Coates Inc College & Career Strategies

January 2, 2023

Coates Inc. is dedicated to educational equity for under-served communities so that all students can attain college and career success. Their mission is to deliver programs that provide students with equal educational opportunities, college and career resources, and solid connections to the community. The nonprofit provides early college and career planning for high school students, and organizes college tours, college and career fairs, and volunteer opportunities to provide valuable exposure and learning experiences to youth.

“Working with Charlene at DevoCenter has been great. We’ve been meeting monthly to discuss organizational development and prepare for funding opportunities. She’s helped us articulate our vision and describe our programs with clarity. And, she’s worked with me to develop budgets that are clear and descriptive.”
— Catisha Toney - Executive Director, Coates Inc. College and Career Strategies

No Stones Movement Inc Encouraging Youth

January 2, 2023

No Stones Movement empowers teens and young adults by helping them expand their mind, enhance their spirits, strengthen their bodies and embrace their culture so that they can demonstrate the best versions of themselves and be an asset to their communities. They provide holistic learning including high school level academics, after school enrichment programs, and postsecondary volunteer and career experience opportunities.

“Over the next few months we will work together to prepare a proposal package to be shared with funders. We’re looking forward to having budgets to help guide decision making, and program proposals that are consistent with our vision and purpose.”
— Aynda Jackson - Director, No Stones Movement

Youth Talk United Mentorship and Support

January 2, 2023

Youth Talk United is dedicated to encouraging and equipping young people to manage their emotions, express themselves in positive ways, and take the lead in caring for our community. Their goal is to improve quality of life outcomes for Alabama youth by offering workshops, mentorship, and service projects that emphasize the value of sports and community. Our programs are designed to instill essential life skills, foster leadership qualities, and promote emotional well-being.

“DevoCenter is truly amazing! From the first initial meeting with Charlene I knew I was in the right place. Her warmth, and excitement to make an impact made it so easy to talk with her. She`s very knowledgeable of the nonprofit sector, and takes time to help you understand what is needed to be a successful nonprofit. As an organization we`re so excited to see the continuous growth.”
— Erika Perry - Executive Director, Youth Talk United

The Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education

January 2, 2023

The Cloud Institute prepares school systems and their communities to educate for a sustainable future through meaningful content and learner-centered instruction. Their work with schools revolves around professional learning, curriculum, instruction, and assessment aspects of Education for Sustainability (EfS). They also provide the strategic planning and leadership development support required for lasting school change.

“DevoCenter supports our mission by providing guidance in the areas of finance and brand presentation for the organization. In the next year we will renew our contract for technical assistance, and we’ll plan to work together to develop service-learning curricula that educates for sustainability for post-secondary school students and adult learners”
— Jaimie P. Cloud - Executive Director, The Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education

Marcy Scholarship Fund Scholarships and Mentoring

January 2, 2023

Marcy Houses Scholarship Fund exists to encourage and motivate post-secondary students from the Marcy Houses in Brooklyn, NY, and strategize with them to complete a course of study. Their vision is higher education, economic achievement and social well-being for all Marcy Houses students. In service of this vision, they provide financial support and mentorship to college or trade school students who live in the Marcy Houses.

“Charlene at DevoCenter immersed herself in our work and helped us formalize a logic model which captures the essence of what we are doing and what we believe is possible to achieve. She listened to our plans and ideas and used that information to revamp our mentorship program.” — Valerie Johnson - Board Chair, Marcy Scholarship Fund

Little Sun People Child Care Center

January 2, 2023

Little Sun People believes that every child is a treasure who brings something special to the world, and that it's their job to honor, nourish, and inform their gifts They offer a robust curriculum, fun and challenging extra-curricular activities, and a safe, child-centered environment with lots of love and care. The school aims to help children grow in mind and body. They supply a healthful variety of nourishing meals, African dance for physical activity, outdoor recreational experiences, and special events throughout the year where children, parents and school staff can celebrate together.

DevoCenter consulted with and provided board leadership support to LSP to inform change management policies and practices.

