The Mighty Individual

There is no doubt that individuals have seen their power grow relative to that of institutions.  Whereas we were once reliant on a set of encyclopedias to bring us basic background information, we now create and share this information through Wikipedia.  Whereas we were once dependent on the company and the advice of a few friends in trying to assess a new product or service, we can now go to a number of online review sites where thousands of strangers will provide insight to their experience post-purchase.  In actuality, we don’t even need these sites – through facebook we can access our hundreds of friends to ask their advice instantly.   The Internet has made people more connected to each other than ever before, and this has given individuals a tremendous source of power.  It is this that keeps many brand managers up late at night, constantly reviewing Google alerts and Tweetbeeps, and as a result of this shift we have seen major investments by corporations in social media tools.  In the nonprofit sector, lots of discussion occurs around how much staff time should be devoted to these tools, and whether or not the organization should be getting involved or if that just makes it more vulnerable to attack.

There has been a lot written about why nonprofit organizations should be engaging in social media (for example this post by Debra Askanase).  However, what I think is really exciting is the opportunity for nonprofits within this power shift.  On the one hand, you can grumble about the ability of one person to damage your brand (Domino’s Pizza has certainly felt this, and I’m sure the Dell Hell blog gave executives a headache).  On the other hand, you can embrace the opportunity for outsourcing.  Nonprofits almost constantly lament the lack of available resources; funding is tight and our staff are stretched as thin as possible.  So rather than use resources to fight the power of the individual, why not leverage it.  Give individuals the power to ask for support on your behalf.  Just imagine what reach your fundraising campaign would have if you had access not only to the supporters in your database but to their friends as well.  Allow clients and donors alike the opportunity to help you construct new programs and initiatives and find new and creative ways to measure them.  Provide people with the tools they need to be an ambassador for your organization; make it easy for them to be your advocates.  Rather than fearing the individual, take advantage of their brilliance; the ROI could be phenomenal.

And so a new adventure begins…

I am beginning this blog as a nonprofit professional seeking to learn new and better ways to create social change, believing that others might find it useful for their own professional development.

My experience with the nonprofit sector began as a volunteer at the Boys & Girls Clubs.  Let me be clear: I am not one of those people who loved kids and so sought out the nearest afterschool program.  I was asked to volunteer, and my first response: “I don’t really like babysitting.”  That was being mild; I loathed babysitting.  Nonetheless, I gave it a try and by the time I graduated from college, I had volunteered more than 500 hours and accepted a staff position with the organization.  I had come to see firsthand that Boys & Girls Clubs save lives – every day, one child at a time.

Over the course of several years, I was promoted to the position of Unit Director, where I was responsible for opening a new club location inside of an area public school.  This meant taking responsibility for everything from developing the budget and raising the needed funds to managing staff and measuring program outcomes.  This was a tremendous experience, which demonstrated to me both how much I was capable of doing and how much I had yet to learn.

At this point, I decided to pursue my Masters in Business Administration (MBA).  I wanted to find new ways to (1) better retain and build the talent within the sector, having found the people to be the sector’s most significant asset, and (2) better market the work being done, thereby mobilizing greater financial resources for these efforts.  Through the program, I also received instruction on the basics of running a business (such as finance, operations and accounting).

What I didn’t expect from this experience was to develop a love  for the city of Detroit.  You’ve read about the city in the news, no doubt, as it struggles with a shrinking population, corrupt politicians, and an education system that fails its students, – not to mention the troubles with the auto industry.  What you don’t hear often enough, though, are those people committed to defining a new Detroit.  The city’s motto is “Speramus meliora; resurget cineribus” or “We hope for better things; it shall rise from the ashes.”  There are so many stories of people who are taking what seems like an insurmountable problem and finding immense opportunity.  To those people, I say: Count me in!

And so I begin this new chapter of my life, this new adventure filled with hope and challenge, and I look to make myself the best person I can be so that I can do the work that is so badly needed.  I hope you find the golden nuggets within this blog that help you to do your own work better, and that you’ll challenge me a long the way, pushing me to find a better version of myself.