Alison and Harry, both 92 with dementia, snuggled together in the front loveseat of the pedal-powered rickshaw, holding hands. They felt like kids again as the cool breeze ruffled their hair and caressed their cheeks. They were off on a grand bicycle adventure as...
Giving Tuesday, the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving and the internationally recognized day to contribute to charity, is upon us. It’s time for all nonprofits and donors to get ready. Unlike Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday invites us to improve our...
Roy Lee didn’t expect to win the election. He was as surprised by the results as everyone else. Over 50% of voters chose Lee over expected incumbent, Das Williams, in a stunning upset this past March. Even though Lee was well-liked, most people thought the long-time...
Sarah York Rubin bubbles with enthusiasm for the arts. Her passion is contagious. She urges everyone to expand their perspective of art and culture. In fact, she thinks you may be an artist and not even know it. “Art is everywhere,” Rubin said. “Walk downtown and...
Edna donned her fanciest blouse and a bright blazer in anticipation of her favorite activity. Perched on the half-wall to await her chariot she kept her eyes glued to the entryway. At 89, she felt giddy as a schoolgirl. She heard the trishaw before she saw it....
Three hot buttons dominate Santa Barbarian conversations these days. Housing, homelessness and the evolution of State Street. Everybody has an opinion. Some are adamant theirs is the right solution. But others, including City Councilmember Mike Jordan, are tasked with...
Courage is not the absence of fear or despair; it is the capacity to continue on despite them, no matter how great or overwhelming they become. —Mark Twain Sometimes I agree to things too quickly without asking enough questions. That’s what happened when I first...
Many people dream of transforming their community. Ken Saxon achieved that goal and he’s not done. After finishing a successful business career, Saxon put his entrepreneurial skills to work on behalf of Santa Barbara’s nonprofit sector in 2008 by founding Leading From...
This article was originally written by Ken Saxon for the Montecito Journal. (Original article on Montecito Journal) Through my work at Leading From Within over the years, I’ve had the good fortune to know many nonprofit leaders. They’re a special group of people that...
Bind up the brokenhearted and proclaim liberty to the captives. Isaiah 61:1 In January of 1989 I took Matt and his good friend, Brandon Roach, to go skiing at Bear Valley. That’s where we all skied when we had our vacation home in the charming little mountain town of...
Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet confinement of your aloneness to learn that anything or anyone that does not bring you alive is too small for you. – David Whyte Eventually, our grounds were full of all sorts of animals—three quarter horses, a Welsh...
Judi was eight years old when her father died. She struggles to remember his face and the sound of his voice. Harry’s father passed away when Harry was just 23 years old. Both wish they could have had a LifeChronicles video of their father. Instead, they have...
A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary.” – Dorothy Canfield Fisher His clear, crystal blue eyes captivated me the instant I saw him as I leaned over the beer keg to fill my cup. My eyes traveled down to take in his...
Belonging has always been a fundamental driver of humankind. – Brian Chesky Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever find my father, or even discover his name. Of course, I wanted to know, but since I had absolutely no information about him, I never gave...
She stood in the storm and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails. ― Elizabeth Edwards Cross country treks, multiple school changes and always being the “new kid” characterize my childhood. On one hand, it was character building; on the other...
Go to the people. Live with them. Learn from them. Love them. Start with what they know. Build with what they have. But with the best leaders, when the work is done, the task accomplished, the people will say 'We have done this ourselves.’ ― Lao Tzu The idea first...
Sam’s mother helped him blow out the candles on his birthday cake. He just turned 33 years old and was diagnosed with a form of dementia two years ago. Sam laughed and clapped his hands as his friends sang him the birthday song. Alma danced an Irish jig to lively...
No one knew what to do. The executive director of Sally’s favorite nonprofit just told her that he would be resigning and moving to Connecticut to accept a leadership position with another organization. He would be leaving within 30 days. Sally immediately called each...
I bolted off the chairlift at the Top of the World ski run so I wouldn’t get my ski caught with one of the other five people on our chair. I moved out of the path of skiers coming up behind me as I focused intently on putting my gloved hands through the straps on my...
