How full is the glass?

I had a friend once tell me that when he saw a certain person on the street, he did his very best to avoid them. He would even cross to the other side of the street. I asked, “why?” and he said, “because I can be having the best day of my life and then I start talking with that person and they let the air right out of the balloon and I become instantly depressed.” I thought “wow” and what a way to be labeled by somebody else. Unfortunately, it is true with many people.

I have to watch myself because if you observe the bleak picture being painted for us on the news, it can be pretty depressing. I have this recurring thought of being in a long line of hundreds of people waiting for soup or having to give up my house and move in with my older brother. These are not good thoughts.

Then I think about all those people who have far less than me, and yet they don’t complain about anything. They are so happy with the simplest things in life. Some of the most unselfish, caring and spiritual people with the best attitudes I have ever met are people with modest means. They are not trying to “keep up with the Jones” or impress anyone at all. They are who they are and believe what they believe and that is just fine with them. It just amazes me how many that happens so many times.

So, even in the worst of times, I am developing a better attitude about things. I am not going to complain about my 50-something back, or how cold it is, or how the price of something has gone up or how bad the driver is in front of me. I am going to take the high road just like a lot of the people who really have something to complain about but don’t.

I once watched a speaker from Chicago pour tea into a 12-ounce glass halfway. He looked at it and said, “It is up to you how you interpret the glass of tea. It is either half empty or half full.” Personally, I am voting for “half full” from now on. It just seems much easier to me and I bet I will be a lot happier too. So, have a great day, week, month, 2010 and life! Things look really great to me.


Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Thinking About the Year End

As we approach the end of the calendar year, there is hopefulness among charitable organizations that something good is going to happen. There is a hope that people will feel more benevolent during the holiday season and give money. They recognize that the first 11 months of 2009 have been far less successful than anticipated. Organizations are “holding out hope” that this final month of the year will “pay off” financially. Additional optimism occurs when charities think about donors who need a tax break and will give generously to their organization.

What a wonderful fantasy they are having. I don’t think there is much chance this will happen in December 2009. Why? Well, most people are either struggling to make ends meet (average incomes), need assistance from others to survive (below average incomes) or lost 55% of their portfolio in the stock market (higher incomes). Those who lost money are trying to recover those funds and are worried about their own future retirement possibilities. Any of these three scenarios does not bode well for charities this year end.

The good news; I believe, that 2010 will be a far better year for all charities. I truly believe we have weathered a very tough storm and that we can begin repairing our organizations next year. Charitable giving will improve in 2010 and it will improve in the business, grant making and individual/private sectors. So, don’t expect a huge windfall in December, it likely won’t come. Do expect more funds and better circumstances for all of next year. I really think help from generous supporters is just around the corner and better times are ahead for charities.

Happy Holidays to All.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

It's Time to Remove South Carolina's Handicap: Why TANF Reauthorization is Crucial

How much is a child in South Carolina worth? Not nearly as much as a child in Connecticut according to the federal program designed to alleviate poverty. The federal government provides the state of Connecticut with $1,052 a year for each child in poverty. The same federal fund values poor children in South Carolina at $179 per child. And it’s not just in South Carolina; it seems children throughout the South are worth less than their counterparts in other parts of the nation.

Apart from our underfunded school systems or our high unemployment rates, federal welfare reform legislation hinders the many southern states like South Carolina from achieving its desired results. South Carolina gets less federal money to lift families out of poverty than almost any other state.

Before welfare was reformed in 1996, funds were allocated based on a formula which required states to provide matching dollars to draw down federal funds. Thus, states with higher per capita incomes, and therefore a higher tax base, could draw down more federal funding. States with small tax bases, like South Carolina, had few dollars to invest and, therefore, got few dollars back.

When welfare reform was passed, a new program called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) was established. The goal of TANF is to move families from welfare to work. To achieve this, these families receive assistance in job training and job skills and assistance to reduce the barriers they face in obtaining and maintaining employment, like transportation and childcare. Most of South Carolina’s families receiving TANF assistance are single parents with one or two children. Currently our state has only enough funds to serve 25% of the families eligible for childcare assistance. And it has even fewer dollars to address a family’s need for transportation and training.

