Margaret Gordon

⚠️Experiencing toxic behaviors (see ❌ below) in governance? 🔍 Study Municipal Advisor Henry Braun's courageous & comprehensive report delivered today on dysfunction at City of Kamloops: https://lnkd.in/g8_Rb3nh Witness the chaos caused by poor leadership and explore recommendations which include crucial training in #civicleadership, #governance, #ethics, conflict management and communications. A must-read for anyone seeking to transform their community. #civiceducation #democracy Toxic behaviours include: ❌ Resistance to Feedback: Exhibits inflexibility and dismisses constructive criticism, exacerbating staff tensions. ❌Ineffective Communication: Demonstrates poor communication skills and mistrust towards administrative staff, hindering teamwork. ❌Disrespect for Authority: Shows contempt for hierarchical structures like the CAO and Deputy CAO, undermining professional respect. ❌Workplace Turnover and Stress: Confrontational style leads to high staff turnover and stress-induced leaves. ❌Underestimation of Consequences: Lacks awareness of the potential legal and reputational impacts of his actions. ❌Preference for Conflict: Favors combative approaches over amicable resolutions to disagreements. ❌Inconsistency in Statements: Acknowledges important documents publicly after denying knowledge officially. ❌Poor Understanding of Communications: Does not seek clarification from staff on written correspondence, indicating a lack of engagement. ❌Communication Barriers: Fails to address or clarify operational issues, showing inadequate initiative to resolve misunderstandings. ❌Breach of Confidentiality: Admits to sharing privileged information, violating confidentiality protocols. ❌Misinterpretation of Role: Lacks a clear understanding of the mayor’s role and its boundaries. ❌Conflicts of Interest: Shows a lack of understanding regarding policies on conflict declarations. ❌Damaging Public Statements: Makes public statements that risk legal consequences and damage to the city’s reputation. ❌Opaque Handling of Official Reports: Denies knowledge of contents in an official investigation report, contradicting claims of transparency. ❌Non-participation in Investigations: Refuses to engage in the investigative process, avoiding accountability. ❌Ignored Advisement: Does not act on guidance from the Municipal Advisor, consistently avoiding responsibility.

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#Philanthropy in #Defense of #Science (1); the #Value of #Local Giving (2); #Nonprofit #Startups (3) + #ArtificialIntelligence (4-5): #fundraising https://ow.ly/wEli50Ts1bn https://ow.ly/4jga50Ts1bp https://ow.ly/mV6r50Ts1bo https://ow.ly/QpSs50Ts1bm https://ow.ly/BNx850Ts1bi

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🌍 As temperatures soar in California, the impact of extreme heat on vulnerable communities cannot be ignored. From urban centers to rural areas, we know that people face heightened health risks and economic challenges due to persistent rising temperatures. This is as much a climate change issue as it is public health and economic justice. While extreme heat is not yet recognized as a disaster by FEMA, I am heartened by the Biden Administration's recent actions to accelerate toward the nation's first ever federal safety standard for excessive heat in the workplace that specifically supports low-wage and vulnerable groups. And while California leads the way with programs like #CommunityResilienceCenters, gaps to respond and build resilience to the impacts of extreme heat still persist, particularly in frontline communities that have lacked the resources to proactively plan for and adapt to this threat. In recent weeks, philanthropy has been called upon to mobilize resources in the battle against extreme heat. As funders, the sector plays a crucial role in supporting partners on the ground to immediately mitigate the impacts of heat impacts while ensuring folks have the long term resources to plan for, prepare, and scale resilience strategies. 🔗 I invite you to read more about how philanthropy is making a difference in helping cities adapt to extreme heat: https://lnkd.in/g3nRiJ9v If you're interested in engaging around specific strategies, organizations leading this work, and ways to support these efforts from response and recovery to long term capacity and infrastructure, don't hesitate to reach out! #ClimateAction #Philanthropy #CommunityResilience #ExtremeHeat Northern California Grantmakers

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A must read for those looking at transformative and systemic changes: "Patient, flexible leadership and funding will be needed for the field of community development finance to evolve from the principles of market, scale, and self-sufficiency and fulfill its promise of increasing equity and opportunity in historically disadvantaged communities. Philanthropy will be essential for this move, but so will public and private developers, other public- and private-sector partners, and, most important, the empowered community residents and organizations who will be in the driver’s seat."

