Joshua Feyen 🏳️‍🌈

All kids deserve to be nourished. A great piece by Michael Pollan on universal school meals. This is so personal to me, having worked for many years in the farm to school movement and then for the U.S. Senate, helping draft and advance two Universal School Meals bills, both which included free school meals for all students as well as key local food incentive provisions. With the 2019 intro of that bill, it felt a bit like a pipe dream (to be honest, a lot of Bernie’s bills were aspirational). But then COVID hit, and as soon as the Biden administration came in they provided considerable flexibility for schools to offer free meals for all students. What an incredible difference it made, and advanced the idea that families don’t have to literally be in debt to schools for not being able to pay the lunch bill, or kids getting shamed that they couldn't pay. Or worse, they just don’t eat lunch. We introduced the 2021 bill with a little more enthusiasm and co-sponsors, but the real excitement was going on at the state level where advocacy groups, state agencies, and even governors like Tim Walz were championing universal school meals. “One of Tim Walz’s signature achievements as governor of Minnesota was to sign into law a 2023 bill that made breakfast and lunch available to all public school students, regardless of their ability to pay. When critics attacked the policy and him as too liberal, he shut them down: “What a monster! Kids are eating and having full bellies so they can go learn.”” Brilliant, Tim. And compassionate. Let’s make sure that all 28.6 million students served school meals each day do not have to worry about whether they can afford them, and they can focus on what’s most important -  learning, growth, and enrichment. #farmtoschool #localfood #foodsystem #schoolmeals #foodismedicine #childnutrition

14

In our latest Ideas Hub resource, authored by Arts Midwest's Director of Programs Ellen Mueller, gain a clearer understanding of capacity building and learn how to create a "wish list" to guide your organization when new funding or training opportunities arise. "When I encounter a new piece of jargon—special words or expressions used within a particular field—I often ask myself these three questions: What is it? So what? Now what?  This article walks us through these questions as they relate to the term, “capacity building.” Let’s get beyond the jargon and explore how capacity building might help your organization." #capacitybuilding #nonprofit #resource #ideashub

5

What do you call community engagement, and why? Public engagement, or co-production perhaps? Inclusive research, or participatory practice? What if I were to suggest it doesn't matter? We did research a couple of years back with The University of Manchester to help academics determine where they might start their own journey, examining the difference between different practices and how to evolve your approach. It turns out, far more important is how you're practising, and for who's benefit. We've shared some of learnings here... https://lnkd.in/ekSfzqMS

10

2 Comments

👩‍🍳 If there's one thing you know about me, it’s that I love a good baking metaphor. And just like baking, measuring success in your nonprofit or community coalition requires the right ingredients and precise measurements. My latest blog, "Measuring What Matters: Choosing the Right Metrics for Your Nonprofit & Community Coalition," is all about finding that perfect recipe to showcase your outcome and drive meaningful change. 🍰 Imagine trying to bake the perfect cake—without measuring ingredients, you risk a result that's far from ideal. The same goes for your organization's metrics. Using metrics that align with your mission is key to demonstrating accountability, refining your programs, and building trust with funders and community members. Here’s what you’ll learn in the blog: 📏 Why Metrics Matter – Metrics tell your story, showcase accountability, and build community trust. 🥅 Aligning Metrics with Your Mission – Ensure every “ingredient” supports your goals. 📈 ❤️ Types of Metrics to Consider – It covers both quantitative and qualitative metrics tailored to nonprofits and community coalitions. Steps to Choose the Right Metrics – Engage your stakeholders, define goals, prioritize, and refine. From Batter to Better, get ready to bake up meaningful community change! https://lnkd.in/gGD27xYd

4

Learn the art of active listening. In a field focused on building genuine relationships, I've seen firsthand how important it is to listen to your donors- like really, really listen. Don't listen to respond, don't be thinking about your next sentence, don't focus on your 'ask'; just listen. What moves them to give? What's their story? (Those two things are almost always tied to each other). You get to hear about the heart behind their generosity and that is one of the coolest things to witness. #donorcare #development #nonprofit #relationshipbuilding #begenuinealways #personfirst

8

How many names have you heard used for community engagement? Co-production, public engagement... the list goes on and on. What if the what doesn't matter, as much as the how you practice, why, and where you're heading with it? If you're working in this space, I'd love to hear more about your journey with community engagement, and what your next steps are in relaising its potential.... https://lnkd.in/ekSfzqMS

