The Digital Nonprofit is Vancouver’s premier conference for nonprofit leaders engaged in digital transformation. The event is specifically designed to help nonprofits and charities learn about the models and tools needed to succeed.
How Design Thinking Can Lead to the More Effective Use of Technology for Social Impact
Human centric technology use needs a structured approach that design thinking can help solve. Mike’s fast, fun session brings together how the Amish, Stanford Design School, and hjc use design thinking to help make the world a better place.
In this presentation, you’ll learn:
Michael Johnston, HJC
Mike has been a fundraiser for 30 years, and has worked with 100’s of social impact
and charitable organizations in Canada, the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Asia
Pacific. Mike is an expert in fundraising innovation and integrated fundraising –
especially in the use of digital technologies and their effective integration with
traditional and new fundraising methods. He had a hand in creating some of the first digital fundraising tools and campaigns in the late 1990’s.
He is the author of two books: The Fund Raiser’s Guide to the Internet and The Nonprofit Guide to the Internet and the editor of two books: Internet Strategies: Best Practices for Marketing, and Direct Response Fund Raising: Mastering New Trends for Results. Mike is also a contributor to numerous books and magazines.
Mike was a founding Board Member of the Washington-based e-Philanthropy Foundation, and was its first chair of its Education Committee. In addition, Michael was the founding Foundation Chair for the first global charity online lottery, www.globelot.com. He has helped to found, and Chair, the industry leading Integrated Marketing Advisory Board, www.imabgroup.net – a collection of leading fundraising agencies and other related industry associations.
He is a current board member of the global fundraising capacity building nonprofit,
The Resource Alliance and was the first Chair for the Resource Alliance’s Fundraising Online web conference.
SPONSORS
We are grateful to our community partners for their support. Give them your love and spend money with them!
The Digital Nonprofit is Vancouver’s premier conference for nonprofit leaders engaged in digital transformation. The event is specifically designed to help nonprofits and charities learn about the models and tools needed to succeed.
The Happy Healthy Nonprofit: Linking Self-Care and Wellbeing to Organizational Impact
This keynote is about how and why it is important to treat self-care and a culture of well-being as an organizational strategy and cultural norm. When self-care initiatives are treated as “extras” instead of being built right into the fabric of an organization’s culture or leadership does not model the behavior, they often fall flat.
Beth will share the latest thinking on self-care and well-being in the nonprofit workplace based on the presenter’s book “The Happy Healthy Nonprofit: Strategies for Impact without Burnout.” Going beyond a narrow focus on physical health and wellness, she will share examples and insights from nonprofits that have created and implemented a culture of well-being in the workplaces that supports results.
Takeaways
Learn about the big return on investment that happens when your organization prioritizes well-being in the workplace
Understand the influence and role that leadership, employee engagement, and organizational culture play in implementing initiatives to encourage employee wellbeing
Learn about simple and examples to activate a culture of wellbeing in your organization’s workplace that truly has impact
Beth Kanter
Master Trainer, Speaker, Author, and Blogger
Beth is internationally recognized thought leader in networks, social media, philanthropy, wellbeing in the workplace and training. Beth has over 35 years working in the nonprofit sector in capacity building and has facilitated trainings for thousands of social change activists and nonprofits on every continent in the world. She is an in-demand keynote speaker and workshop leader.
Named one of the most influential women in technology by Fast Company and one of the BusinessWeek’s “Voices of Innovation for Social Media,” Beth was Visiting Scholar at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation 2009-2013. She author of the award winning Networked Nonprofit Books and The Happy Healthy Nonprofit: Strategies for Impact without Burnout (http://bit.ly/happyhealthynpbook) published by J.Wiley. She writes “Beth’s Blog,” one of the first nonprofit blogs. Her clients include foundations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
SPONSORS
We are grateful to our community partners for their support. Give them your love and spend money with them!
The Digital Nonprofit is Vancouver’s premier conference for nonprofit leaders engaged in digital transformation. The event is specifically designed to help nonprofits and charities learn about the models and tools needed to succeed.
