I wanted to extend a special welcome to our newest members this week: @Garrett Webster, Sr. with Youth Guidance - Kansas City. Long time friend, colleague, former neighbor and exceptional Executive Director leading nationwide programs such as BAM (Becoming a Man) and WOW (Working on Womanhood). @Corey Starks with CompliCore Consulting Solutions. Long time friend, former roommate, foster parent, AI expert, and compliance consultant for healthcare organizations throughout Arizona and nationwide. @Eliza Barr with Reaching Out from Within. Nonprofit colleague, reentry expert, and an exceptional Executive Director who oversees programs that represent all 15 adult correctional facilities in Kansas, 7 in North Carolina and the Transition Center in Kansas City, MO. Thank you to each of you for accepting the invitation to be founding members of this online community of nonprofit and community leaders, consultants and individuals committed to building the strongest businesses possible so the important community work and programming can continue.

I’m currently building Jucoban Community Recovery Foundation, Inc. and making sure we establish the right financial and compliance foundation from the beginning. I would love some insight from those who have already gone through this process. 1. 501(c)(3) Application Fee: Is the IRS filing fee paid at the time the application is submitted, or is there ever an option to be invoiced or pay later? 2. Best Bank for a Growing Nonprofit: What bank or credit union would you recommend for a nonprofit that plans to accept grants and donations and eventually wants access to business credit or lending? I’m especially interested in low fees, good nonprofit banking features, ACH capabilities, and a bank that can grow with an organization planning to operate nationwide. 3. The “Nobody Told Me” Filing: For experienced nonprofit leaders, what is one form, registration, report, compliance requirement, or filing that new nonprofit founders commonly overlook but should know about early? I’m trying to follow one rule as we build: stay ready so we don’t have to get ready. I would rather establish the right systems now than discover something important after a funding opportunity comes along. Thank you for any experience or recommendations you can share!

This was a question I posed to a group during a recent presentation about nonprofit sustainability. I heard the responses you would expect to hear: 1) because the programming is how the mission gets fulfilled. 2) because that is what people are most passionate about. 3) because it is the work that gets done on a regular basis. While all of the above are correct, one response was glaringly missing from the 12-15 in attendance... Nonprofits tend to be really skilled at programming because grant funders require it. We know most grants fund programming, and where money flows, so does attention, focus and execution. As a sector, we didn't accidentally become good at programming. Our revenue model trained us to become good at it. It makes me wonder, what might happen if we brought that same urgency, discipline and attention to building earned revenue? I believe it is likely that we would become really skilled at that too, over time. 🤔

My name is Neisyy, and I’m honored to be here. We joined this community because we want to learn from experienced nonprofit leaders and better understand what it takes to build and sustain an organization that serves communities nationwide. We believe there’s always something new to learn, and we’re excited to connect, share ideas, and grow alongside others who are making a difference. @Sidney Smith, thank you for creating a space where nonprofit leaders can learn, collaborate, and support one another. Consistency truly is the key to building lasting impact. I currently serve as the Chair of the Board, President & Chief Executive Officer of Jucoban Community Recovery Foundation, Inc. We are an Arizona nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve stability through housing, recovery support, community resource navigation, veterans assistance, returning citizen support, homelessness prevention, and partnerships with licensed service providers. We’re looking forward to learning from this community, building meaningful relationships, and applying what we learn to strengthen our organization and expand our impact.