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  • Jill Pioter

08-17-2023 Questions and Answers
08-17-2023 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: What can we include in our volunteer hours? Is working at a funeral, serving food, choir, sacristan, driving an elderly neighbor to an appointment, or babysitting for a family in need or the members’ grandchildren also allowed to be included in volunteer hours?

A: Any member activities that are directly associated with SVdP Conference life can be considered volunteer hours. If individuals volunteer outside of their Conference duties, it should not be counted in the annual report data. If working at a funeral, serving food, choir, sacristan, etc., are activities of the Conference life then they can be counted. If these are individual choices in support of the parish but not Conference works, these volunteer hours cannot be counted.

Q: Is there a national policy about sharing documents in a criminal case with a pastor? We have shared the information with him, but he now wants copies of the documents which we have given to the local law enforcement authorities. The parish itself is not involved in the case.

A: This issue should be discussed with an attorney. A lot depends on the nature of the case. Depending on the nature of the information, it may impact an investigation. Both the pastor and the attorney should know and understand that confidentiality is highly emphasized within the Society. The Society operates at the pastor’s permission and relies on him for matters of faith and morals. If the case involves these issues or parish property/resources, the pastor has a right to be informed.

Spanish Translation

P: ¿Qué podemos incluir en nuestras horas de voluntariado? ¿Trabajar en un funeral, servir comida, participar en el coro, ser sacristán, llevar a un prójimo de la tercera edad a una cita, cuidar niños para una familia necesitada o cuidar los nietos de los miembros puede también ser incluido en las horas de voluntariado?

R: Cualquier actividad de los miembros que esté directamente asociada con la vida de la Conferencia de SVdP puede considerarse horas de voluntariado. Si las personas se ofrecen como voluntarios fuera de sus deberes de la Conferencia, no deben contarse en los datos del informe anual. Si trabajar en un funeral, servir comida, participar en el coro, o ser sacristán, etc., son actividades de la vida de la Conferencia, entonces se pueden contar. Si estas son opciones individuales en apoyo de la parroquia, pero no de los trabajos de la Conferencia, estas horas de voluntariado no se pueden contar.

P: ¿Existe una política nacional sobre compartir documentos en un caso criminal con el Padre?  Hemos compartido la información con él, pero ahora quiere copias de los documentos que hemos entregado a las autoridades policiales locales. La parroquia en sí no está involucrada en el caso.

A: Este tema debe ser discutido con un abogado. Mucho depende de la naturaleza del caso.  Dependiendo de la naturaleza de la información, puede afectar una investigación.  Tanto el Padre como el abogado deben saber y entender que la confidencialidad es altamente enfatizada dentro de la Sociedad. La Sociedad opera con el permiso del Padre y depende de él para asuntos de fe y moral. Si el caso involucra estos asuntos o la propiedad / recursos de la parroquia, el Padre tiene derecho a ser informado.

  • Jill Pioter

08-10-2023 Questions and Answers
08-10-2023 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: Are Conferences permitted to own land and buildings separate from their Council?

A: If a Conference is separately incorporated and has its own tax-exemption, it may own property. If the Conference is using the EIN and tax-exemption of a District or Diocesan Council, it is part of that legal entity, and ownership of property is defined by the owner of the EIN.

Q: Members delivering furniture to a neighbor in need using their personal vehicle accidentally backed into a mailbox — damaging the mailbox and the vehicle. Should the Conference pay for the mailbox and the vehicle repairs?

A: Please consult your Council/Conference insurance policy for coverage. It may require that when a Vincentian has an accident with their own vehicle, it is the Vincentian’s auto insurance that comes into play first. The Council or Conference may then have liability insurance to cover this case. The Conference can separately make a decision to pay or not pay for related damages for either party outside of its insurance coverage. If our work damages the property of a neighbor in need, there is a moral obligation, regardless of coverage, to make it right.

Spanish Translation

P: ¿Se permite a las Conferencias poseer terrenos y edificios separados de su Consejo?

R: Si una Conferencia se incorpora por separado y tiene su propia exención de impuestos, puede poseer propiedades.  Si la Conferencia está utilizando el EIN y la exención de impuestos de un Distrito o Consejo Diocesano, es parte de esa entidad legal y la propiedad de la propiedad es definida por el propietario del EIN.