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#Eval24 is 1 week away! Will you be there? In this month's newsletter we make it easy for you to see where the Social Finance TIG will be and when, and how to stay connected while you're at the conference. #AEASFTIG

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How can foundations and grantmakers be more intentional about sharing power with communities directly affected by systemic racism and health inequity? A new @RWJF case study provides a behind-the-scenes look at our $5 million participatory grantmaking initiative, Building Local Alignment. Review how we worked to cede decision making control to outside experts and what lessons have emerged for our foundation and other funders as we seek to advance equity. Check it out today! #CommunityPower #EquityInAction #ParticipatoryGrantmaking https://bit.ly/3YdySRr

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"Public trust is the currency of the nonprofit sector." Independent Sector "Trust is what makes it possible for us to partner with local communities to do the hard work of systemic change. Our trusted voices as advocates for our missions help drive policy change. Our trusted status makes us an essential partner to government and industry. Trust is vital in recruiting volunteers and in the sector’s work to bridge differences in a divided America. And, without trust, raising the resources we need to do our work becomes infinitely harder." Key findings from the Independent Sector's new report include: 1) After four years of decline, trust in nonprofits has rebounded by 5 points to 57%. 2) Trust in philanthropy remains steady at 33%, lower than trust in nonprofits. 3) Americans trust nonprofits to reduce national divisions more than they trust corporations, government, or media. 4) Americans have less trust in nonprofits to advocate for public policies and conduct nonpartisan voter engagement. 5) There are clear pathways for nonprofits to increase public trust in the sector. Please reach out to discuss how together we can increase public trust in your organization's mission-driven work. https://lnkd.in/d9--XQSz

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Why we at Urban Indians Northwest have joined with other social and housing advocates and groups in filing a citizen's Initiative, IL25-846 "Rent is Too Damn High" WA. https://lnkd.in/gqjKtfDE _____________ Key Findings from Homeless Estimates Year Over Year Between 2022 and 2023, homelessness in the U.S. surged dramatically. According to HUD, the following increases were recorded: Child homelessness (up 22% in one year) Individual adult homelessness (up 10% in one year) Young adult homelessness (up 17%) These statistics indicate a widespread crisis affecting people of all genders, ages, ethnicities, and races. The increase is evident across various types of homelessness, including sheltered, unsheltered, chronic, and veteran homelessness. However, the rise has disproportionately affected Indigenous communities, with homelessness among American Indian, Alaska Native, and other Indigenous populations increasing by 18%-19%, compared to a 12% increase for the general population.

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Burnout, turnover, and implosion are some of the biggest hurdles being faced by so many movement, organizing, and power-building organizations today. What is philantrhopy’s role in resourcing and supporting grantees so that they can pay living wages, address internal conflicts and tensions, and ensure transition plans that minimize disruption of the work? Read about some of it in this EBCF article, and let me know your thoughts!

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Exponent Philanthropy is exploring new ways funders can increase their impact! Read and download "How Grantees Think Funders Can Improve" today. This report surveyed over 400 nonprofits across six foundations over the last two years. It highlights how funders can improve in effect and process. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4aCklUc.

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💡yes for this!💯ask what matters and then listen, listen, listen ... . "Setting goals that are more relevant to local conditions requires a radical shift in how development projects are designed and evaluated. Rather than imposing predetermined outcomes, we believe that it is crucial to ask of the communities and individuals on the ground: What does success look like to you?" . https://lnkd.in/eBQmkgrE

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Mission: To Engage, Equip, Empower & Elevate survivors of s3x tr*ff!cking so that they may live successful, independent lives in their community. Engage. We sit down with the survivor-participant initially to establish their "PDP" (personal development plan), but regularly thereafter to check in and see how they are doing. Individuals who have suffered complex trauma want nothing more than to have a "normal", healthy, independent life. But sometimes because of the myriad of mental, emotional and physical obstacles, it can seem just beyond their reach. So, these are personal, nonconfrontational conversations that do not have our ego and expectations attached to them. They are conversations with questions focused on the immediate needs and concerns of the participant. They are collaborative brain-storming sessions on how we can "re-think" this situation or make a plan that empowers the individual to move forward. Together, we are Redeeming the Future, 1 survivor at a time.

