Thinking of having a fundraising event? Before deciding to
have an event, remember that there are certain hidden costs that should be
factored into the decision. Consider the amount of time it will take of your staff
to put the event on and how that will impact other areas. If you are having the
event primarily to raise funds, very often the same amount of time would be
used more effectively if spent building relationships and making personal
“asks”. Deciding how to spend your precious time in fundraising is critical to how to start a nonprofit organization in Texas. Events are great, but not always the answer to every need.
From the Hart...
A place where people with too much time on their hands can read about things that are probably not important, should have no real impact on their lives, and will most likely serve no purpose.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Friday, October 25, 2013
Accountability - What makes it work
Regarding our nation’s current financial environment, I have
come up with a comparison I believe to be applicable. I have been in nonprofit
work for over 20 years and can say with some authority that a problem with many
nonprofit organizations is a lack of accountability. You see, in the for-profit
world accountability is always present in the form of profit. If you don’t make
a profit, the business does not last. However, in the nonprofit world, since
the bottom line is not usually a direct result of revenue generated through
doing business, “profit” cannot be used to determine success.
With nonprofits you must track an organization’s success at
achieving its exempt purpose. There should be metrics used to evaluate the
business that do not necessarily have a correlation to money raised. This can
mean that the methods of evaluation may be very subjective and can be skewed by
an emotional investment in the organization’s purpose. Subsequently, there may
be times of financial need in order to continue operation. The solution for this
dilemma: raise more money.
Our government operates much like a nonprofit. Even though
it brings in considerable funds through taxation and is responsible for the oversight
of this nation’s monetary system, its purpose is to manage the country by
making decisions that will be of the most benefit to its people. These
decisions are often very subjective, as well (as are the metrics used to evaluate
them). Regardless of the cost, is it what “the people” need?
This is how we get federally funded programs that 1) Try to
determine why turtles cross the road, and 2) Do monkeys like cocaine? – both projects
funded in the recent stimulus bill. Spending is only accountable to the very
ones who have the most interest in funding the project. So, when times of
financial need arise in order to continue a program or project (or just to keep
the government working), the solution is:
print more money.
Just like with nonprofit organizations, until accountability
is driven by those who can honestly evaluate the need for a program and its
success versus the actual cost of providing the program, this nation will
always be faced with financial needs and the temptation to print money we do
not have to pay for them.
Political alliances aside, we must hold all of our
government officials accountable for the way our nation’s money is spent. Right
now, the fox is guarding the hen house and we cannot fix the problem just by
changing foxes.
Monday, September 2, 2013
To Criticize or not to Criticize, is that the Question?
There have been a number of negative comments recently on
the activities of certain athletes, entertainers, and politicians. It has
raised the question of how much can those of us who consider ourselves
Christians participate in this talk that ranges everywhere from playful banter
to outright venom. Does what we say as a Christ-follower say more about the
topic at hand or about us and our walk? I don’t know about you but that question
is beginning to step on my toes.
Most recently the antics by Johnny Manziel have stirred
considerable controversy and a firestorm of negative comments. Some have
insisted that the negativity has no place when discussing the attitudes and
conduct of a twenty-year old football player. “Character assassination”, it has
been called. “We all made mistakes at that age”, some have said. My answers to
those comments are that it’s not character assassination as much as it is
suicide and I know plenty of young men and women that would not, and did not
act that way in similarly tough circumstances.
And what about Miley Cyrus? Evidently her performance, while
not seen by quite as many of my friends, was equally disturbing. I understand (since I did
not see the awards show) it was presented in a forum that many of our nation’s
youth were watching and would most certainly be emulating. I’ve heard “trashy”
and “provocative” used to identify her actions, and from what I have seen I
would probably agree.
These are both tough calls. There were obviously some
actions in both of these cases that offended many, especially if you are not a
fan of either of these young people. Christians, in many instances were members
of the groups offended. So where do we stand when it comes to criticizing the
actions of others publicly? Does it matter whether or not the offender professes
to be a believer, as well? If we can criticize, how far can it go, and who
decides?
While these are great questions for which I cannot answer to
anyone’s satisfaction, let me go one step further and talk to those of us who
don’t need the obvious actions of a Johnny or Miley (hey, maybe we shouldn’t
name our kids with an “y” on the end of their name….) to bring out our negativity.