P: Los miembros que entregan muebles a un prójimo en necesidad usando su vehículo personal accidentalmente retrocedieron en un buzón, dañando el buzón y el vehículo. ¿Debería la Conferencia pagar el buzón y las reparaciones del vehículo?

R: Consulte las pólizas del seguro del Consejo/Conferencia sobre la cobertura. Puede requerir que cuando un Vicentino tiene un accidente con su propio vehículo, es el seguro de automóvil del Vicentino el que entra en juego primero.  El Consejo o la Conferencia pueden entonces tener un seguro de responsabilidad civil para cubrir este caso. La Conferencia puede tomar por separado la decisión de pagar o no pagar los daños conexos para cualquiera de las partes fuera de cobertura del seguro. Si nuestro trabajo daña la propiedad de un prójimo en necesidad, existe una obligación moral de corregirlo, independientemente de la cobertura.

  • Jill Pioter

07-27-2023 Questions and Answers
07-27-2023 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: I have always been told that $.30/mile was acceptable. Has the Society increased the reimbursement for mileage due to the fuel price increases? This is not for Home Visits or serving the poor, it is for travel expenses in growing new Conferences or traveling to national meetings.

A: The rates are determined by the IRS, not the Society. The IRS has determined that $0.14 per mile driven as a volunteer is an appropriate rate for reimbursement. This rate for charity has remained the same since 1998.

The 2023 business mileage reimbursement rate is 65.5 cents per mile, which applies only to employees of the nonprofit.

Spanish Translation

P: Siempre me han dicho que $ .30 / milla es aceptable. ¿Ha aumentado la Sociedad el reembolso por kilometraje debido a los aumentos del precio del combustible? Esto no es para las Visitas Domiciliarias o para servir a las personas en necesidad, es para gastos de viaje en para nuevas Conferencias o viajes a reuniones nacionales.

A: Las tasas son determinadas por el IRS, no por la Sociedad. El IRS ha determinado que $0.14 por milla recorrida como voluntario es una tasa apropiada para el reembolso. Esta tasa para las organizaciones de caridad se ha mantenido igual desde 1998.

La tasa de reembolso de millas comerciales de 2023 es de 65.5 centavos por milla, que se aplica solo a los empleados de la organización sin fines de lucro.

  • Jill Pioter

Am I A Vincentian?
Am I A Vincentian? 1200 628 Jill Pioter

In June 2008, I attended the Western Region Meeting in Boise, Idaho.  I was not alone.  There were 225 other Vincentians along with me.  During the time I spent there, I met with many Vincentians and discussed a wide variety of topics.  I also put on a workshop and facilitated two open forums where anything and everything could be discussed.  One theme came up over and over again in those discussions.  This is also a theme which is continually asked today as well.  How do you get the Conferences and the members to adhere to or comply with the Rule?

This is a tough question.  And it requires a tough answer.  People, in general, have mixed feelings when it comes to rules and regulations.  They usually will admit to the value of them.  They usually will admit to the need for them.  And they normally agree that compliance is necessary; that is, until they want to do something that does not really correspond to the rules.  Then it becomes harsh and too restrictive.  They did not join the Society to follow the rules.  They joined the Society to do some good and do not want to be bogged down with meaningless do’s and don’ts.  We hear this stuff all the time!  I can go into a long,  drawn-out dissertation on why rules and regulations are important, but that will get us nowhere.  I can take a military point of view and say that if one soldier steps out of line the war will be lost.  Nobody is going to buy that.  I can talk about unity of thought and action, but that cup only holds a limited amount of water.

It truly boils down to one thing.  Ask yourself one question:  Am I a Vincentian?  To be a Vincentian you have to make a commitment.  Here is where the rub comes in.  Commitment!  Being a Vincentian calls for a number of things to be accepted and come into play.  Being a Vincentian means accepting who we are, what we are about, what we do, and how we do it.  Being a Vincentian means more than helping people in need.  It means growing in holiness, striving to grow closer to God.  It means growing closer to our fellow Vincentians.  It means serving God through serving those in need.  It means a blend of all of the above.