The most difficult part of this new welfare reform bill was figuring out how to distribute the block grant to states. Naturally, high-income states sought to continue getting the big federal dollars they received under the old program, while low-income states desired a new formula based on the number of families in poverty living in each state. This time, like many times before, the high-income states, often with larger delegations, won the fight and received the lion’s share of the money. Federal funds were allocated to states based on the average amount of funds received for the prior three-year period, which was under the old program. Low-income states were left with the task of implementing new programs and new federal requirements with very little money.

Some poor states were thrown a bone, “a supplemental payment,” in exchange for their votes to pass the welfare reform legislation. Seventeen states qualified for this bone, because their level of spending per poor person was less than 35% of the national average or they had more than a 10% increase in population from 1990 through 1994. With spending per poor person at 37.66% of the national average and only a 5% increase in population during the given time period, South Carolina just missed the mark to receive supplemental funding.

What’s more, when the supplemental funding was formed, it was frozen so that no other states could be added and the original seventeen would not lose the funding. Thus, even though a state like South Carolina qualified for supplemental funding the second year, it could not receive the additional funding. In fact, South Carolina was the only state in deep poverty that did not get any extra help. States like Kentucky, South Carolina and Virginia were held to the same federal requirements, which cost a lot more, as every other state, and were given less money with which to meet those requirements.

The law that created welfare reform, the TANF Act, is up for reauthorization next year. States are planning to ask Congress to take a look at the funding for the program and add some new dollars to make up for the buying power lost to inflation over the past 13 years. Based on the consumer-priced index, this would be approximately an additional $5 billion nationally. The new money needs to be distributed using a new formula - one based on poverty. A formula that equalizes the payments to states based on the percentage of each state’s population living in poverty would benefit 33 of the 50 states, the majority of states. It would target federal dollars where they are most needed - to states with high poverty. And South Carolina would receive a fair and equal share of the new money.

Over the last 13 years, it is estimated that South Carolina has lost approximately $150 million in TANF funding. This is money that did not go to South Carolina families moving from poverty to self sufficiency. If the amount of funding is increased using the consumer-priced index South Carolina would receive $32 million under the current formula. The amount would increase to $93 million if funds were distributed using the suggested new formula based on need. A formula based on poverty leads to an additional $61 million. This would make a significant impact on our state, and it’s now time to get our fair share of funding.

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina envisions families in South Carolina with the resources to live out of poverty. The current funding is based on the amount a state received 13 years ago under a different program. It is an injustice to continue to use this formula, as states with the largest number of citizens in poverty will receive the smallest amount of funding. As a Foundation we feel that we must bring this to light and fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. Our state has been short-changed in TANF funding and we feel that it is time for South Carolina to receive its fair share.

The old money ($16 billion) would still use the old formula that allots for more funding for high-income states that can draw down more federal funding. Everyone wins. Everyone gets more money. TANF is designed for people out of work, and with the current economy, now is the time for Congress to reauthorize TANF.

A formula based on poverty best matches the original intent of the TANF legislation, and is the most unbiased way to allocate new federal funds. The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina is planning to do all that we can to make sure South Carolina and other southern states get an equitable share of any new TANF funding. We want to make sure Congress gets it right this time, so that South Carolina no longer has to work under a handicap. Just think of what an additional $93 million for South Carolina’s low-income families would mean.


Tom Keith is the president for the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

An Important Faith-Based Discussion

Dr. Fred Smith, a nationally recognized Theologian, will visit Columbia next month to speak. This is not the first trip Dr. Smith has made in correlation with the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina. He came to South Carolina in 2001 to help the Foundation celebrate the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine’s 150 year anniversary.

The Foundation, in conjunction with the United Way of the Midlands, will welcome Dr. Smith again. We will assemble several faith-based leaders in the Columbia area to discuss several important issues. The entire premise for the discussion is about the ever changing demand and expectations for faith-based organizations in community building.

