Wouldn’t you just know that with all the comings and goings of the MySweetCharity staff, one event would slip out of the lineup. The elf responsible for the “oops!” is sitting in the time-out-of-it corner and asking if s/he can blame it on Ebola. Nope! Keep sitting. The following report from the field should have been posted last week:
“On October 15, Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) hosted “Cause-Minded Conversation with NextGen Nonprofit Leaders,” a panel discussion on how the next generation can have a positive and lasting impact on Dallas and other cities. Byron Sanders, outgoing executive director, now board member of the Dallas Education Foundation, moderated the discussion with panelists Jayda Batchelder, founding executive director of Education Opens Doors; Chad Houser, founding executive director of Café Momentum and Reid Porter, president and founder of ACT (Advocates for Community Transformation). The panelists discussed their unlikely paths to running their own nonprofits as well as their innovative, non-traditional approaches to solve social issues and empower philanthropists and change communities for the better.
“CFT’s president and CEO Brent Christopher opened the floor with new stats on millennials and a highlight of the Tichenor family who have empowered their son Willie’s brother and friends to help run their Quad W Foundation board. The CFT fund holders were profiled in a compelling video shown before the panel began. Then, the panelists, a group of nonprofit entrepreneurs, got started and discussed their inspirations and challenges.
“When moderator Sanders asked how they knew they should start their own nonprofits, Batchelder responded, “I didn’t know I could do it, but I knew I couldn’t NOT do it.” Houser and Porter shared the same passion and sense of mission to those they serve.
“Also in a unique twist, early investors in their concepts were called out from the audience to speak about why they chose to make a bet on each of the organizations. Debbie Oates of Crystal Charity Ball talked about the simplicity and power of Café Momentum. Cynthia Yung discussed how The Boone Family Foundation just couldn’t let Batchelder be enticed to take her model to Nebraska by funders there, and Jody Hawn shared how ACT matched his family foundation’s goals.
“The panel discussion arrived during a time of change in the world of nonprofit giving. The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently reported that nonprofits will have a difficult time finding new donors in the coming years unless they adapt to evolving technologies and the changing demands of younger donors.
“’The next generation of donors wants to develop its own unique approach to personal giving. But these donors still need guidance in thinking strategically so they can develop a clear, thoughtful plan around giving, whether as an individual, couple or family,’ said Elizabeth Liser, CFT’s director of donor services who gave the closing remarks at the panel discussion.
“The panel was part of CFT’s forward-thinking ‘Cause-Minded Conversations’ series, which will pick up again in early 2015. Watch CFT’s event page for details.”
* Photos provided by Communities Foundation of Texas