Over 500 people filled the Santa Barbara Hilton Ballroom a rainy March morning, each one still a little sleepy from rising so early to get a good parking place and be inspired by the Westmont President’s Breakfast speaker, Richard Haass. As Westmont President, Gayle...
Nearly 50 nonprofit representatives filled the Sponsel meeting room at the Santa Barbara Foundation Tuesday morning hoping to hear the latest about funding opportunities. They were not disappointed. Ten enthusiastic, knowledgeable staff members took turns explaining...
Kyle was torn. He wanted to follow his dreams of working at a nonprofit so he could give back to his community. But at 23 years old and a newly minted UCSB grad, he knew he had to find a job that would pay enough to live in his hometown. Attracting and retaining...
This is the time of the year donors decide which organizations will receive their charitable gifts. Many give to the same nonprofits each year. Others switch it up. Some are in a quandary. The head and heart are both involved. Each plays an important role. The heart...
Holding back tears, he tried to blend in with the other kids and act like he belonged. But he was the only American and didn’t know the language. Surrounded by kids from countries he was taught to hate and fear, he wondered if he would survive his first day of Junior...
Edna donned her fanciest blouse and a bright blazer in anticipation of her favorite activity. Perched on the half-wall to await her chariot she kept her eyes glued to the entryway. At 89, she felt giddy as a schoolgirl. She heard the trishaw before she saw it....
Giving Tuesday— the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving and the internationally recognized day to contribute to charity — is upon us. Unlike Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday invites us to improve our community by donating to causes that resonate with us. “I...
Marsha Bailey worked hard all through her college years at Michigan State University striving toward her dream of one day becoming an art teacher. But soon after graduation she realized all the teaching positions were taken. There was no room for her. Schools did not...
As each year draws to a close, I encourage organizations look back over the past months and make a list of their accomplishments. Most nonprofits are so focused on projects lying ahead that they forget to reflect on their successes. Yet, acknowledging triumphs can...
Oscar Gutierrez always knew he wanted to serve his community, but he never dreamed that shifts in the election process and his unique connection with people would propel him to the dais as a member of the Santa Barbara City Council. Gutierrez was born and raised on...
In 1973, Barney Melekian, our recently retired Santa Barbara Police Chief, began his first venture in his 50-year career in law enforcement. During the next 20 years, he worked patrol, including being part of the first locally funded dog handler team in California. He...
The following story is taken from a chapter in my book, My Wild and Precious Life: A Memoir of Joy, Grief & Adventure. This story describes my son’s dying process from cancer, the grief journey of a complex family and the aftermath of this powerful experience....
Diane Wondolowski is the Chief Financial Officer of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. She has provided stellar service there since 1999. She has served on boards, finance committees, audit committees, and investment committees of a number of nonprofits over...
The highlight of the year for the 1,200 members of the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara is when they reveal which local nonprofits their members have selected to receive transformational grants. This year, on May 9, hundreds of attendees watched spellbound in the...
"It has truly been an honor to serve our elder generation and I am eternally grateful to learn from their pearls of wisdom, " said Heidi Holly, Executive Director of Friendship Center. "I never imagined that, when I began working at Friendship Center, how much my life...
By Scott Eblin of the Eblin Group Ideally, everyone who works for a company would act as an ambassador for that organization to the public at large. In the rare cases where you see that, it’s a triumph of a highly aligned corporate culture. And, as is true with any...
Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-WI) was outraged when he toured the major oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara in August of 1969. Nelson also went away that day impressed with the many people who rallied to clean up the mess. Witnessing the miles and miles of beaches...
By Joseph Scarano, CEO of Araize, Inc. A nonprofit audit is an independent examination of a nonprofit organization’s financial statements and records to ensure compliance. An audit can also provide insight into the organization’s financial health and help identify...
By AUSTIN DETWILER Do you have a fundraising plan for 2023? It’s not too late—and it’s critically important. Here’s a crash course....
Article written by Scott Eblin of the Eblin Group How you start your day is predictive of how your day is going to end. And a consecutive series of good starts is predictive of not just how your year is going to start but also how it ends. Over the weekend, I saw a...