A number of years ago, when searching for the answer to a question, I was referred to John Simmons, former National President of the Society, the guru.  If you wanted to know anything about the Society he was the man to go to.  John said that if you call yourself a Vincentian, you want to meet as often as possible with your fellow Vincentians, you want to learn about the Society, you want to understand what this is all about, and you want to help it grow.  It is that simple.

If I want to do my own thing, follow my own rules or no rules at all, I can start my own special work or organization.  Then all I have to do is get other people who want to join me to follow my rules.  I am a Vincentian.  I am committed to who we are, what we do and the way we do it.  Complying with the Rule not only makes sense, it is something I want to do.

Mike Syslo

Chair, National Governance Committee

  • Jill Pioter

07-13-2023 Questions and Answers
07-13-2023 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: I have a question about volunteer of the year awards. Our rules talk about members living with simplicity and not looking for personal accolades or glory. How would volunteer of the year fit into that?

A: The Conference has to decide that an award would be appropriate. If deemed appropriate to do so, Conference members have to contribute or donate to purchase the award. It is still a Conference expense, however funds given to help the poor may not be used for this expense. In addition, not all awards and recognitions need to be purchased.

A traditional award given by Conferences and Councils is the “Top Hat Award.” Criteria for this award are determined by the local Council (or Conference), and the award itself may be as simple as designing and printing your own certificates.

Q: One of our members has suggested that for Home Visits we partner with graduate students in social work from a nearby university. So many of the neighbors we meet need multiple layers of assistance from different agencies. Is this allowed? The students would gain experience but would not be paid, and they would not be Vincentians. This seems out of keeping with our Vincentian spirit and with rules of confidentiality. 

A: Social workers are governed by a whole set of rules that (may not apply equally) for Vincentians. Therefore, in good SVdP governance guidance, this would not be a good partnership for Home Visits. It might be good for seeking advice as to resources available to help those who come to us.

Spanish Translation

P: Tengo una pregunta sobre los reconocimientos al voluntario del año. Nuestras reglas hablan de miembros que viven con simplicidad y no buscan elogios personales o gloria. ¿Cómo encajaría el voluntario del año en eso?

R: La Conferencia tiene que decidir que un reconocimiento sería apropiado.  Si se considera apropiado hacerlo, los miembros de la Conferencia deben contribuir o donar dinero para obtener el regalo.  Sigue siendo un gasto de la Conferencia, sin embargo, los fondos dados para servir a las personas en necesidad no pueden ser utilizados para este gasto. Además, no todos los premios y reconocimientos necesitan ser comprados.

Un premio tradicional otorgado por Conferencias y Consejos es el “Premio Sombrero de Copa”. Los criterios para este reconocimiento son determinados por el Consejo local (o Conferencia), y el reconocimiento en sí puede ser tan simple como diseñar e imprimir ustedes mismos sus certificados.

P: Uno de nuestros miembros ha sugerido que para las Visitas Domiciliarias nos asociemos con estudiantes graduados en trabajo social de una Universidad cercana. Muchos de nuestros prójimos que conocemos necesitan múltiples formas de asistencia de diferentes agencias. ¿Está permitido? Los estudiantes ganarían experiencia, pero no se les pagaría, y no serían Vicentinos. Esto parece no estar de acuerdo con nuestro espíritu Vicentino y con las reglas de confidencialidad.

R: Los trabajadores sociales se rigen por todo un conjunto de reglas que pueden no aplicarse por igual para los Vicentinos.  Por lo tanto, para el buen gobierno de SVdP, esta no sería una buena asociación para las Visitas Domiciliarias.  Podría ser bueno el buscar asesoramiento en cuanto a los recursos disponibles para servir a aquellos que vienen a nosotros.

  • Jill Pioter

Retaining Your Members (Part 2)
Retaining Your Members (Part 2) 2560 1802 Jill Pioter
  • Involve your regular donors. Regular donors are equal partners in the Society. We are a union of willing hands (Active Members), caring hearts and helping hands (Associate Members) and generous almsgivers (regular donors). Each is separate but equal.Many people are afraid to participate, afraid to meet the poor. They choose to discharge their responsibility to help the poor by writing you a check. While you may need their check to help the poor, your objective should be to tactfully get them involved in person-to-person contact with those in need. Let them find out it’s not stressful when working with another, experienced parishioner. Help them find how it gives them a warm and fuzzy feeling.

