacademy.qa/blogs/news/what-are-the-characteristics-of-risk-management (The4, 2023)

7-1 Discussion: Boards of Directors In this discussion, you will consider your role as a potential board member. In your initial post, categorize what type of nonprofit board you have served on or would like to serve on and why. What do you feel are the challenges of being a board member? What nonprofit mission are you passionate about? In response posts to your classmates, consider nonprofits in your area that meet similar missions. Hello Class, I have never been on a nonprofit board of directors before, but when I open the tutoring center, I will be the executive director and will serve on the board because it will be a nonprofit organization. If I were to serve on any other board it would have to be on a board for an educational nonprofit. The reason for this is that I have a degree in education and I would like to make a difference in the lives of the children. They are the future and we need to give them all the tools that they need to succeed. Some of the challenges that I will face as a board member on a board for a nonprofit that I do not start would have to be doing more with less, ensuring accountability, and using the time wisely. When it comes to doing more with less, everyone knows that most nonprofits do not have the financial security. This means that they board of directors and the executive director need to make things work with the little funding that they do get. A board member needs to ensure that the staff of an organization is accountable for their actions as well as for all financial decisions made. The IRS is very strict when it comes to the financials of a nonprofit and so the board needs to ensure that the organization is run in a way that ensure that the organization is successful financially. Finally, the board of a nonprofit does not meet as often as employees do. This means that they need to utilize the time that they have in a wise manner so that they can accomplish the objectives (Capital Asset Management, Inc., 2020). The nonprofit mission that I am passionate about is one that focuses on the future of the children and their successes. This is because of my educational journey. I have benefited from nonprofit organizations that help students be successful and get to where they want to go. Without someone guiding me I would not be where I am today. I want to give back to an area I got from and the way to do that for me is to open a tutoring center. I hope that I can grow it into more. However, it will be a start. All the Best, Kylie References Capital Asset Management, Inc. (2020, June 4). Nonprofit Boards: New Challenges and Responsibilities. Capital Asset Management, Inc. https://www.capitalassetmanagement.com/blog/nonprofit-boards-new-challenges-and- responsibilities

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8-1 Discussion: Missing Skills In this discussion you will reflect on your (simulated) experience leading a nonprofit organization. In your initial post, evaluate which of the skill areas (Milestones One through Five) are your strongest and which are your weakest, if any. Conclude which skills were underemphasized in previous coursework or any skills that you feel were missing from the curriculum. In response posts to your classmates, assess which other courses were most useful in preparing you to run this organization and for your future career. Hello Class, This class was an interesting one. The case study was interesting. One thing that stuck out to me was that the case study was very much what I do not want my nonprofit to become. The policies, nondiscrimination policies and personnel issues were something that I want to avoid. It was very jarring to see it set up in a way that makes it want to change everything, not just one or two things a week. I think that my strongest skill that we touched on was the Outreach milestone. This is because I am very good at creating outreach opportunities. I have worked in the nonprofit world where we had to perform outreach for every little thing we did. It wasn’t just as simple as sending a flyer home with the children. We had to go door-to-door, call parents, and send emails. The events had to be tied to reading specifically, except for the 9/11 and MLK Day events. Due to this requirement, I was able to learn outreach in a manner that allowed me to grow as a leader. I believe that my weakest is and will always be financial. I struggle with any type of finance, but I am always willing to learn. This also means that I will need to hire someone that is financially savvy. I am ok with that. I know the basics and am always willing to learn, but when it comes to crunching the numbers and making projections, that is not where I excel. Knowing your weaknesses is important, especially in the nonprofit world. This is because when it comes to anything, the IRS and Federal Government do not mess around. You want to make sure that all your ducks are in a row so that you do not mess anything up with your nonprofit. I think one thing that should have been looked at, either through a milestone or a discussion, is policy creation and updates. The policies that I was reading were really messed up and needed some work. I understand that this class is only 8 weeks, but if you are opening a nonprofit, you will have to create policies from scratch. This is something that I would like to see implemented in the future. This is a skill that is important and I will be doing more research on it. All the Best, Kylie

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