September 14, 2011

Special Thanks

The Center is deeply grateful to Kibble & Prentice, the latest company to join our line-up of Corporate Sponsors for the upcoming Risk Management & Finance Summit for Nonprofits, scheduled for September 18-20 in Seattle, WA. Kibble & Prentice, a USI Company joins thirteen other sponsors for the Center’s 17th annual event. For nearly 40 years, Kibble & Prentice has helped nonprofit organizations make decisions that create value and manage risk. The company gives its clients access to the full range of products and services typically available only from larger firms and also provides regionally based services, world-class expertise and service in insurance and risk management consulting, employee benefits, retirement plan services, executive benefits and business continuation planning.

Picture Perfect

By Melanie Lockwood Herman

This past weekend I attended a family wedding in Falmouth, MA on Cape Cod. The amateur photographers at the nuptials were able to snap beautiful photos of the newlyweds thanks to an extraordinary beachfront backdrop. With the sun shining, wind gently blowing and an ideal outdoor temperature of 71 degrees, it was hard to imagine a lovelier setting for a ceremony to celebrate a brand-new partnership.

As I surveyed the beautiful setting and enjoyed the sand between my toes, I couldn’t help but think about nonprofit leaders who work each and every day to ensure “picture perfect” outcomes for their clients, communities and stakeholders. The commitment of those who toil in our sector’s vineyards is, like the weather on the Cape in early September, awe-inspiring. But the commitment to ensure the clearest possible understanding of a nonprofit’s risks may wane when other priorities crowd the view finder.

As you reflect on the risks facing your nonprofit today and in the year to come, remember to choose a wide angle view and to examine your landscape from a variety of vantage points. What does “success” look like from the perspective of your nonprofit’s stakeholders? What impact is your agency having today, and what is the pace of progress to mission fulfillment? Consider the following additional questions as you work to improve your view of the always changing backdrop for mission fulfillment.

• Which viewpoints, perspectives or experiences haven’t been factored into your understanding of the organization’s risks?
• Does your view finder adequately capture your agency’s past experience, present reality and future opportunities?
• What events, circumstances or experiences are distorting your view of risk? What is required to adjust the focus and create a more accurate image of the present and future?

Weddings are happy occasions for those who gather to witness or exchange vows. When the setting is beautiful and the ceremony goes off without a hitch, it’s easy to be distracted from the central purpose of the event: celebrating the devotion and commitment of two people. When they reflect on risk, nonprofit leaders committed to making a difference for the communities they serve make a commitment to mission fulfillment. Striving to improve your view, appreciate the complexity of your environment, and factor in the impact of biases will help you bring the past, present and future into focus. While predicting the future with accuracy isn’t practical, appreciating the range of possibilities is within reach.

Melanie Lockwood Herman is Executive Director of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. She welcomes your ideas about any risk management topic, feedback on this article and questions about the Center’s resources at Melanie@nonprofitrisk.org or (202) 785-3891. The Center provides risk management tools and resources at www.nonprofitrisk.org and offers consulting assistance to organizations unwilling to leave their missions to chance.

Now Available!

The 2nd edition of Ready or Not…A Risk Management Guide for Nonprofit Executives, by Melanie Lockwood Herman will be released during the upcoming Summit in Seattle. Copies ordered online will be shipped at the end of September. Order your copy today! The new edition features updated content throughout, plus new chapters on Risk Awareness and Risk Appetite, and Human Factors in Risk Management.

If Risk-Taking Is In Your Future, We Can Help

Whether you’re trying to understand your nonprofit’s appetite for risk-taking, sharpen your risk management skills, evaluate your Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) journey, or educate your board about risk-taking and risk management, don’t hesitate to reach out the team at the Nonprofit Risk Management Center for assistance. We can support you in a number of ways, from helping you draft or revise risk management policies to designing custom training programs (on-site, virtual/webinar, or online). We also offer in-depth risk assessments, Enterprise Risk Management engagements, and advice and consultation on topics ranging from developing or updating youth protection policies, to strengthening governance practices. Why make the journey alone when you can partner with a team of nonprofit specialists who live and breathe nonprofit sector risks? Contact Melanie@nonprofitrisk.org or call (202) 785-3891 to discuss your needs and learn how we can help.