Brooklyn Capital Collective Financial Literacy for Youth

January 2, 2023

Brooklyn Capital Collective (BCC) is a partnership of ideas whose aim is to inspire and prepare families to build, preserve and transfer generational wealth. Their mission is to address the wealth gap in America by providing financial literacy programs and support to communities of color. They curate relevant content, host educational events and partner with others to serve adults and young people in Brooklyn, New York and online communities nationwide.

DevoCenter developed a pitch deck, budgets, proposal template and leadership plan of action that resulted in raising money for a new program over a 12-week project period.

Board and Executive Director Roles

October 25, 2022

DIVISION OF DUTIES

MISSION

Board of Directors

Approve mission, vision, values, strategic plan
Review and approve annual implementation plan to ensure consistency with strategic plan
Ensure legal and ethical integrity
Maintain accountability, including complying with reporting and accounting requirements
Be aware of key risks and mitigation strategies

Executive Director

Work with board to develop mission, vision, values, strategic plan
Develop annual implementation plan and advise board when milestones in implementation are reached

FINACIALS

Board of Directors

Approve annual budget
Approve internal control policies
Hire financial auditor
Review financial indicators and ensure adjustments are made
Approve investment policies and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements
Support fundraising activities

Executive Director

Develop annual budget, establish income and expense parameters, determine specific expenditures within approved budget lines
Work with board to develop financial policies and internal controls
Respond to auditor findings
Report to board on cash flow, budget to actual, and other key financial measures
Comply with board-approved financial policies and reporting requirements
Work with board to develop and execute fundraising strategy

PROGRAMS

Board of Directors

Ensure that programs are achieving objectives

Executive Director

Develop and implement programs
Provide evidence of program effectiveness

PEOPLE

Board of Directors

Hire and evaluate the executive director
Approve personnel policies and review salary information
Draft grievance and whistleblower policies

Executive Director

Hire and supervise all other staff

Set compensation and benefits for individual employees within organizational policies

SAMPLE POSITION DESCRIPTION TABLE

Reference
Who’s in Charge Here? Role of the Board of Directors vs. Role of the Executive Director
The Relationship Between the Executive Director and the Board

Board Governance and Documents

October 25, 2022

What information does your board need access to?

repost from Boardable | The Nonprofit Board Governance Guide

Agenda and Minutes: These items help your members always have up-to-date details on meetings and recent history. Check your state laws to see if there are requirements for how long you keep these records and whether they need to be publicly accessible.

Bylaws: These ensure your meetings run smoothly and that members know your expectations. They also spell out procedures for common issues from voting procedure to board member attendance.

Strategic Plans: Whether they are long-term or short-term, board members need to document strategic plans to be able to provide you with the best insight and assistance for moving forward.

Your History and Mission: Members should always know who your nonprofit serves, and why you do what you do. It’s a good idea to review your history and mission at board retreats and make sure everyone is on the same page.

Board Expectation Agreement: This essential document outlines exactly what you expect from board members in detail, avoiding miscommunication or unwanted results. It should include topics such as attendance, personal donations, fundraising support, ambassadorship efforts, and anything else your organization expects board members to do.

Board Member Job Description: Specific details of what board membership looks like and how directors serve your board helps prospective members decide if board service is for them.

Committee Charges: Details about what a committee does, who is responsible for it, and how decisions are made set this reporting structure up for success.

Legal Documents: From your articles of incorporation to your legal status and other essentials, have important legal documents available for board members to easily access.

Financials: Budget, financial statements, and your last annual audit results are among the important documents that boards need to make decisions. Again, check with local laws about requirements for what needs to be made public and how long documents need to be retained.

Contact Details: Maintain this information for the current board, any active emeritus members, and key executive employees. Identify who emergency contacts are in various situations and consider making contact info shareable (as desired) among board members.

Calendar: A clear, easy-to-understand calendar of your upcoming events, activities, and important dates for your nonprofit—updated every meeting—ensures better attendance.