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James Mueller, President of Mueller & Associates, will be a guest on the Nonprofit Utopia Podcast to talk about his latest book, Onboarding Champions, the the essential guidebook for nonprofit board members and executives. It challenges board members to become champions of governance and provides a roadmap to get there.

We will talk about seven recruiting principles of highly effective nonprofit boards, including culture, character, competence, connections, composition continuity and collaboration.  James will share a wealth of information on a number of topics, including how to use a disciplined approach to building diverse and equitable boards; managing your board and leadership team remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic and how to confront board members who put their own self interests above the organization's best interests. 

Nonprofit Utopia hosted a CARES Act forum for nonprofits, churches, performance arts organizations and small businesses on March 6, 2021, from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM. The live streamed event was facilitated by Congressman Danny K. Davis, and included an update on the COVID-19 Stimulus Package.

Mark Ferguson, Illinois Deputy District Director for the SBA, shared an overview of the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, Paycheck Protection Program and Shuttered Venue Operators Grant. We also had a panel discussion featuring Daryl Newell, President of Seaway Bank; Ronald Milsap, Vice President, Mission Deposits and CRA, Providence Bank; Lupita Guerro, Business Banking Officer, US Bank and Christyn Freemon, Founder, Project Forward.

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021, passed in December, 2020, extends many relief programs from the CARES Act. It also creates several new programs and provides clarity around some of the questions brought about under the CARES Act passed last spring.  We will look at some of the major provisions of the legislation and how it impacts nonprofits, small businesses and communities.

Using examples from rural and urban communities, we will talk about how local networks may be used to develop plans and strategies to address environmental justice and sustainability issues. Featured Guests:  Romona Taylor Williams, Executive Director, Montgomery Citizens United for Prosperity (MCUP) Robert Fishkin, Executive Volunteer Match, Sharon "Sy" Lewis, Executive Director, Meadows Eastside Community Resource Organization (MECRO)

The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges, the likes of which we have never seen before.  Schools, churches, restaurants, nonprofits, local businesses, and nonessential government and health services are closing temporarily. The need for health and human services is increasing. We are practicing social distancing.  We are conducting business and hosting public forums online. In short, our economy and quality of life as we know it, have changed, and may never be the same again.   


What does this mean for you as a nonprofit board member?  What should you be doing, right now, to help your organization navigate the "new normal"? Listen to the Nonprofit Utopia podcast today at 2:00 pm CST.  We will

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Updates on the COVID-19 pandemicTips for nonprofit governance during a time of crisisCoping strategies from thought leaders in the corporate, nonprofit and faith arenasThe board's role in planning for business continuanceStrategies for increased civic engagement and policy and advocacy campaignsResources that you might find to be useful in your own journey

Partnerships can take on any number of forms, including co-locating, sharing back office or fundraising staff, permanent joint programming, and mission-based mergers.  Whatever form your partnership takes, there is always more to it than meets the eye.  While no two collaborations are the same, there are always financial, legal, cultural and other relational issues to consider. Forefront’s Mission Sustainability Initiative (MSI) gives nonprofits the resources they need to sort it all out and position their partnerships for long term sustainability.

Genita C. Robinson, Director of the Mission Sustainability Initiative for Forefront, will talk about MSI; ways organizations can assess their readiness to participate and case studies from some of their grantees.

Call in live at (347) 884-8121 to join the conversation. You can also participate in the live chat.  Archived episodes may be found at iTunes, Podcast Chart, Blubrry and Stitcher.