    Get them into Home Visits the easy way – with the Back to School program, Thanksgiving or Christmas food box distributions that some Conferences put together.

    Include regular donors in as many activities as you can, especially Masses on feast days of St. Vincent and Blessed Frederic, food and clothing drives, etc. Send all major communications and newsletters to them. This can sometimes convert them to Associate and then Active Full Membership.

  • Provide Recognition. In the business workplace, when someone asks the question, “what do you want from your boss in your job,” the two top answers are always security and recognition.
    • Recognize long-time members (at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 year and other anniversaries), those who continue to be active past the age of 80, and all retiring members.
    • Recognize your pastor, priests, deacons, and nuns who provide help and support for your programs and/or your Conference. We sometimes forget who pays the electric bill for our pantry.
    • Conduct a “graduation ceremony” when a member completes the Ozanam Orientation. Recognize them in front of the entire Conference at your next meeting.
    • Use a star or other special character on your Conference membership list to indicate members who have completed the Ozanam Orientation.
    • Prepare and publish a list of Conference officers over past years. List all Vincentians who made the Quarter Century Club.
    • Put up a plaque in your pantry with the names of Vincentians who passed to their eternal reward while serving the poor. Add a new name plate each time a member dies, conducting a short prayer service.
  • Recognize the Need for Recovery and Recuperation. Occasionally a member may become dissatisfied or bored with their present assignment. Others may get tired (especially your oldest members), and a few may experience burnout. Remember that a person’s family and job come first, according to the Society’s own Rule.
    Recognize these folks and thank them for the work they have accomplished, and show them how their involvement has helped the people the Conference served and our Society. Ask them for input on the manner in which you conduct your meetings and make assignments. They may have a different perspective, and help you to improve Conference operations. After positively dealing with the situation they find themselves in, discuss other positions which may be more attractive to them.
    Everyone in your Conference will get tired of the “same old thing,” so keep trying new projects and changing (improving) old programs. The attitude, “but we’ve always done it that way” will only insure that your Conference remains a handful of old men and women, as you drive away new and younger people and burn out older ones.
    A perception that an organization is dying is the number one reason why people leave or fail to join an organization. The vibrant Conference will keep existing members and attract new members.
  • Work on (and Pray over) Personality Conflicts. Personality conflicts are inevitable in any group of humans. Yet, if these are not managed, they will cause you to lose at least one of the two protagonists. The President and Spiritual Advisor should try to help resolve any issues between the warring partners. It may be necessary to separate these people until, over time, they get to better know (and respect) each other in new ways. Change Home Visit teams, schedule the Hatfields in at times when the McCoys aren’t there. Time heals all wounds; give it a chance. And pray that the Peace of Christ descends on both of them.
  • Equip Your people to Do Their Job.
    • Information. Your Conference does more than pass out food and money; you provide information which is often essential for neighbors to get back on their feet. Your members must have that information to do their job.
    • Publish a year’s calendar so Active Members, Associate Members, and regular donors, as well as your clergy, Parish Council, and other church ministries, know what the Conference is planning and when. This helps prevent conflicts, helps people reserve dates when you need their participation, and helps communicate the breadth of your Conference work.
    • Adopt and communicate Conference policies and guidelines. Home Visit teams especially must know what latitude they have when working with a family in trouble. Nothing is more frustrating than having the responsibility for a case without the authority required to act. Home Visit teams should know one of three conditions exist when they visit:
      1. That they cannot help a family financially with rent due to lack of funds, and must help in other ways — referrals, information, counseling, extra food, etc.;
      2. That they cannot help a family with rent without the approval of the Conference which meets sometime down the road;
      3. That they can help a family with rent up to “X” dollars without further approval — beyond that amount, Conference approval is required.
    • Necessary referral forms and vouchers (for clothing, gasoline, groceries, furniture) should be available and members instructed on how to properly complete them. The Conference pays its bills faithfully and promptly so vouchers given to guests are honored by thrift stores and other vendors.
  • Recognize the Value of Fellowship and Friendship. Don’t forget to schedule social events. The Society’s second objective requires a friendship relationship among members. People are social beings, and personal relationships help cement one’s commitment to the common work. Sometimes this can be combined with retraining (below).
  • Retraining. Retraining should occur periodically. We all need to be reminded of basic job duties, of things that have become more important in recent years, and of how to handle new forms, procedures, and program changes. Older members not kept up to date can feel “lost” and out of touch. Get all your folks together for refresher training at least every six months. A good way of handling this is to schedule a social activity and combine the two. A summer barbecue can involve socializing and eating, followed by a 90-minute refresher course, or vice versa.
  • Never Forget Spirituality. People joined the Society of St. Vincent de Paul — not the American Cancer Society, or the United Way, or the Red Cross. What separates the Society from these very worthwhile organizations is the fact that we are a faith-based organization; we bring spiritual values to the people we serve.
    Burnout is common after a relatively short time in most other volunteer agencies because the members don’t have a belief system to sustain them. We can always fall back on our faith. That is the reason we have members well into their 80s and even 90s who have been serving in the dining rooms, stores, and other special works for more than 50 years.