Are you the Christian man or woman that cannot stand (insert team(s) or player(s)
name here) and MUST point it out at every opportunity? Or are you the person
who disagrees so violently with the political group and/or person in power that
EVERY word from your mouth and/or FaceBook post reminds us all of that fact.
Even closer to home, are you the person that ALWAYS criticizes the pastor
and/or church leadership, regardless of the circumstances?
Unfortunately, social media has made it far too easy to make
this behavior well known by all. I confess to being a part of the problem at
some level, but have yet to decide exactly where the freedom to voice my
opinion and my responsibility to
share my thoughts get crossways with God’s desire for me to control my own thoughts
and tongue and offer grace instead of judgment. Ouch.
I’m sure I don’t often cross that line (trying hard to pull
beam out of own eye here) but I do often feel “put-off” by other Christians who
continually speak badly of others. The President is always wrong. The Rangers
are trash and will never win it all. The Cowboys can never win with a jerk like
Tony Romo or Jerry Jones leading them. I could go on and on and some people do
just that. Even the ones I pretty much agree with get old and I quit listening
to what they say. This makes me wonder, does it hurt our credibility when we
try to talk to others about the important things? How do I speak so poorly to
you about someone God loves just as much as me, then turn around and share with
you the Good News?
I feel certain the answer must reside somewhere within my attitude.
So, I commit to be poorer in spirit, able to mourn with others, and more humble,
I will hunger and thirst for justice, show mercy, strive for a pure heart, work
for peace, and be prepared to be persecuted for doing the right thing. Yep, I
think that’s a good place to start. Feel free to join me.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
10 Things I Learned about Leading a Business from Coaching Football:
1.
If you don’t
prepare, you prepare to fail. There is no getting around it; there is no
substitution for hard work and good preparation.
2. The only
time you work harder than when you are losing is when you are winning. It’s
a given that when you are losing you have to work hard to achieve success. What
some never realize is how much work it takes to keep winning.
3.
Good offense
may be exciting, but champions play great defense. Defense is not passive,
but it is protective. Teams that do not defend their end zone (assets) well,
never become champions.
4.
The
success you achieve is usually proportionate to the risk you take. Darrell
Royal said “When you throw the ball three things can happen, and two of them
are bad.” He was right, but you could easily add that when you do catch it, the
reward was worth the risk. Sometimes the greatest successes are also the
greatest risks.
5.
No team
wins or loses on the strength of an individual, but on individual performances.
Consistent winners do the little things right. Everyone has a job to do and
every job is important. Big successes are possible because someone is doing
their job well and enabling success.
6.
Good
teams can be replicated. Do things right and do them right every time.
Consistency in your goals (policies) and good technique (job descriptions) allow
you to recreate success.
7.
The first
opponent you must overcome is yourself. An inability to overcome your own shortcomings
makes success difficult. (e.g. Poorly managing yourself and your time not only
holds you back, but your company, as well).
8.
Don’t ask
a teammate to do something you are not doing yourself. Asking a teammate to
be on time to practice and showing up late yourself severely damages your
credibility as a leader.
9.
Sometimes
you just need to punt. Don’t jeopardize your field position by making
foolish play choices when a good punt would buy you much needed time and space.
10.
Leaders
never have to ask teammates to follow them. Teammates follow leaders
because they see in them the confidence and ability to take the team where it
seeks to go.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
10 Things I have Learned about Marriage
After 27 years of marriage, I feel pretty confident in making the following suggestions to young married men:
1. Clean is a relative term. Her definition is always right.
2. The request to “take out the trash” is perpetual in nature and should not need repeating.
3. The easiest way to get anywhere is to go the way she wants to go.
4. Maintaining her vehicle is your responsibility. Always.
5. If you say “my kids” in a conversation, be prepared to explain how you gave birth.
6. Blonde jokes are only funny when you are married to a brunette.
7. Any question beginning with “be honest” is a trick question. Find a way not to answer.
8. “I don’t care where we eat” does not mean what it says. She cares.
