A question for myself...What is one change you would like to see made in your profession?

The nonprofit sector is a wonderful field for vocational service. The good that we do truly sets our society apart from all others. Voluntary and legislative philanthropy, rather than large scale socialistic government services, enables people to do greater good. However, in as much as we serve those in need, there are those among us who prey on others under the guise of ministry and charity. I would like to see a strengthening of the integrity and character necessary to work within the nonprofit sector, but without overly burdensome government intervention. The nonprofit sector must adopt a higher standard and more stringent ethos that would cause any charlatan to run from the light. At least in the State of Mississippi, we have a Secretary of State who champions the role of nonprofits and holds them strictly accountable at the same time.

I have been honored to be a board member of the Mississippi Center for Nonprofits for the past several years. Our organization exists to strengthen the capacity of nonprofits to serve the people and communities of Mississippi. Several years ago, we embarked on a plan to establish principles and practices of nonprofit management for charities in Mississippi, and I was asked to help lead the process. Through a collaborative effort expertly facilitated by Mark McCrary, the MCNP Executive Director, we have listened to professionals in the nonprofit and for-profit business communities and formulated recommended practices in the areas of Planning and Purpose, Governance, Human Resources, Financial Management, Transparency and Accountability, Fundraising, Public Policy and Advocacy Communications, Information and Technology, Strategic Alliances, and Evaluation. Our goal was met to have the Principles and Practices of Nonprofit Management Excellence distributed at our annual conference on April 17, 2007.