Whether old or new, your members have a “thirst” for spirituality. They need to be reminded of the spiritual aspects of their work. If you only talk about the “numbers” — boxes delivered, money raised, families visited, hours worked — you will find members losing focus.

Even in the very best Conferences, teams experience discouraging cases. They “get taken” by fraudulent couples. And, after a series of thankless guests, greedy applicants, lazy individuals and indifferent bureaucrats, those without a spiritual foundation will be “lost” to despair and discouragement.

Our spirituality is our anchor. Keep it present at all times. First things first. Never become a Conference of just “numbers.”

  • Jill Pioter

07-06-23 Questions and Answers
07-06-23 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter
Q: Is there is a policy or recommendation or guideline that “home” Conferences/Councils are supposed to pay costs of participation of their representatives in national-level meetings? 

A: The Rule, Part III, Statute 28 states: Vincentians entrusted to undertake previously and duly authorized offices, missions, or tasks for the Society are entitled to the refund of the expenses incurred. This is more than just an entitlement. Within the Spirit of Society, all the works of the Society are works of the group and not the individual. If a member does not get reimbursed for expenses, the work becomes an individual effort, and this often causes confusion when members then do what they want rather than what is agreed to by the Conference or Council. This does not directly address National and Regional meetings; however, in Part II of the RULE, International Statute 7.4: “Any matter that is not specifically governed by any Parts of the Rule and Statutes shall be governed by Tradition and, in the final instance, by the decision issued by the Board of the Council General.” That said, page 136 of the 2002 version of the Manual states: “In accord with the long-established practice, the individual Councils and Isolated Conferences are expected to assume financial responsibility for their delegates and committee members to attend meetings as necessary.”

Q: As far as I know, we have Active and Associate Members as the only two types. But on the National Members Database, the choices are Active, Associate, Contributing, and Volunteer. Are there really four categories of members?

A: Active and Associate Members are clearly defined and are included in Annual Report statistics. Contributing Members do exist and should be recognized in the database if they are significant donors. They are no longer listed in the Annual Report because many Conferences decided to include all parishioners in the count, which overinflated the numbers. Volunteers are not regularly associated with the Conference and help only on occasion. This category works well for Conferences that operate special works or stores where you may have people helping out with community service hours.

Spanish Translation

P: ¿Existe una póliza, recomendación o directriz según la cual se supone que las Conferencias/Consejos “de origen” deben pagar los costos de participación de sus representantes en las reuniones a nivel nacional?