9. Proving you are right is not always something you should aspire to do.
10. "When momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy" may be the truest statement ever made.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
10 Things I Learned from Coaching Young Men
1. Never ask
a young person what they think about a decision you have already made. They
will probably tell you and you may very well not like the answer. What have you
accomplished?
2. Don’t
yell all the time. When everything is said like it is the most important
thing in the world, it all becomes just noise. The next time you have something
really important to say, they will miss it because it sounds like the rest of
the “chatter” they have been ignoring.
3. Embarrassing
a young person is the worst thing you can do to them. It may feel like you have established your
dominance at that moment, but you have actually dealt your credibility with
that young person a blow you may never overcome.
4. If you
give the impression you have all the answers, it becomes all the more obvious
that you don’t. Young people are perceptive enough to know when it is more
important for you to be right than it is to be respected.
5. Sometimes
it is better that young people think you are an idiot than for you to keep
talking and prove they are right. At
times they will question your intelligence just because you are an adult. There
is nothing to gain by always trying
to prove your superiority.
6. Don’t
just tell them you care, show them. Even bad attempts are better than none
at all. They may not respond immediately, but they can never respond to
attempts that are never made.
7. Sometimes
you have to know when not to “cast your pearls before teenagers.” This may
be a poor Biblical reference, but often your wisdom is based on experience they
do not have. Since they don’t know what they don’t know, they will just as
often dismiss your wisdom until it becomes something they can identify with.
8. Be
content that you may not be around when a young person has there “Ah-Ha”
moment. You may never hear “so that’s what he/she meant…” but that doesn’t
mean it won’t be said. It may be years later, hopefully following success but
more often following another mistake where the meaning of what you said became
apparent.
9. Sometimes
you should just “let that dog hunt.” A young person will always experience
greater success when working at something they are interested in rather than
something they are being compelled to be a part of. To the extent possible, put
them where they want to be doing what that want to do.
10. You will probably never reach the young
people you do not reach for. Sort of a take-off on the “never up, never in”
adage in golf. Relationships are always the key. Know the kind of relation you
intend to create, understand and respect appropriate boundaries, and make a
good-faith effort to reach the young people you are instructed, compelled, or
called to reach.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Duke, is he a dog or a mouse...
About a year ago our daughter found a beautiful young golden retriever running the streets of Abilene in the rain. We happened to be in town and she was leaving on a trip, so we were convinced to take him home to FW with us "until she found his owner." Righhhtttt. To make a long story short, there were numerous efforts to find said family with no luck and he has since become a part of our family.
I can't remember what Emily called him early on, but one night Lynette said he looks like a Duke. At which time his head popped up and he looked directly at me like "She knows my name!" I asked him if his name was Duke and he got visibly excited, so Duke it is and shall be until he audibly lets us know otherwise.
There are a number of odd things about Duke. First, we found that he will eat anything that is left out (he is large enought to reach anything on the counter or island in the middle of our kitchen). His favorite things appear to be chocolate. He has eaten from our counter two or three chocolate cakes, a couple of pans of brownies, and several chocolate chip muffins pulled directly from the muffin pan. The wives tale about chocolate being bad for dogs evidently does not apply to Duke. On at least two occasions he has eaten something wrapped in plastic wrap or foil because I have found his bowel movements in the yard, neatly wrapped in those undigested coverings as if intentionaly done for convenience.
The most unusual thing about Duke (and here is where your help is required) is his aversion to storms. This 65 pound dog becomes a pacing, whining scaredy-cat that shivers uncontrollably when a storm arrives. It is bad enough during the day, but at 3 in the morning it is more than a nuisance. Nothing like having a big dog land with all fours in the middle of you during a deep sleep. We have tried most everything and nothing seems to work.
Finally, a few nights ago Lynette had all she could take. We have a crate in the room that our small dog has used in the past and she decided Duke was going in that crate. I looked up from the bed to see her on the floor pushing Duke with all her might into the crate, and Duke was winning. After several intertaining minutes, Lynette succeded and Duke was packed in for the night. I threatened to film the next encounter for all to see on youtube, but Lynette reminded me I might not want the video of her in her night gown pushing anything across the floor. Point taken. Could you wear pajamas, I asked?
Anyway, if anyone knows a fool-proof way to help bring out the man, er dog, in Duke during storms we would appreciate it. Dog whisperers are welcome.
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