Given everything happening in the world, the nonprofit/charitable sector continues to play an urgent and critical role. But we face many challenges to fulfilling our full potential. What does the ideal sector look like? How will we get there? What are sacred cows we must let go?
Join Vu for a no-BS presentation filled with pictures of baby animals.
Vu Le
Vu Le (“voo lay”) is a writer, speaker, vegan, Pisces, and the Executive Director of Rainier ValleyCorps, a nonprofit in Seattle that promotes social justice by developing leaders of color, strengthening organizations led by communities of color, and fostering collaboration between diverse communities.
Vu’s passion to make the world better, combined with a low score on the Law School Admission Test, drove him into the field of nonprofit work, where he learned that we should take the work seriously, but not ourselves. There’s tons of humor in the nonprofit world, and someone needs to document it. He is going to do that, with the hope that one day, a TV producer will see how cool and interesting our field is and make a showabout nonprofit work, featuring attractive actors attending strategic planning meetings and filing 990 tax forms.
Known for his no-BS approach, irreverent sense of humor, and love of unicorns, Vu has been featured in dozens, if not hundreds, of his own blog posts at NonprofitAF.com, formerly nonprofitwithballs.com.
SPONSORS
We are grateful to our community partners for their support. Give them your love and spend money with them!
Take a breath in, then out. Your work pile just got bigger. Your board wants you to host another event, your best volunteer just left, and you’re starting to question how long you can keep this up…
For some, this doesn’t just happen once in a while. It seems like slogging through, and always being buried in a backlog, is just normal for many nonprofit leaders.
That’s why I’m anxiously counting down the days to The Digital Nonprofit 2019 conference in June! (Go here to get tickets) Beth Kanter will be presenting a keynote talk titled The Happy Healthy Nonprofit: Linking Self-Care and Wellbeing to Organizational Impact – just in time for many nonprofits who need to hear this message.
But, even through the struggle, nonprofit work is very rewarding. You still get rushes of satisfaction that keep you going. That’s why it can be hard to step back and have the awareness to contemplate if you’re burning yourself out.
But what about your staff or volunteers?
It’s much easier to work on ourselves, but what about recognizing issues with staff or volunteers?
Are you working them to the point of burn out?
Probably not intentionally. Often, the pressure of working long hours, and giving it that extra push to get it all done, sneaks out of nowhere. It’s an unwritten expectation that’s absorbed through the culture and accelerated by our own compassionate, helpful personalities.
What’s the harm in asking?
As a leader, you might have the perception that “I’m not forcing anyone to do anything. I just asked, and they jumped on the idea”.
It’s fantastic that you have such inspired employees or volunteers. However, the reason they’re working for a nonprofit is likely a desire to help others. This makes it so easy for them to say YES.
I know because I’m the same way. I used to volunteer to lead music at church. It started out occasionally, then once a month, then somebody left and I was doing it almost every week. What was initially a fun contribution, turned into an overwhelming obligation.
When I hear of a need, my immediate reaction is, “I can do something to help”. I pile on the work and tend to overload myself. The kicker? I’m totally excited to do it, so you wouldn’t know it’s even an issue!
Well, you wouldn’t know until later… I eventually had enough and dropped out of that music role completely.
So as a leader, it’s your job to help your staff recognize signs of burnout. You need to be conscious of the culture you’re creating and actively battle against it to keep your people refreshed, passionate, and productive.
In her new book, Beth Kanter revealed key signs of burnout for nonprofit fundraisers, but it also applies to you and your nonprofit staff and volunteers. Beth’s new book, The Happy, Healthy Nonprofit, co-written with Aliza Sherman, is also her inspiration for her upcoming keynote presentation at The Digital Nonprofit Conference 2019, June 11 in Vancouver.