It was not too long ago that churches, synagogues and other religious facilities were mainly focused on their congregations with limited outreach. Things are very different today. The faith-based sector finds themselves invested in a variety of activities and purposes that have traditionally been carried out by nonprofit organizations. There are soup kitchens, after school programs, reading recovery programs, teen pregnancy prevention efforts, fatherhood related activities, job training programs, self help and self esteem programs, food banks, clothing closets and an array of other programs far too numerous to mention.

This all happened for a reason. When welfare reform took place in the mid 1990’s a lot of government related services went by the wayside. Religious groups had to fill the gap. They have done the best they can with little training and limited resources. Dr. Fred Smith will ask the how question to faith-based leaders. How can we in the faith community work together to impact our community both from a human capital and financial perspective? Should more of an effort be made to focus on one area or neighborhood to maximize impact? Are we looking around to make sure that what we are doing is not duplicative or that we are not missing the involvement of another faith entity that could strengthen our efforts?

These are very compelling questions and should result in a lively discussion by area faith leaders. There are no easy answers to solving community problems. We are all well intended and hopeful of impact and success. I am very thankful that we are going to have this type of discussion. Religious leaders are so important to our community and our society and the role their institutions play now and in the future is critical to community improvement.


Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Let's be Realistic about Expenses for Nonprofits

I often talk to nonprofit organizations about the fact that they are all being held to a higher standard and rightfully so. They are dealing with funds that have been entrusted to them by a cadre of donors that have invested in their organization’s work. Along with that are certain standards and expectations that require a nonprofit to not only succeed in accomplishing their mission, but to succeed with extreme efficiency. My question becomes, “Is this a realistic expectation in today’s tough economy, where dollars are very hard to come by?”

The standard I am speaking about is the long established 20/80 ratio where no more than 20% of a dollar should go for fund raising, management and administrative costs and no less than 80% should go for programs and related services. In a perfect world, these are ambitious numbers and certainly demonstrate the kind of efficiencies we want and expect from a nonprofit organization. However, when times are tough and dollars are hard to come by, it may require organizations to spend more on infrastructure because they have less money to work with. In other words, keeping a program director in place to deliver services to children or keeping your bookkeeper in place to manage your systems more efficiently are necessary but may hold your costs higher and, therefore, outside the normal 20/80 ratio.

I understand this completely and I ask that we reconsider this expectation and as a fair comprise, perhaps, look at it on a three year or five year average basis. It is not unusual that ‘for profit” businesses, which are in business to make money, operate on much thinner margins and with less profit. Some grocery store chains are extremely pleased when they hit a 95/5 ratio at the end of the month. Yes, that means 95% cost to make a 5% profit.

So right now, I don’t think it is unreasonable at all to allow nonprofits to have a 30/70 or even 35/65 ratio with operating costs to program costs. We need to be sensitive and flexible with the rules at this time. I am all for accountability and efficiently run organizations but I am also a realist when it comes to making sure services are delivered by a competent and dedicated staff, recognizing that most of these organizations are being run by underpaid and overworked people. Now is the time for us to help organizations succeed and to also be pragmatic about what we expect. I truly believe the next few years will be extremely tough on the nonprofit sector and, therefore, I am willing to cut them some slack when it comes to costs. It may be the only way organizations can survive, can get the job done and get their mission accomplished and we very much need to be in tune with that situation.


Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

We Have a Real Chance to Influence Change Now

In philanthropy, as we look at our sphere of influence in society today it has a wide range of entry points. Foundations are called upon to make important and tactical decisions every day. These decisions often have influence on multiple people and organizations. A great many of these decisions are internal and are based on a program, process or an initiative or an intentional direction that a foundation is headed. Boards and staff decide on size and types of grants that are awarded, a process and decision around strategy, how much to invest in program evaluation, how much to invest in communications, etc.

The sphere of influence, referenced earlier, is changing for foundations and it should be. Philanthropy is a significant contributor to communities and to society as a whole and, therefore, has a major stake in how we effect community change. So do a lot of other entities such as government, business, schools, hospitals and various other organizations. If foundations are not looking for ways to influence thinking around issues that can impact their community, region and state, then they are missing an important dimension of their work and an opportunity to get to necessary change.