R: La Regla, Parte III, Estatuto 28 establece: Los Vicentinos encargados de llevar a cabo cargos, misiones o tareas previamente y debidamente autorizadas para la Sociedad tienen derecho al reembolso de los gastos incurridos. Esto es más que un derecho. Dentro del Espíritu de la Sociedad, todos los trabajos de la Sociedad son trabajos del grupo y no del individuo. Si un miembro no recibe un reembolso de sus gastos, el trabajo se convierte en un esfuerzo individual, y esto a menudo causa confusión cuando los miembros hacen lo que quieren en lugar de lo acordado por la Conferencia o el Consejo. Esto no se refiere directamente a las reuniones Nacionales y Regionales; sin embargo, en la Parte II de la REGLA, Estatuto Internacional 7.4: “Cualquier asunto que no se rija específicamente por ninguna Parte de la Regla y los Estatutos se regirá por la Tradición y, en última instancia, por la decisión emitida por la Mesa Directiva del Consejo General”. Dicho esto, en la página 36 de la versión de 2002 del Manual, se dice: “De acuerdo con la práctica establecida desde hace mucho tiempo, se espera que los Consejos individuales y las Conferencias Aisladas asuman la responsabilidad financiera de que sus delegados y miembros de los comités asistan a las reuniones cuando sea necesario”.

P: Hasta donde yo sé, tenemos Miembros Activos y Asociados como los únicos 2 categorías. Pero en la Base de Datos Nacional para los Miembros las opciones son Activo, Asociado, Contribuyente y Voluntario. ¿Hay realmente 4 categorías de miembros?

R: Los Miembros Activos y Asociados están claramente definidos y están incluidos en las estadísticas del Informe Anual. Los Miembros contribuyentes existen y deben ser reconocidos en la base de datos si son donantes significativos. Ya no figuran en el Informe Anual porque muchas Conferencias decidieron incluir a todos los feligreses de su parroquia en el conteo, lo que infló demasiado los números. Los voluntarios no están asociados regularmente con la Conferencia y ayudan sólo en ocasiones. Esta categoría funciona bien para Conferencias que operan Trabajos Especiales o tiendas donde puede haber personas que hacen horas de servicio comunitario ayudando.

  • Jill Pioter

06-29-2023 Questions and Answers
06-29-2023 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: Are there any general guidelines on interviewing our friends in need? Is there a guide for interviewers on Do’s or questions not to ask?

A:  Guidance for Home Visits and interviews can be found in two new books on the national website: Vincentian Life: Conference and Vincentian Life: Member.  These files may be found on the website Extension Portal under the category of Training.  Serving in Hope, Module VII, is also devoted to Home Visitation.

Q: Should we continue to support the neighbor who refuses to even look for employment outside his/her chosen profession?

A: The Conference makes the decision whether to help or not, including to help only once or on a continuing basis based on the perceived ability of the neighbor to help oneself. The Conference decides if the need is real and if they have the resources to help. Listening and counseling, including employment options, can also be part of our Vincentian service.

Spanish Translation

P: ¿Deberíamos continuar apoyando a una persona en necesidad que se niega incluso a buscar empleo fuera de su profesión elegida?

R: La Conferencia toma la decisión de ayudar o no, incluso ayudar solo una vez o de manera continua en función de la capacidad percibida de la persona para ayudarse a sí mismo.  La Conferencia decide si la necesidad es real y si tienen los recursos para ayudar. La escucha y el asesoramiento, incluidas las opciones de empleo, también pueden ser parte de nuestro servicio Vicentino.

P: ¿Hay alguna guía general para entrevistar a nuestros prójimos en necesidad? ¿Hay una guía para los entrevistadores sobre qué hacer o preguntas que no se deben hacer?

R:  La información para Visitas Domiciliarias y entrevistas se puede encontrar en dos nuevos libros (en Ingles) en el sitio de la red nacional: Vida Vicentina: Conferencia y Vida Vicentina: Miembro.  Estos archivos se pueden encontrar en el sitio del Portal de extensión en la categoría de Capacitación.  Sirviendo en Esperanza, Módulo VII, también está dedicado a las Visitas Domiciliarias.

  • Jill Pioter

10 Reasons To Love High-Performing Nonprofit Boards
10 Reasons To Love High-Performing Nonprofit Boards 1200 628 Jill Pioter

By: Alyce Lee Stansbury/Notes on Nonprofits

This description of nonprofits from the National Council of Nonprofits is one of my favorites: “Nonprofits are not just organizations; they are the face of our communities. They protect, feed, heal, shelter, educate, and nurture our bodies and spirits. Nonprofits give shape to our boldest dreams, highest ideals and noblest causes, and turn our beliefs into action.”

