No Money' No Mission' The evolution of a NotforProfit

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No Money. No Mission.The evolution of
aNot-for-Profit
Board of Directors 2004
Presenters Cherry Acuff, Dave Lietzke, Nancy
Barker, Joe McNew, Lindy Turner
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In the beginning we followed the norm

• Board members from govt, SCD, cities.
• Near exclusive focus on conservation
• Big goals, no resources
• No moneysmall accomplishment
• Little street credibility

Earth Day Poster Contest Winners 1989 At RCD
application signing ceremony
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For about 10 minutes

• 1990 - Authorized
• 1991 - First 100k income year, first SG audit
• 1992 First Council employee
• 1994 - First Council office building, 10 staff
• 1999 First multi-million, multi-year grant

Then Senator Al Gore, Jr. asks to visit RCD one
year after authorization for a progress report
from the Board in 1991.
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• 2000 First 500k income year
• 2003 First Council loan, first for-profit
  venture
• 2004 First office building purchase
• 2005 First 1M income year

Board members scramble to prepare the day before
Open House
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Snapshot of Today

• 3 office locations
• 6 full-time, 3 part-time employees
• 32 AmeriCorps members
• 1 NRCS staff
• Own property in 4 of 5 counties
• Wholly owned construction company
• Net assets over 1M

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Today RCD is an umbrella for a family of
programs and initiatives
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How did we get here?

• Budgeting
• Bylaws changes were key
• Recruiting board members that add value
• Willingness to make hard decisions

Board considers making a loan to put a roof on a
historic hotel
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• Switched focus to human AND natural
  resources

Conservation and protection
Home repair loans
Emergency services
Transportation for jobs
Service-Learning and tutoring
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• Board member training is critical

Nonprofit management training and fiduciary
responsibilities
Understanding roles of staff and board and how to
work together as an effective team.
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• Be clear about where you are goinghave a plan,
  work the plan, evaluate the progress

RCD Board Training and Five Year strategic
planning session 2003
Isnt planning fun?!
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Work together and with others

• Erased county boundariesregional
• Work on something bigger than yourself

Setting strategy for tackling big problems with
small seed money results in nearly 4 million for
26 Volunteer Fire Departments in the region.
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• Take the politics out of it
• Governing board that is also a working board
• Work with communities and communities of people

Many communities of people collaborate to
create new housing for mentally and physically
disabled
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• Coordinator that sells the big vision gravy
  and biscuits
• Invested Board of Directors

Get er done attitude
Willingness to fundraise
Educating Congressional leaders
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• Recruit excellent and multi-talented staff

We plan
We paint
We cook
Clinch-Powell Staff Members 2004
We (video) feed..
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• Have FUN!

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• Celebrate success together!

National RCD Council of the Year 1995
Renovation funds for community center
2000 National USDA Public Service Award National
USFS Community Action Award
Groundbreaking first housing development
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Keys to success

• Use imagination and have a BIG vision

Old office too small for programs and growth
New space in historic building brings room for
growth and community respect
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• Who are you?
• Government program?
• A charity?
• A not-for-profit business?

First house built as a Community Housing
Development Organization
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• Makeup of Council right attitude and passion
• Must make moneycant give it all away
• Dont RELY on federal and state money

Small business loans create jobs and stable
revenues.
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• See the organization as an instrument
• Need board members, coordinator and staff that
  have a burning desire to make a difference

Board and staff must work as a team.
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• Entrepreneurial spirit
• Be an independent business or go home
• Mission driven, businesslike thinking
• Respect each other

Growing community art into major regional
economic development tool.
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• Tell your story wherever you goloudly!

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Income Expense Over Time
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Growth in Total Assets
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FY01 Revenue Streams
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FY05 Revenue Streams
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FY05 Expense Breakdown
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Unrestricted Income Sources

• Service Income
• Fees for service professional services,
  property management, etc
• Sales homes, goods and services
• Loans small biz, industrial, home repair,
  community development
• Rentals and lease payments
• Fundraising
• Education luncheons
• Golf Tournament
• Festival

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Key Characteristics

• Be bold think business
• Mission, mission, mission. No money, no mission
• Build the board. Dont settle for less than the
  best
• Take calculated risks
• Make deliberate decisions that take you somewhere
• Never spend money (resources), MAKE INVESTMENTS
• Diversify income, be entrepreneurial
• Have a shared, compelling vision
• Recruit talented, well-educated staff
• Institute tight controlsfinancial management
• Have fun, celebrate success, tell you story

Do more.better!
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Call us if we can help

• Clinch-Powell RCD Council
• PO Box 379
• Rutledge, TN 37861
• 865-828-5927
• www.clinchpowell.net

We are private citizens doing public good in
your neighborhood