For example, if a decision is being made by a municipality that will move homeless people 10 miles out of town without adequate transportation and they become isolated, shouldn’t we speak up? It is our job to look at all the issues that affect society and, in particular, see how decisions are going to affect those indigent and low-income people. Alone, these members of society do not have the power or voice to influence the decision makers.

Furthermore, decision makers are often influenced by non objective outsiders that have a vested interest in the outcome of the decision, preventing this influence from being pure and unbiased. Foundations should be objective, and their resources and connections should position them to ask difficult questions and to demand “the little guy” gets his just due in the process.

Whether we are asking tough questions of government, business or other people of influence within our societal sphere, we must step forward and be willing to play a role. Philanthropy has a lot of responsibility and it wields a significant amount of power and influence. It is our responsibility to use that influence for the greater good and let our external opportunities be just as important as our internal decision making. Foundations can no longer live and work in isolation. What we do and what needs to be done reaches far beyond the walls of our office and local town or city. Now is the time for all foundations to step forward and advocate for their grantees, constituents and those in the greatest need. If we don’t aggressively move in this direction then shame on us when the outcome is not to our liking and negatively impacts our state.


Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Foundations Can’t Live in a Vacuum

Philanthropy is often perceived as the all knowing, all deciding sector that can really change the world through strategic decision making and private funding. Foundations have high expectations of grantees including measurable outcomes and the desire for a realistic sustainability plan. However, I am not sure foundations do a good enough job of really surveying the landscape and understanding the depth and breadth of the nonprofit community and, more specifically, the organizations they fund.

Do we really know what other funders are doing for an organization that we fund and do those funds compliment what we are funding or does it work in contrast to what we are funding? It is a deeper question than most foundations won’t necessarily want to tackle, but I believe it is an important one. As an investor in the nonprofit world, we must do everything within our power to protect our investment, clearly understand the pathology of the organization we are invested in and measure our success to insure our investment is providing the return that we expect and deserve.

Long gone are the days when foundations could put money out in the community with the hope that something good happened. With the tough economy and dwindling resources, we are forced to be more focused and intentional with our grants and decision making. This has never been more apparent to me than now as we work on the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina’s Strategic Plan for the future. It requires us to maximize and leverage our funds, have a knowledge based approach to decision making and information sharing and it requires us to do a smaller number of things well. It did not have to be that way ten years ago but it has to be that way today.

Part of the equation is to have our own plan and strategies in place to insure that we know where we are going, but we must also understand the plan and strategies of our nonprofit partners. Where are they going? Do they have the resources to get there? Do they have the infrastructure to take them there? Are we on the same page as other funders or are the investments totally different and possibly contributing to the nonprofit’s organizational schizophrenia?

Our recent hiring of a full time senior research and evaluation director should tell you a lot about where we are headed. Success and failure are measured all the time. It is measured in the classroom, board room, ball fields and in our own personal performance evaluations. We, as a Foundation, are going to measure it more and understand it better. But, we should not live in a vacuum. We must also understand our nonprofit partners and know where they are going and who is helping them get there. If not, we are merely exacerbating the problem and enabling organizational ambiguity. This is not the time for anyone to be doing that.


Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Health Care Thoughts

The ongoing debate around access to health care continues. People have become vocal with varying opinions and emotions are running high. I will be the first to say that I don’t think we need huge government and I don’t know how we are going to pay for a lot of what has already been spent via the recent bailout of several financial institutions. However, there are people in this country─some poor and some who simply have unusual circumstances─that need access to health care. They need it because they are sick or suffering.

I recently heard a story about a 59-year-old construction worker who could no longer work due to bad knees. He could barely stand. When he visited a Federally Qualified Health Center, the doctors worked with him. The treatment: give him pain medication until he reaches the age to qualify for Medicare; then, he can get the two knee replacements he needs. So for the next few years, this gentleman is going to suffer in pain, struggling to walk and he will wait. Guess what? He is waiting for government senior care to kick in.