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I have been fortunate to spend most of my career serving social impact -- as a healthcare worker, as a teacher, as a nonprofit leader. I also have formal business training and I live under capitalism and recognize its influence in all things. In any business venture, for profit or nonprofit, it's necessary to understand who else is already doing the thing. They are competitors and collaborators, and often they are both. What I appreciate about social impact business is the emphasis on collaboration. I love what Cameron Dearlove wrote about nonprofit duplication this week. I hear this all the time, and if you are in nonprofit work I'm sure you have as well. The thing that I would add to Cameron's thoughtful take on this, is the importance of collaboration and support in a system that is underserved. I see a trend that funders--from government to foundations--are looking to support coalitions instead of single entities. To Cameron's point, variety and niche service at the grassroots level is a good thing. This is a targeted universalism approach. Smaller grassroots organizations provide a zoomed-in view of specific community need. Coalition building zooms out, elevates the collaborative message, allows for sharing of resources, and moves everyone together towards the same universal goal. Lovely. Thank you for sharing, Cameron. #agefriendlydesign #targeteduniversalism #collaboration #innovation #nonprofitleadership

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Part 2! Of my interview with Ludovic Blain, ED of California Donor Table. This one right here is chock full of hard earned reflections. Almost every paragraph Ludovic takes on some important topic in the world of social justice philanthropy, donor organizing and electoral power building, pointing us away from any simplistic analysis and towards a more complex understanding. I hope we can use his boldness to inspire (and agitate) all of us to think and act more rigorously about this work many of us do. I'd love to hear your thoughts. https://lnkd.in/gyFeRzji Quotes to pique your interest... "If unions and progressive elected officials, both of whom are elected (and funded) by large bases, are not amongst the folk we are listening to and following, philanthropy won’t succeed." "The Left is really good at opposition but our power building gets weak the closer it comes to power wielding." "In many ways, the individual donors are less stuffy than many of the biggest foundation boards. And it can be a little bit clearer how to get individual donors to grapple with their privilege, compared to getting the top 2 or 3 levels of a foundation to do so." "What we really need is wealthy donors who understand the medium and long term strategies. We need donors to understand that we invest in places that we are absolutely going to lose for the next two, 4 or 6 years...So the questions become, are we losing forward?" "We have a lot of wealthy white folks who are not really accountable to anybody, so they can literally fund whatever they want (for good and bad). Many wealthy people of color are in a different situation. Their wealth might be mostly due to their income, so they’re accountable and dependent on the wealthier person who’s paying them...it's a weird thing where we have sets of white folks who are more able to be ideologically bold with their wealth, & are motivated because maybe they don’t like their grand-parent who made the wealth in an oppressive way. They are able to do both the right thing (take a progressive stand) & also do the rebelling thing at the same time. A win-win for them! Whereas for the people of color w wealth, they’re often new money, so it's their kids who might be the leftist rebel, but the money hasn’t passed to them yet." "Most (wealthy) donors are white and the country is becoming more and more majority people of color. And more political contestation isn't just between white folks and people of color anymore, it’s also amongst people of color. More and more, doing this work requires racial understanding 501, if not 701. Creating multiracial coalitions that we need to win is going to continue to be very complicated and uncomfortable for everyone, including people of color. I think people should expect messiness, lack of clear ways forward, and very few kumbaya meetings. Almost every step will be hard. Worth it, but almost drudgery. We are making this road by walking."

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*i got this information below from the Multnomah County Joint Office of Homeless Services Facebook and I’m sharing here* A new report from Portland State University’s Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative (HRAC) indicates that alternative shelters provide better outcomes for people experiencing homelessness than traditional, congregate shelters. The research, conducted by HRAC on behalf of Multnomah County’s Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS), analyzed the cost, participant experiences, and client outcomes in village-style and motel shelters as compared to more traditional congregate shelters. The study found that motel and village shelters, which provide private living spaces that support the autonomy, dignity, and safety of clients, led to better experiences and more positive outcomes than congregate shelters. This work will inform the implementation of the JOHS Community Sheltering Strategy and support the knowledge base of effective shelter models among homelessness services funders and providers. Read the full report at https://johs.us/reports/

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#LandBack is more than just a statement. It is a process, that varies so much from place-to-place, from Tribe-to-Tribe, and is important to unpack the process from ideation-to-implementation. "There is no blueprint for how to work towards land reparations and land returns to the #Indigenous people of this land. Every region, location, and tribe is different in the history of colonization, and in the political landscapes of Indigenous struggle and organizing. This brief guide is a compilation of some educational resources on colonialism, decolonization and solidarity, and links to some inspiring case studies and examples of settler descendants who have returned land to Indigenous people, as well as some initial questions/best practices to consider when beginning to think about working towards land repatriation to Indigenous people."

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