December, 2022
Personality Differences in the Workplace – Part III and IV
This is the final in a series about using the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) in the workplace. Read Part I and Part II here on our Blog page.
Align Team Insights & Resources
This is the final in a series about using the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) in the workplace. Read Part I and Part II here on our Blog page.
The process of creating a plan for the future of your organization
A continuation of exploring how people work together using the four Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) preferences.
Is offering staff the option to work remotely a new-norm option for your organization?
Week of the Young Child (WOYC) April 2-8, is a fun-filled week celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers, families, and communities
Exploring how people work together using the four Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) preferences.
Tips on how you can proactively protect yourself
Diversity, Equity and, Inclusion - Did you know these facts?
With summer rapidly coming to an end, there are still ways to get some summer-time celebration mixed with a healthy dose of employee appreciation. Here are some ideas:
Build relationships now before the need arises, especially if they fit your culture and have the right skill sets.
Attitude is equally as important as qualifications
Jody Shields, Executive Director of the Wyoming Nonprofit Network and WNN Board Chair Britney Wallesch talk WyoGives 2021 and how last year’s inaugural event showed what an amazing opportunity it was for all Wyoming nonprofits to connect with each other and be a part of something great.
Are there new ways to deliver your message in 2021?
A strategic plan that is well communicated, gives greater productivity, a better culture, empowerment, and overall effectiveness.
A Discussion with Kathy Cathcart, Brittany Ashby and Jody Shields - Interviewed by Cathy Drzal of the Align Team
Giving thanks is a way to show appreciation in what has been a challenging year.
Is returning to work after such an extended period of time something we’ve all been waiting for?
Can we be more productive, have fewer distractions and get better results if we are NOT tethered to our phones and computers 24 hours a day?
The leadership skills we are building today can continue to work for us after Covid-19.
“If we burn out or lose hope, we don’t serve ourselves, our communities and the people who rely on us to see a brighter future.”
Dan Cardinali, President and CEO Independent Sector
Charitable communities need your support to recover during this time. Even if they are not on the frontlines, it is a good idea to support the nonprofits you already do.
Eight helpful tips for running meetings online.
It's not ALL about the Madness!
How many times have you been approached in the new year and asked “What are your New Year’s Resolutions?
A Year-in-Review highlights the highs and lows which occurred throughout the year but often includes memorable events as well. At Align, the purpose of our Year-in Review is to share our GRATITUDE for the support we have received not just in 2019, but in years past.
When you step into your organization or office, do you feel like everyone is truly with you? Do you feel a constant tension to elicit their full support for what you are doing? The answer might not be with the work they are doing or the organization's issues or structures. The answer may lie in their relationship with you.
The outer shell of the vertebra is made of bone.
This bone is solid & strong
An atmosphere of respect and acceptance are crucial to creating a successful multi- generational team
Your employees are the lifeblood of your organization.
Reaching the starting line of the Boston Marathon is an achievement for runners, but the experience also offers helpful takeaways for business leaders and organizations seeking improvement.
Wyoming's business and economic development communities celebrated several victories during this year's 2019 session of the Wyoming Legislature, but also saw several prominent bills fail to advance.
Every leader is eager to know what the future will bring.
The ability to recognize and understand emotions is a critical component of great leadership. Organizations that put a premium on Emotional Intelligence operate more effectively and have a more enjoyable workplace culture.
No matter what type of organization you work for, or what sector of the economy it operates in, the value of advocacy can't be understated.
Engaged customers become brand evangelists. Reap the benefits of an engaged membership by keeping a few critical concepts in mind when looking to increase engagement.
Employees who feel valued and respected are more committed to their employer. Obtaining a clear picture of your organizational culture allows you to refine your recruiting and hiring process, ensuring candidates are a good culture fit.
It's critical for nonprofit leaders to set aside time to address big picture challenges facing their organizations. Ignore these big picture challenges and critical issues at your own risk.
The role and responsibilities of the professional facilitator are frequently misunderstood, for a variety of reasons. Like any other specialized field, group facilitation expertise is a body of knowledge that is developed over time and with specific training.
There's lots of reasons to seek the insight of an expert outside your organization. Here's 3 of the best.
While Align provides a wide range of business services, program management is one of the most resource-intensive and rewarding community-building challenges we take on.
We've got a brief employment law update, as well as news about Cheyenne's Lincoln Theater and the popular Pole Mountain recreation area.
It has become a cornerstone of organizational and business planning, but some organizations are still reluctant to devote the resources necessary to develop a successful strategic plan. Having a strategy for the future is critical to any organization's success.