17

6 Comments

This #podcast with Ben Kittelson of ELGL: Engaging Local Government Leaders was a fun one to do -- and timely to share on #EarthDay. We all come to our careers in different ways. Mine was definitely a windy path: most of it as a fed at US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, plus some time in the nonprofit sector at AARP and now National Housing Trust. This podcast conversation wove together all of that in a discussion of why and how we need to center the needs of older adults in our #climateresilience planning. TL/DR: 1. Older adults are disproportionately impacted by climate change; we need to acknowledge that and work backwards from there in our planning. 2. Doesn't matter what we term we use (#smartgrowth, #sustainablecommunities, #agefriendly), the solutions require better land use decisions about housing, transportation, infrastructure and more. 3. It's all about busting down silos and working across disciplines to get to more integrated solutions that can be applied at the community scale. https://lnkd.in/ekg9n_WW #equity #ittakesaplanner Thanks to Ben and ELGL for the opportunity!

32

2 Comments

📊 Dive into the world of data storytelling with Jessica England! 🌟 Read her tips for nonprofits transforming numbers into impactful narratives that drive action. Read now: https://loom.ly/RctPDs4

1

Most people know I typically work with larger, complex systems within organizations. But I realized recently that I've learned the most about interdependence from living and interacting within smaller, more rural communities. It's easier to learn how to recognize patterns and view change within a smaller system, for example: ➡ Rural communities may be small, but they're still complex. Viewing how things and people connect can be a fascinating practice. ➡ Relationships are more nuanced, and we tend to see each other holistically. You may not have the same politics as your neighbor, but when it comes time to execute a fundraiser, you have to learn how to work together. ➡ In smaller places, businesses, nonprofits, and restaurants are all interconnected. This helps us see things as a whole rather than in parts. This was a fun piece to write, as it reminded me of how fond I am of my community in St. Cloud. I'm wondering who out there grew up in a smaller, rural community? What lessons did you learn that inform your leadership practice today? #regenerativeleadership #smalltown #interdependence #leadershiptips https://lnkd.in/gJT83H-5

26

3 Comments

When do you work with an external evaluator? If: ❓You know your program makes a difference, but you don’t have the tools to measure it ❓You need a “fresh set of eyes” and outside perspective on your program ❓You are struggling to articulate your program’s impact to partners or funders An external evaluator brings a toolkit of measurement tools and experience in a wide variety of programs. We can help you articulate what your program does and how it does it and communicate your program's impact. Interested in learning more about partnering with an external evaluator? DM me.

9

Fundraisers have long know that different generations have different preferences for how they like to give and how they like to be contacted. New reports included in our Research Roundup look at ways to how different generations like to give. A report from Fidelity Charitable® examined giving by those ages 50 to 80, and found that they find giving to be a significant part of their lives and many volunteer. Another report from the companies Bloomerang and Qgiv by Bloomerang, looks at how different groups—from Gen Z to Boomers—like to give to charity and be stewarded. While Millennials are into recurring giving, with 51 percent participating, Gen X is most likely to fundraise for an organization via walks, bike rides or similar events. Read the research roundup for more details. https://bit.ly/47SOQ7C

39

1 Comment

This study spells out what donors want to see from an appeals campaign. In short: Strut your success!

2

In rural settings, where everyone knows each other, it might be necessary to explain why certain interactions could be inappropriate or harmful. https://lnkd.in/gUEn5eUV #crackyl #firefighters #ems #firstresponders #firefighterlifestyle #firefighterwellness

11

1 Comment

Join us on August 22nd for the next #FlintForum! We'll take a look at how to build newsrooms that empower audiences living on a turbulent, climate-changed planet. What will we be covering? 💡What new tools are available for alerting the public in rapidly changing emergencies? 💡What are the barriers to accurately reporting on climate change and its causes? 💡How can newsrooms tell climate change stories outside of the weather report? 💡In a world rife with disinformation, where are the best places for audiences to get good, useful information? 💡What are the benefits and challenges of mobile-first and social media-driven news? 💡How can we empower people rather than just inform them? Register today! #ClimateChange #Broadcast #MediaProduction #ClimateNews

2