1st Sign: Irritation at Small (seemingly insignificant) Things
You might hear of a staff member that’s causing issues with people and getting overly frustrated at printer jams. Yes, people have bad days, but if this happens frequently, it might be time to check in with them (or check in with yourself), as burnout might be around the corner.
As Beth Kanter explains it, “every nonprofit fundraiser has to put up with some annoyances, but if you’re feeling like you’re at your wit’s end at the start of the day, you might be burning out. Left unchecked, this can evolve into angry outbursts and serious arguments both at home and at work.”
2nd Sign: Frequent Distractions and Lack of Focus
This can be a bit hard to recognize in others, and it can also have multiple causes, but when you’re getting overworked and stressed, an obvious symptom can be distractions. You end up finding yourself, or your staff, seeking out more chit chat than usual. Or those phones are out frequently, and Facebook is on the computer screen more often than usual. When productivity is dropping like this it could be from feeling so overworked that sitting down to pick 1 task out of the 100 seems impossible. Finding distractions is much easier.
3rd Sign: Feeling Sluggish and Tired Despite Sleeping Well
Again there can be a variety of reasons that your staff could seem tired, and to uncover this sign you probably need to start having conversations with people. Begin by asking them questions with genuine concern about their health and their sleep. Ruling these out will help you determine if this is a sign of burnout – or simply just a cold that won’t go away.
If you feel you’re too close to the situation, try asking other colleagues about the employees in question. Often people are more comfortable chatting to people who are not their direct boss.
4th Sign: Consistently Working Overtime
This can be a difficult one because if it’s a reality, it’s usually because there is work that NEEDS to be done, right? Well, that might be the case, but if you or your staff are constantly working overtime, it means they’re not refreshing.
Former FBI agent, Chris Voss, says that people are up to 30% smarter when they’re in a positive frame of mind. I would say relaxation and time with family and friends helps you to be in a positive frame of mind. So you can do the math on how productivity and performance would be dragged down by being overworked.
Get Back a Healthy Workplace
Of course, this doesn’t apply to just your staff, it’s your volunteers, it’s your board, and it’s you too. We’re all susceptible to getting burnt out. These signs don’t always result in quitting, but it can lead to a lot of contagious negativity in the workplace, poor health, and a drain of resources.
So next time you’re saying hi to an employee, skipping your lunch, or getting frustrated at nothing. Think about Beth’s 4 warning signs of burnout. Once identified, then you can dive deeper and take action.
If you’d like to dive deeper into this topic, come hang out with NetSquared, Beth Kanter, Vu Le, and over 200 other nonprofit leaders at The Digital Nonprofit Conference 2019.
We are now accepting submissions for speakers at The Digital Nonprofit conference, a conference for Vancouver’s nonprofit leaders.
Who You Are
Our conference is targeted at nonprofit leaders, and our presenters will come from the same background. Specifically, we are looking for nonprofit employees, board members, or volunteers to present.
We encourage all to submit, especially those from under-represented groups. We want to showcase the full diversity of Vancouver.
Who Attends the Conference?
Nonprofit leaders who are responsible for their organization’s strategy. 62% are decision makers: EDs/CEOs/Directors/Managers
Digital staff and fundraisers who execute online campaigns
Program and support staff who want to engage their clients and members using technology
What We Want in a Session
The conference goal is to build the digital strategy expertise of nonprofit leaders. Sessions should focus on practical case studies sharing the stories of how nonprofits (especially your own organization!) implemented a technology-based solution and the impact it made on their operationsand campaigns.
Topics could include (but aren’t limited to)
CRM (Constituent and fundraising databases)
Automation and workflows
Website development
Campaign innovations
Integrated fundraising
Volunteer management
Human Resources
Digital marketing and social media
Change management and technology adoption
“Why IT projects fail, and what you can do about it”
Avoid these approaches
Product-specific sessions
Overly-technical sessions – most people will not come from an IT background.
Session Details
The conference is Tuesday, June 11. 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
The sessions are 25 minutes in length. We are recruiting for five sessions.