What a sad commentary for a country with supposedly the best health care in the world. We may have the best health care but it says a lot about our system when these types of scenarios occur. Insurance companies are unhappy, doctors are unhappy and pharmaceutical companies are unhappy. Why? Because it threatens their bottom line and it weakens their market share and they will make less money, pure and simple. If I were a doctor or a big insurance company executive, I might not like that either.

However, health care should not be a privilege but a human right. People were put on this earth through no decision that involved them, and everyone’s health should be something we all care about – mine and yours. Right now, our uninsured are wandering into hospital emergency rooms and seeking assistance where medical care is at its highest cost. Hospitals are then forced to write off the expense and those that are insured end up paying more. What is right about that system?

I do not know what the answer is and do not profess to be a health care expert by any stretch of the imagination. However, as caring and compassionate human beings, we need to do some serious thinking about what is the “right thing to do.” Families are struggling through tough economic times and so are businesses. We don’t need bigger government, but we do need a plan that will allow any human being on this earth the opportunity to have or buy health care and not break the budget doing it. Cut through all the spin, scare tactics and opinions and this should be where we end up. Life is filled with challenges and sacrifices. People’s health should not be number one on the sacrifice list, particularly if your wallet is really thin. It’s just not right.


Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

Foundations Must Strike Balance

Foundations must find a way to create balance during difficult economic times. It is without question that all foundation assets are down significantly since mid 2008. It was an unavoidable consequence of the U.S. economic downturn. Here is the dilemma. Should foundations spend into their corpus to maintain a consistent spending level when they know their assets have dropped by several million dollars? This is where the balance part comes into play.

Foundations have to spend into the corpus at some level but cannot afford to spend too much and, as a result, put the foundation’s long-term viability at risk. If a foundation is going to survive and thrive for decades to come, then it must be realistic and pragmatic about its funding decisions. On the other hand, nonprofit organizations cannot be left “high and dry.” Thus, foundations are finding creative ways to provide some funds─albeit reduced─and also provide other services to enhance the work of nonprofit organizations and their leaders. An example of these supplementary services is the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina Learning Academy’s leadership tract, offering nonprofit executive directors graduate-level training and credit in effective leadership strategies, and its forthcoming distance learning opportunities throughout the state.

Foundations have to partner too. The Sisters of Charity Foundation collaborates with the South Carolina Department of Social Services, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia College, Columbia Chamber of Commerce, United Way of the Midlands and the Central Carolina Community Foundation. The two latter partners and the Foundation are working to leverage a Bank of America grant to assist and address issues around the merging of struggling and failing nonprofits.

It is certain that our Foundation’s available grant funds will be less in 2010 than they were in 2009. However, through creativity and balance we plan to accomplish as much or more than ever next year. Through capacity building, listening sessions, knowledge sharing, distance learning opportunities, social media and other communications tools and more workshops for nonprofit staff and volunteers, we will make an impact next year. This is all in addition to the grant funds that we will still distribute. Though, fewer funds will force us to be more focused and have even higher expectations and a higher level of confidence in our potential grantees.

We must continue to be willing to shift out of our own comfort zone and capture opportunities in a new and different way. There is a fine line for foundations between protecting their existence and accomplishing their mission. The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina and other foundations must be proactive and strike the perfect balance between our missions and long-term survival. We understand the complexities of this situation and that a lot of other people and organizations are effected by our decisions. The Sisters of Charity Foundation will continue to be a foundation of mission and purpose. That is our first and most important priority. Survival is important too, and we are putting the necessary tools in place to insure that a fine balance is reached both for 2010 and long into the future.


Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Advice that May Help Achieve Nonprofit Success in the Remainder of 2009

In speaking with several nonprofit executives over the past few months, it is evident that nonprofit organizations, as are others, are still struggling. Money is really tight and fund raising is down. As we hit the halfway point for the year, many organizations are facing the reality that this is not going to be a successful year and certain changes are going to be necessary. Some of these changes may include staff layoffs, downsizing of office space, reducing or eradicating projects that involve printing and mailing costs and eliminating travel, conferences, training and other opportunities that would enhance the organization. I will share what I believe are important elements for surviving these difficult economic times.

