I TOLD you EPIP was awesome!

  In honor of its 10th anniversary, Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy has just completed an assessment of its impact on the field of philanthropy. Kris Putnam-Walkerly, President of Putnam Community Investment Consulting completed the study and wrote a post about the results for the Philanthropy 411 blog. From Kris:

Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP) is an affinity group of the Council on Foundations. Its mission is to develop extraordinary new leaders to enhance organized philanthropy and its impact on communities. EPIP released the findings of it’s 2011 Impact Assessment, in conjunction with its 10th anniversary and national conference held in Philadelphia.  Below we share 7 key findings about how EPIP has provided support, opportunity, and leadership development for emerging leaders in philanthropy.

1) Emerging leaders have benefited from EPIP’s efforts to connect new and experienced leaders in philanthropy.  Almost all survey respondents (92%) reported that they have personally experienced EPIP’s efforts to facilitate generational change, primarily by participating in forums and events that bring together established and emerging leaders in philanthropy.

2) EPIP members value peer learning and networks gained through EPIP. Two-thirds (64%) of members surveyed reported that as a result of relationships they developed through EPIP, they are participating in new professional development activities. Half  (50%–54%) have met people they can turn to for help in performing their jobs well and regarding being underrepresented in the field.

“I’ve gotten to know so many different people in the field through EPIP. EPIP provides an amazing platform and network to new people in the field, irrespective of age.”  — Rohit Burman, Director of the Culture and Public Broadcasting Program at the Metlife Foundation

3) EPIP supports leadership development early in careers. Many members interviewed described how EPIP provided unique venues to learn, practice, and advance their leadership early in their careers. This included opportunities to propose and lead sessions at conferences, plan events, serve on steering committees, and lead chapters. Senior philanthropy leaders also noted that EPIP provides an important “alternative route to high engagement” for emerging leaders.

“EPIP has done a lot to strengthen a pipeline of leaders into and moving up through philanthropy by giving people mentoring opportunities, confidence boosters, and the chance to develop skills like serving on boards, public speaking, or social justice thinking.”  — Caroline Altman Smith, Program Officer, The Kresge Foundation

4) Participants use the knowledge, skills, and networks developed through EPIP to improve their job performance. 70% of all survey respondents who had been involved in EPIP longer than one year said that as a result of their involvement in EPIP they had established new professional relationships that have been beneficial to their work. Half (56%) described positive changes at their jobs as a result of their involvement in EPIP, including now seeing themselves as leaders in their field (26%) and improving their job performance (22%).

“We moved to a simpler grant process after I attended an EPIP conference, and that has improved our relationship with grantseekers.  — Survey respondent

Read the rest of the findings here.

How has EPIP strengthened your philanthropic career?

The Nonprofit Rockstar Tour is going to Philly

There are many fabulous events to celebrate the release of the book "How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar" at the Council on Foundation's annual conference that starts this weekend. Stop by and say hi at these fun events:

How to Build Your Multi-Generational Network From Scratch- You can join this interactive session on building your network in person if you are attending the Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy conference or you can join us online. The session will be live-streamed and there will be many opportunities for online participation.

The session starts at 6:00 EST on April 7th and ends at 7:15.

EPIP is also kindly hosting a book release party on April 7th starting at 7:30 at super hip Lucky Strike Bowling. The event will feature bowling (duh), drinks (mmmm), and professional development tips (a ha). It is going to be a lot of fun and I will be selling the books for just $20 at the event and I'll be there to sign copies. There will also be many of the Nonprofit Rockstars featured in the book in attendance.

The Council on Foundations is hosting a book signing at Resource Central from 11:00-12:00 on April 11th. They will also have the book for sale at the conference's bookstore.

For every 5 copies of the book that you purchase at the EPIP Conference or at COF you will receive 30 minutes of free career counseling from me. Buy copies for your book club, as birthday gifts or to donate to your alma mater. Below is a quote from a recent coaching call participant:

Thank you Trista for an amazing, energizing conversation! I'm bursting with ideas and excitement! It was wonderful speaking to you and hearing so many useful, important suggestions. I'll keep you posted.

I am so appreciative to the readers of this blog for all of the amazing support that you have given as we have released this book. I can't wait to meet you in person!

Blogging at the Council on Foundations' Conference

The Council on Foundation’s annual conference and the Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy conference are starting on Thursday. This blog will be providing coverage of the conference events, with the assistance of special guest bloggers. You can also watch the EPIP conference from the comfort of your own computer because most of the conference will be livestreamed. Check out the details here. Check back here often for the latest coverage. If you are not attending the conference, you can still participate by continuing the conversation in the comment section. You can also post messages to our bloggers if you have specific questions about the sessions that they have attended. If you are attending the conference feel free to email me at tristaharris (at) gmail (dot) com your own posts about the sessions that you have attended and I will post them with the rest of the conference coverage. 

 Check back soon and be a part of the robust conversation.

The World is Your Oyster- Ask for it

Minnesota's Young Nonprofit Professionals Network has a great blog and they have a wonderful new post about asking for what you want. From Virginia Brown:

Getting what you want was the theme at this month’s packed Emerging Leaders Network lunch. A crowded room meant two things: 1) Lots of people aren’t sure how to ask for– and get–what they want, and 2) I had to sit on a counter because they were out of chairs.

Asking for what you want is tough. As was discussed by the attendees, most of us have never tried. And what are the factors stopping us? Mix fear of conflict, anxiety about the unknown consequences, difficult management, uncertainty about levels of haggling with a dash of Minnesota nice, and you’ve got a recipe for keeping your mouth shut for years. One attendee did it for 12 years. Yikes.

The advice shared in the room was insightful, yet not rocket science. And the reality is that I think most of us know what to do to ask for a raise, promotion, new office chair or pony. If you’re not, check out this great HBR blog or Christine Hassler’s article on the how-to’s. But really, you know what to do. You (me and everyone else we know) just don’t want to do those things. It’s partially fear, but also the ease of doing nothing and having something to complain about at happy hour on Friday. Doing nothing is always easier than doing something.

So I’ll start by sharing the main lesson I learned in business school:

IF YOU DON’T ASK FOR IT, YOU WON’T GET IT.

I just saved you two years of your life and $60,000. You’re welcome. Seriously, just do it. Work up the nerve, do the research you know how to do, and march into your supervisor’s office to ask for that thing you deserve. Don’t forget to already have a good relationship with said supervisor, have a proven track record of excellent work, and a solid, non-emotional rationale for why you should get that thing you want.

Read the rest here.

WE ARE HERE!

As the parent of two school-aged children, I get to see more than my fair share of children’s movies. My current favorite is “Horton Hears a Who.” Horton, the elephant, hears a small yell and realizes that an entire civilization of Whos lives on a speck of dust. He makes it his life’s purpose to protect this little planet from the other animals in the jungle that don’t believe anyone lives on the speck. In the story’s climax (SPOILER ALERT) evil Kangaroo threatens to boil the speck of dust in oil. To prove their existence, all of the Whos yell together, “We are here, we are here!” until they can be heard by all of the other animals and save their planet from certain destruction.

I bring this up because I think the Whos and next generation foundation staff share a similar plight.

Read the rest here at the Council on Foundations' RE:Philanthropy Blog

PS If you are going to be at the Council on Foundations' conference in Philly next month and want to help me show the field that "we are here" be a guest conference blogger for New Voices of Philanthropy. If you are interested, send me an email at tristaharris (at) gmail (dot) com.