Recent attacks on the Johnson Amendment, a provision to the U.S. tax code that prohibits 501(c)3 organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates, could have widespread implications to the nonprofit sector.
While hundreds of years of leadership theory has conditioned business leaders to take control, creating more leaders instead of just followers is critical to planning for your organization's future.
New faces join the Align Team and new leadership training opportunities await.
One way to examine if your organization is fulfilling its mission is by defining outputs and outcomes.
Learn how to equip your Executive Director with the tools to successfully lead your organization.
What makes a good board member, and how can you identify candidates that will help strengthen your organization?
Are you fulfilling the three fundamental fiduciary duties of a board member? Do you know what they are?
How can you be certain you possess the financial resources necessary to carry out your organization's mission?
Does each member of your board have defined roles and responsibilities? Let's identify your strategic plan.
When was the last time you shared your passion for the organizations that you serve?
The nonprofit sector is thriving in Wyoming and chances are you've contributed in some capacity to a charitable nonprofit. Do you know how they operate?
If you were to start over today, would you continue with the status quo?
If it's been awhile since you've examined your approach to presenting, take a couple minutes to review our tips. Is it time to refresh your presentation?
Managing people comes with challenges. Are you managing others well or coaching a manager toward success?
Are you paying your employees correctly, according to federal regulations?
Jody Shields, Executive Director of the Wyoming Nonprofit Network and WNN Board Chair Britney Wallesch talk WyoGives 2021 and how last year’s inaugural event showed what an amazing opportunity it was for all Wyoming nonprofits to connect with each other and be a part of something great.
WyoGives – if it rings a bell it should. This 24- hour, online day of giving is an initiative of the Wyoming Nonprofit Network and is designed to bring the state together as one community to raise money and awareness for the state’s nonprofits.
Both Shields and Wallesch are passionate about this unique fundraiser. Shields, the original driving force behind the campaign and Wallesch, also the Executive Director of the nonprofit Black Dog Animal Rescue (BDAR), believe that all work in the nonprofit community is interconnected. “While it is easy to stay focused on our individual missions” Wallesch says, “it is important for me to put myself in a position to have a broader perspective as a board member of the WNN. It is also important for me to know that our nonprofits are currently represented to the public and to our policymaker’s, so people understand it is not just about the underserved communities and those who need a little extra support, but it is also about helping diversify our nonprofits. I am so proud to be a part of the collective voice across our state.”
Expectations for this year’s WyoGives July 14? According to Shields, she is confident this year’s registration phase will surpass the number of participating nonprofits from last year. “In 2020, WyoGives had 130 participating nonprofits,” Shields said. “That was a great achievement and our nonprofits this year are really building off last year’s success. They are getting excited about all the different things they can do as part of this campaign. It is a fun event, but most of all, there is a lot of excitement that day. I never imagined how much fun it would be to watch the ticker throughout the day last year showing dollars just rolling in. That was so exciting!” Shields said this year’s giving day will feature extensive live streaming interviews on Facebook, in person events as well as, community events taking place statewide.
“WyoGives has really helped people understand how they can support the nonprofit sector and the broad range of services that are offered,” Wallesh says. “It also shows how we are there for our communities especially in times of crises. Having WyoGives as a new event and a new way to connect people to nonprofits safely, is a great platform. And WyoGives is unique because it puts the focus on donors and giving. So much of event fundraising can be focused on the event and that takes away a bit from the focus of genuine community connection and support for the work nonprofits are doing. So WyoGives puts the focus back on the donor and that means experiencing the joy of connecting resources and financial gifts to the values in our community.”
Equally as important as donors are sponsors. Shields says sponsors help bring awareness to the event. “We engage in statewide marketing efforts to ensure people know about this event. Sponsorships help us pay for the wonderful platform we use and makes the donor experience enriched and simplified. Donors on the WyoGives website can easily search for nonprofits by cause or by location. Sponsorship funding goes to support such things as our nonprofit trainings and toolkits, which is necessary to the organization’s success throughout the campaign. We also have media partners that help us get the word out. We can do all this work, but unless the people know about WyoGives, it is for not. So, the media partners role leading up to July 14 is critical.”
“There are a wide variety of causes and missions,” Shields says. “Whatever causes you are interested in, you will most likely find them here. There are also ways to get involved as a donor, a sponsor, a business, a nonprofit, or a volunteer peer-to-peer fundraiser. This is a chance for all of us to connect across the state and learn about new organizations. Whatever corner of the state you are from, WyoGives is bringing us together and that is truly unique and exciting!”
If you are new to Wyoming or the area and want to learn more about WyoGives visit wyogives.org.
Cathy Drzal for the Align Team