• Go back to your core annual donors (both present and lapsed) and ask them to support you again. If the ask was made through an annual donor letter campaign in the past, you may want to make a personal phone call this time. Who knows, a $100 gift might turn into a larger gift if you have an opportunity to explain your circumstances.

• You should already have personal contact with your major gift donors, but I would use the same approach. If they gave $5000 last year or in previous years, have a frank conversation with them about your situation. It may help shore up the same amount of the previous gift or even secure a larger gift. But you need to walk away with something from these core supporters.

• Explore partnerships that may involve government dollars. There are a lot of funds are out there through the federal government and they are from a variety of sources. There is stimulus money, faith-based funds and other sources through various governmental agencies. Learn about these opportunities and see if there is a good fit for your organization. Do your homework and find a partner if that is what it takes.

• Build relationships with foundations whose mission coincides with your mission. Let them hear from you and learn about you. Communicate throughout the year and not only when you are seeking funding. A foundation feels much more comfortable providing funds to an organization it knows and trusts.

• Push your board and other internal stakeholders to give and to help obtain funds. They are as close as anybody to your mission. Fund raising should never be a complete staff function, but staff can facilitate ways for others to find donors. I would start with your board.

The economic climate is troublesome and there are many external factors that are affecting success, but make sure you are doing everything you can with your organization’s internal decisions and strategies. The year is only half over and there is still time to have some successes in the second half of the year. Good luck with your efforts.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

Compassion

The fifth and last core value of the Sisters of Charity Health System and the Foundation is compassion. I saved it for last, because compassion is at the very essence of every single thing we do as a ministry. It is an awareness and understanding of the human pain and suffering of others and the desire to do something about it.

I believe that each of us has a sense of compassion. The extent of a person’s compassion varies from individual to individual. In the Bible, God demonstrates his compassion and graciousness in scripture. For example, in Psalm 145:8 and Isaiah 54:8 reference is given to God’s everlasting kindness for each one of us. One of God’s greatest messages to us is that he is compassionate and he expects us to be compassionate as well.

Compassion is a human quality that is divinely inspired. When we see someone that is in distress and we feel their pain as if it were our own and strive to eliminate or lessen it, then this is compassion. Compassion also comes out of having a true understanding of one’s self. We can really see the needs of others more clearly when we truly understand ourselves and can apply that understanding in a compassionate and unselfish way.

I see compassion for the sick and suffering in our hospitals. I see it through our outreach ministries to help low-income fathers and uninsured children. I see it through the work in our Foundation as we reach out to help the poor and underserved of all ages and in every community.

In the New Testament, there is the parable of the Good Samaritan. He happened by a man who had been beaten by robbers. The man was hurt and was avoided by two religious men who walked on the other side of the street. Along came a common man who cared for him and tended to his wounds.

We see those suffering every day in our own lives. Seeing suffering and acting on it are two different things. I feel like we all have the capacity to be compassionate in both big ways and small ways and, to me, it really does not matter which way you choose. What matters, is recognizing the need that someone else has and acting upon that need with whatever means you have.

The best thing of all is that compassion for others is free of charge. It does not cost one single penny to act compassionately towards someone or in some situation. I have been blessed to work with compassionate Sisters and fellow servant leaders. Compassion is one of our core values and it is at the root of all of our work every day.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Collaboration

Collaboration is another core value of the Sisters of Charity and the Foundation. The definition for collaboration is pretty basic. It is to work with others to achieve a common goal.

When I was in Boy Scouts we had a “tug of war” contest. There were eight guys on one side, eight on the other and a huge mud pit in the middle. When the contest began, the pulling began. I was on the front of the team and I became acutely aware of the muddy pit only a few feet in front of me. I yelled back to my team members to pull harder. One guy on our team was bigger and stronger than the rest of us. He gave a big heave and that was all it took. The guys on the other side lurched forward and half of them plunged into the mud pit, much to our delight.