When you attend a nonprofit fundraising event, do you notice that some people make a point of speaking with lots of folks, while others talk to the same people for a long time or even just sit at their table? There is an art and a skill to interacting with people in...
Are you pleased with your board’s participation in fundraising? Do you wish you could find some way to inspire your board members to advocate more and raise funds for your organization? You aren't alone! Many nonprofits search for ways to help board members become...
Sam, the board chair, opened the board meeting with a sharp whack of his gavel. He looked a little concerned. A few board members noticed his serious demeanor. They thought maybe it was just worries about his business or family. “Before we get into this evening’s...
As the pandemic woes fade a bit in our rear-view mirror, many people are left with some uncertainty about the best way to move forward in their work life. Creating the most effective work schedules can be confusing, for executives and employees alike. Should we tell...
I sat down at a table in a local coffee shop to enjoy a vanilla latte and work on my laptop. As I settled in, animated voices at the next table caught my attention. I couldn’t help myself; my curiosity got the best of me. Without turning around, I just tuned in to...
As a donor, you can help actualize a bold, ambitious dream of what the world could be. The magical beauty of your charitable giving results not only in tax savings for you but, as importantly, enhances our community and our world. Nonprofits change humanity for the...
Leaders from small businesses to large corporations have come to realize the wisdom of proactively partnering with nonprofits to enhance their communities. These business leaders are finding that a well thought out philanthropy plan brings their company higher...
This time of year, many donors begin contemplating their charitable giving. Some supporters give to their same favorite nonprofits every year. They are very clear about which organizations and causes resonate with their interests and experiences. Others are unsure...
The popularity of Giving Tuesday has grown into a global movement.
What are the chances of someone embezzling funds from your nonprofit? Most board and staff members think the possibility is remote for their organization. “Our people are so committed to our mission and work so hard, they would never take funds that don’t belong to...
Discover how to keep your meetings on track. Read this Harvard Business Review article from January 5, 2022 by Joel Schwartzberg Too many meeting leaders think their job ends when the meeting starts orthat they merely serve as note-taker and “agenda police.” But, as...
When many people think of today’s focus on ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) they think of stock market investments. Beginning in the 1960s, some investors promoted the idea of investing in companies that work to improve the world and their communities. They...
Our driver, Hakeem, picked us up at 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 5, to whisk us off to our beloved Santa Barbara airport to begin our exciting adventure to the Mediterranean. Our first short flight took us to LAX, and after a two-hour layover we were off to...
“I would really like to serve on a nonprofit board of directors,” Hector said sheepishly. “But do you think anyone would want me?” Hector was a young professional working as a relationship manager in a local bank. He had asked to meet with me to find out if I thought...
Many of my articles focus on recommendations for nonprofit board best practices. While it is important for board members to know their roles and responsibilities, it is equally critical that they realize what to avoid. Today’s article will tell you about a board that...
As each year draws to a close, I encourage organizations look back over the past months and make a list of their accomplishments. Most nonprofits are so focused on projects lying ahead that they forget to reflect on their successes. Yet, acknowledging triumphs can...
Originally, we planned to take Dennis’ entire family of 14 on a cruise around Tahiti to celebrate his 80th birthday and graduation for some of his grandkids. However, the pandemic had other plans. We tried to reschedule twice to no avail. Finally, it looked like the...
It was the beginning of our grand adventure: a week of hiking in Wales, a week of cycling through Scotland, and a visit to London to meet my new sister, Susie. Our driver, Hakim, was scheduled to pick us up to take us to the Santa Barbara airport for a leisurely Noon...
The significance of a great executive director/board chair relationship cannot be over-stated. A strong, well-functioning board is one of a nonprofit’s most important assets, and one that is often underutilized. It’s only when the executive and board chair work in...
The Santa Barbara Foundation released a first-ever report on thestate of nonprofits in Santa Barbara County after over eight months of collecting and analyzing extensive data. According to the introduction, “This report provides the most up to date and holistic...
This month we are acknowledging the two-year anniversary of the pandemic. It has created enormous, sometimes catastrophic, challenges for most people. Nonprofits have been especially hit hard with the restrictions that impacted their fund-raising efforts and hampered...