The conference is single track. All 225 attendees will be in the same room
A variety of formats are encouraged and audience interactivity is strongly recommended.
Submitting with a co-presenter is welcomed
The room is set up with a front stage, podium, projector screen, and PA.
No honorarium is offered to presenters, but we may be able to help cover travel costs.
How Will Conference Sessions be Determined?
Submissions are open until March 31, 2019.
The Digital Nonprofit team will review all proposals by April 5 and will get back to you with an update by April 15, 2019. Questions? Email [email protected]
Whether you’re in the midst of digital transformation, struggling to keep up with new tech in online communications, or are looking for strategies that work today to grow your nonprofit, The Digital Nonprofit is the place for you to be this June.
This all-day conference is Vancouver’s premier event for nonprofit and charity leaders, where over 200 local professionals come together to discuss how we can all learn and support each other to fulfill our missions.
Build new relationships with over 225 other nonprofit and charity professionals
Learn digital strategies and tactics through 7 speaker presentations that you can bring back to your nonprofit teams
Learn from practical case studies from nonprofit leaders who will share the tactics they’re using to truly engage online with their members (an increasingly difficult task)
Expand your thinking through a series of short “Lightning Talks” throughout the day
Enjoy a fully-catered lunch and drink as much coffee as you want!
Network at our after-party immediately following the conference (drinks included!)
BONUS, attend a hands-on digital marketing workshop by Beth Kanter the following day (space is limited, reserve now).
Keynote Presenters:
Vu Le
Envisioning the Future Charitable Sector
Given everything happening in the world, the nonprofit/charitable sector continues to play an urgent and critical role. But we face many challenges to fulfilling our full potential. What does the ideal sector look like? How will we get there? What are sacred cows we must let go? Join Vu for a no-BS presentation filled with pictures of baby animals.
Vu Le is the Executive Director of Rainier Valley Corps, a Seattle nonprofit that promotes social justice by developing leaders of color, strengthening organizations led by communities of color, and fostering collaboration between diverse communities. Known for his pointed observations delivered with a sense of humor, Vu has been featured in dozens, if not hundreds, of his own blog posts, found at NonprofitAF.com, formerly NonprofitWithBalls.com
Beth Kanter
The Happy Healthy Nonprofit: Linking Self-Care and Wellbeing to Organizational Impact
This keynote is about how and why it is important to treat self-care and a culture of well-being as an organizational strategy and cultural norm. When self-care initiatives are treated as “extras” instead of being built right into the fabric of an organization’s culture or leadership does not model the behavior, they often fall flat.
Beth will share the latest thinking on self-care and well-being in the nonprofit workplace based on her book “The Happy Healthy Nonprofit: Strategies for Impact without Burnout.” Going beyond a narrow focus on physical health and wellness, she will share examples and insights from nonprofits that have created and implemented a culture of well-being in the workplaces that supports results.
Beth Kanter is an internationally recognized thought leader in networks, social media, philanthropy, wellbeing in the workplace and training. Beth has over 35 years working in the nonprofit sector in capacity building and has facilitated trainings for thousands of social change activists and nonprofits on every continent in the world.
Shoni Field and Ryann Miller
The Leadership That Digital Demands
Digital touches every aspect of an organization, so it needs strategic, next-level leadership if its truly going to thrive. Because it’s not just the work itself; it’s also about the best ways to get the work done. You’ll learn how to structure digital teams, and what to ask for and expect from them. You’ll also understand the importance of silo busting, iterative processes, collaboration frameworks and how the customer experience (CX) demands of digital can change organizational culture. From strategic culture through leadership, and talent Shoni and Ryann will walk you through the requirements of a thriving digital environment.
Shoni Field
Shoni is Chief Development Officer at the BC SPCA, overseeing a full spectrum fundraising program raising $30+ million annually. She has been fundraising for 21 years, specializing in direct response. She presents on digital fundraising nationally and internationally. When not fundraising she advocates for voting reform and bakes fancy cakes.