It was my first known experience where collaboration was pretty clear to me. I could not have done this task alone but with seven other guys helping me pull in one direction, the mission was easier and it was more achievable. This same concept can be applied to so many other things. For example, I have witnessed hundreds of volunteers clean an entire town in one day by working together picking up trash.

When foundations and other organizations collaborate, several things occur. It gives you added human capacity, it gives additional financial resources and it also gives focus to a bigger goal that will better the community. This has also been accomplished through partnerships with business and government.

Collaboration is a great concept but it is not always easy to implement. It requires flexibility, group thinking, a willingness to give up control and a belief that the “greater good” will benefit from multiple partners. Collaboration really works when we become less about territory and more about opportunity.

I have seen more and more nonprofit organizations willing to collaborate during these difficult economic times. It makes sense financially, organizationally and some times it can be the only way they will sustain themselves and survive over the long run. With philanthropic dollars as scarce as we have ever seen, collaboration is a “must” in today’s nonprofit world.

We must be willing to put our own self interests aside and find common ground that will benefit more people and communities. It is not only the way to survive this economic storm, but it is the right thing to do and the right time to do it.

Collaboration is an important core value of the Foundation and the Sisters of Charity Health System as a whole. It is basically working together to maximize your potential to meet your mission and goals. Here is hoping we can find new ways to all work together collaboratively both now and in the future.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Father's Day: Engaged and Active Fathers Are Invaluable

Today marks a little known or celebrated 100th anniversary. In 1909, a woman named Sonora Dodd in Spokane, Wash., was listening to her preacher’s sermon about the importance of honoring Mother's Day. Although she agreed it was an important day, she felt it unfair that no recognition was given to fathers. After Sonora's mother died, it was her father who made the big sacrifices in her life. He was the one who made sure she had food on the table, warm clothes to wear and that she said her nightly prayers. Why then, she wondered, were fathers not being honored in the same fashion?

Sonora began her life's mission to see that fathers received the same recognition as mothers for making the necessary sacrifices for their children. She began having a father’s day celebration during June, her birth month, every year thereafter in Spokane. But, it was not until 1972 (63 years later) that a permanent national observance of Father's Day on the third Sunday of June was established.

Today, we need to ask a similar question as the one posed by Sonora 100 years ago. Why is it that the importance of having an engaged and active father remains largely devalued and unrecognized? While Sonora’s father was loving and attentive, many fathers today are not so involved. Father absence has dramatically increased since the 1960’s. More children are living today in father absent households than during the height of World War II. Research clearly reveals that father absence has significant negative consequences for children, including child poverty. Society and taxpayers pay a tremendous price as well. Because many disregard a father’s worth and fewer people reach out to them, support for fathers is spotty and underfunded throughout our nation.

However, progress is being made in South Carolina. The Sisters of Charity Foundation has invested more than $16.5 million to support advocacy and fatherhood programs in South Carolina over the past ten years. The South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, an outgrowth of this initiative, supports six fatherhood programs in 12 locations across the state and serves more than 1,500 low-income fathers who want to become great dads. Fathers receive guidance, support, information and resources. They earn respect and are respected.

Support for these programs is worthwhile. They save taxpayers money and change lives. Not just for this generation but for our future generations. We can not afford to wait 50 or 100 more years to prioritize this issue that impacts us all. Yes all of us. Join Sonora’s legacy, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families and countless other partners who are working to recognize and reach out to fathers. Let your voice be heard. For more information about the Fatherhood Initiative, visit the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families or the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina Web site.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Justice

Another core value of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina is justice. Justice is so important and it is certainly subject to different interpretations and meanings. To me, every issue we encounter deals with ethics and comes under the notion of justice. Justice is a set of principles which guide others in determining what is right and what is wrong no matter what culture we live in. It is to elevate the dignity of each and every human person.

At the Foundation, we work with the underserved population. Many are homeless, most have no health insurance, thousands are in need of food and an unimaginable number attend dilapidated schools that are inadequate for learning. We find ourselves living in a world where there is a huge disparity between those who have life’s necessities to live and succeed and those who do not. The core question around justice is, “Do I have a responsibility to others who have less than me and cannot take care of themselves or their families?” My answer is, “Yes.”