Here are 10 sweet reasons to love high-performing nonprofit Boards:

  1. Take work seriously: They are led by volunteers who take Board service seriously, arrive at meetings on time, and come prepared to discuss important issues. They do not want to listen to reports about things that have already happened, which is a waste of everyone’s time.
  2. Strategic plan: Adopt a strategic plan and use it to guide the Board’s work including meeting agendas, committee structure, and fundraising.
  3. Self-assessment: Regularly evaluate their performance by conducting a Board self-assessment and make it a priority to learn more about effective nonprofit governance.
  4. Recruit with focus: Recruit new Board members with intention and focus, and adopt a list of Board member expectations that includes attendance, committee service, personal giving, strategic planning, participation in fundraising to share with prospective members.
  5. Executive Director evaluation: Conduct an annual evaluation of the Executive Director that includes a documented process for awarding raises or bonuses and investing in their professional growth.
  6. Build relationships: Understand an important part of their job is building and deepening relationships between the nonprofit and donors, sponsors, members, volunteers, elected officials and other key stakeholders.
  7. Donor stewardship: Take donor stewardship seriously and routinely write thank you notes, call donors to say thank you, and personally patronize the businesses who support the mission and fundraising events.
  8. Promote mission: Recognize the importance of advocacy and promote the mission in the community on a year-round basis. This includes introducing new people to the organization, connecting the ED to people within their sphere of influence, and seeking out opportunities to tell more people about the organization and its important work.
  9. Technology: Invest in technology and use data to inform decision-making in all areas including programs, fundraising, finances, facilities, and strategic planning.
  10. Term limits: Adopt and abide by term limits, recognize serving as Board chair requires the highest level of commitment, a unique skill set, and should be carefully selected rather than falling to someone who missed the meeting or has simply been here the longest. High- performing Boards understand you have the Board you cultivate.

Notes on Nonprofits is produced by Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE, President of Stansbury Consulting, and includes resources, responses to reader questions, guest columns, and timeless topics. Please send your comments and questions to notesonnonprofits@gmail.com.

  • Jill Pioter

06-22-2023 Questions and Answers
06-22-2023 Questions and Answers 1200 628 Jill Pioter

Q: Our parish Social Outreach Director received a $3,000 anonymous donation. The donor stipulated that it be used by the SVdP Conference to help the needy. The Outreach Director wants our Conference members to contact him individually for the amount of money needed after visiting a neighbor in need. Is this the proper way to handle a donation given to our Conference?

A: The money received should be given to the Conference treasurer to be deposited in the Conference bank account, and individual checks then be written for each purpose. The Outreach Director should not try to micro-manage the use of the funds.

Q: In the Rule, is there an age limit on nominees for local Council or Conference President?

A: The age limit was removed in the 1980s, when it was determined to be age discrimination. The new Rule, adopted in 2003, has no age limit for local Council and Conference Presidents.

Spanish Translation

P: Nuestro Director de Servicio Social de la parroquia recibió una donación anónima de $3000.00. El donante estipuló que fuera utilizado por la Conferencia SVdP para ayudar a los necesitados. El Director de Servicio Social quiere que los miembros de nuestra Conferencia se comuniquen con él individualmente para obtener la cantidad de dinero necesaria después de visitar a nuestro prójimo en necesidad. ¿Es esta la forma correcta de manejar una donación dada a nuestra Conferencia?

R: El dinero recibido debe ser entregado al tesorero de la Conferencia para ser depositado en la cuenta bancaria de la Conferencia, y luego se deben escribir cheques individuales para cada propósito.  El Director de Servicios Sociales de la parroquia no debe tratar de micro gestionar el uso de los fondos.

P: ¿Existe una limitación impuesta sobre la edad de los nominados a la elección de un Presidente del Consejo o Conferencia local en la Regla?

R: Solía haber una limitación de edad en la antigua Regla, pero se eliminó en la década de 1980.  Se determinó que era discriminación por edad y no debía figurar en la Regla.  En general, el nuevo artículo adoptado en 2003 no tiene ninguna limitación para los Presidentes locales de los Consejos y Conferencias.

 

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