Ryann Miller
Hi I’m Ryann Miller, Director of Partnership at Grassriots, a boundaries-pushing global strategic and creative agency based in Toronto, that serves the social profit sector. I help social profits use digital and integrated strategies for fundraising, marketing, advocacy and engagement. I’ve been doing and learning digital for 13 years: most recently at Care2 for 8 years, where I helped to build the Canadian market. I’m big on sector growth, big on building relationships, and big on leveraging digital maturity to help organizations level up. I have two little boys and one big dog, and they’re the focus of much of my non-working hours.
How to Create a Tech Plan for Your Nonprofit and Win OVer Your Board
Does your nonprofit need major upgrades in tech? Where do you start and how do you get your tech infrastructure up to date on a tight timeline and budget? This presentation will show you the steps you can take to develop a tech plan for your nonprofit, so that your nonprofit can better identify its organizational needs, make the most of the tech already available, and plan for future tech investments.
We’ll show you how with the right tech plan, you can make effective use of tech to impact your nonprofit’s mission and increase transparency in your achieving your strategic goals. Best of all, we’ll share tips on how to get your board on board with investing in your tech pan.
Yasmine Abu-Ayyash is the Communications Coordinator at TechSoup Canada and is responsible for crafting resources and materials that support nonprofits in using tech to more effectively pursue their missions.
Chris Brandt
Social Media from the Top: Why nonprofit leaders need an online voice
Chris Brandt, former ED of Music Heals, shares best practices for stewarding relationships and raising money with social media.
Social Media isn’t just your first point of contact with current and prospective donors, volunteers, and the media – it’s often the only one. The risk of not talking is that no one knows that you exist. How would you evaluate your organization’s presence on social media? Are you involved in the conversation, either through the org’s channels or your own? You can’t be seen until you learn how to see.
Chris Brandt is the founder of Charity Agency, which helps businesses increase their charitable impact and helps charities improve their business. His background includes over 20 years in the music industry and 6 years as a nonprofit Executive Director, where he built a foundation from conception to directing over $1m in program funding in under 5 years.
Kimberly Shearon
3 Keys to Rocking Your Next Integrated Campaign
It seems that integrated campaigns are all the buzz these days. But what does “integration” even mean, how do you do it, and why bother with it? Ecojustice’s Kimberly Shearon shares three big lessons her team learned (the hard way) from its foray into the world of integrated campaigns. Also, pop culture references.
Kimberly is Director of Strategic Communications at Ecojustice, Canada’s largest environmental law charity. She was born and raised on Vancouver’s North Shore, where she dreamed of becoming a journalist and changing the world. After a five-year foray out east for university and bouncing around some of the country’s top newsrooms, she turned in her media pass and joined the Ecojustice team. It has proven to be the perfect home for her and her love of em dashes, bicycles and wandering through the woods.
With so much packed into one day, have you wondered about how you’ll be able to capture all your learnings? Don’t worry, we have something special planned to help you capture insights, and use them when you get back to work. Join us this year and find out.
THE DAY-AFTER BONUS WORKSHOP
Beth Kanter – Nonprofit Digital Marketing Strategy: The Secret Sauce
Beth Kanter will be hosting a workshop for organizations wanting to invest in improving their digital strategy. This hands-on workshop will be limited to 75 attendees.
Social media, mobile phone adoption, new digital payment methods, bots … there are so many digital channels for nonprofit marketers to engage and connect with people, and convert them to live long supporters. But with so many free and low-cost tools out there, how do you decide where to invest your time and resources for the most impact? How do you quickly and easily test those decisions to improve results?
This interactive workshop will help nonprofit marketers boost their digital strategy using a simple canvas, “Ready, Set, Go,” that will allow them to quickly develop and test a strategy that connects with your audience. This workshop is highly participatory, using hands-on methods and will draw from design thinking methods. It will focus on strategy, not tactics.
SPONSORS
We are grateful to our community partners for their support. Give them your love and spend money with them!
