Dearest Friends and Family
Greetings from Omaha! As I write, Chris is in Kolkata, visiting the WMF community and their inspiring small business initiative for victims of sex trafficking, Sari Bari www.saribari.org . Winter lingers on here and we are very much looking forward to spring.
Like the changing of the season, we’ve gone through some transitions here at the international office, indicating growth and development. We are tightening our focus and vision with the welcomed leadership of Liz Ivkovich, Director of Administration in the past couple years and Silas West, Director of Community Care. We brought on a new Short-term Programs Director and will be adding a Community Liaison next week to help us manage our adminstrative creative chaos. Chris and I are thankful for an extraordinary team of people to serve with.
It seems for every nonprofit or mission, administrative duties are the least glorified. Though no one here at the office serves WMF to be recognized, their hidden, daily sacrifices for the movement are absolutely essential—they provide critical support, accountability and direction for the international community so that our friends in poverty are responded to with compassion, integrity and hope; and so that the purpose of WMF—to serve the most vulnerable of the world’s poor—is realized around the world long after individual staff members are gone. The folks in our office are the “unsung heros” in an age when the trend of “career paths” can be very self-serving.
I read a compelling article recently about the nonprofit sector’s leadership deficiency based on an extensive study conducted by The Bridgespan Group.* A summary of the report indicated that there is both a restricted supply and an increasing demand for nonprofit leadership. Talented leadership in any organization is crucial, but sadly it’s the most under-served, under-supported part of nonprofits. Generally donors would prefer their money go “directly to the poor.” While this is noble and understandable, it’s nevertheless short-sighted. There will be no direct lines of giving to our global neighbors in need without a proficient administrative structure in place casting vision for the movement and receiving, channelling and directing funds. And that kind of structure is made up of individuals who need to be financially supported.
Unlike for-profit companies, nonprofits have a greater challenge for funding because there are no financial returns on their investments. And yet, where would our world be without nonprofits? As the article emphasizes, the nonprofit sector is often the people’s conscience and is largely responsible for creating and sustaining a civil, compassionate, well-functioning society. There can be no dollar amount put on the returns of countless sacrifical servants.
According to the report, in the coming years it will be critical for an organization like WMF to invest in leadership capacity, attract and retain top talent, and expand to new pools for recruitment. Though WMF is more of a mission and community than an organization, we still want the very best to be offered to our global neighbors struggling in poverty and battling unjust systems. And we want to be present and visible in such a way that others can hear the call and have a chance to respond.
The years ahead will be challenging. There’s no doubt about it. But we have faced challenges before. We trust God’s faithfulness to continue to do beautiful and redemptive things through WMF.
Your partnership is crucial—a vital part of the sustaining spirit of WMF’s movement of Hope and Transformation among people of all class—not just the poor.
With a heart full of gratitude for all of us at WMF, Thank you for perservering and sacrificing with us. May you and your family reap the rewards that cannot be priced in dollar amounts.
Enjoy the new life of the coming spring!
Be well. Breathe deep.
Phileena