Social justice provides the very foundation for a healthy community. It grows out of a sense that each individual person in our society has value. Only as we realize the value and dignity of each individual person can we build a healthy community. This can be a slow process of learning and growing. To help the process along we develop attitudes of respect for one another regardless of where they rest on the socio-economic scale.

Isn’t justice about helping every person realize their full human potential? Shouldn’t we reward people in our society for being loving and caring, ethical, kind and generous? We have systems in place that are suppose to address justice issues but frankly, they just “scratch the surface” towards solving problems around justice and fairness.

Each one of us can make a difference, even if it is in a small way. I believe that social justice imposes on each individual a personal responsibility to help one another. In the end, we are not going to be judged by how many houses, cars and clothes we own or how much money is in our bank accounts. Our individual legacy will be measured by what we have done to make a difference in the lives of others and, in particular, those who cannot make it on their own.

When I think about justice as a core value, I believe it is one of the most difficult to affect and it is one of the most important values. Look around; make yourself aware of the injustices that occur in our society everyday. Then ask yourself, “What can I do to help?” Isn’t that really what matters in the long run?

Tom Keith is is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Courage

Another core value of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina is Courage. It is an important value because, to me, it is about always standing behind your mission, purpose and beliefs.

I remember watching the movie “12 Angry Men” with Henry Fonda. It is an old movie but it has a great message. It tells the story of one juror who had the courage to stand up against all of the other jurors who wanted to convict a man. The reasons they wanted to convict varied and their reasons appeared self-serving. Some of the jurors were missing work, some were late for an appointment and some thought the room was too hot because of no air conditioning. Others had perceived biases that tainted their objectivity. For example, the young man on trial was Hispanic and one juror had had a bad experience with a Hispanic person in the past and was, therefore, prejudice. Henry Fonda’s character not only showed the courage to stand alone with his vote of not guilty, but he was able to point out the weaknesses in the arguments of the other jurors. He stood by his convictions, beliefs and principles and had the courage to go against the majority. In the end, justice was served and the man was found not guilty, in large part due to Fonda’s character’s courage.

We all face difficulties in our lives and what sets people with courage apart from others is fortitude. Often courage requires risk because the outcome could be harmful. God gives us all many gifts and he allows us to use those gifts when ever possible.

So what does courage mean? Courage is doing the right thing when the wrong thing seems to produce better results. Courage is looking past yourself and dedicating your energy to the betterment of mankind. Courage is the ability to set aside all your disappointments and still be able to open your heart and mind to others and give them your all. Courage is the ability to say I was wrong and I am sorry. Courage is doing something difficult, and even dangerous, selflessly. Courage is grace under pressure and humility out of honor. Courage is knowing what not to fear.

Lastly, courage is standing for your principles and beliefs regardless of the obstacles and barriers that are put before you. Courage is an important core value and something that lies within every single one of us.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

Respect

One of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina’s core values is respect. I would like to share with you what respect means to me as one who works in Foundation Ministry.

Respect is a culture here at the Foundation. It is something that every single person expresses to every other person in this office. It starts here each day with our staff and board members. It is a mutual respect and understanding about fulfilling the mission of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and addressing generational poverty. It is reflected in our relationship with nonprofit and faith-based organizations. We want them to know that each of them has value of purpose and that each one, regardless of the size of the organization, location or funding amount awarded, will be treated fairly and equally. We also respect each individual regardless of race, religion, age, gender, etc.

We respect each grantee after they are funded and work diligently to build confidence and trust. We are also respectful of the beneficiaries of the services provided by our grantees. These are the individuals that are living in poor neighborhoods or communities that are dealing with a wide array of issues on a daily basis. Our intent is to always keep the children and families in our thoughts and prayers daily and to never lose sight of the goal. We also realize that many of these individuals feel hopeless or compromised and deserve the respect of each of us individually and of the Foundation organizationally.

We are in the business of helping others less fortunate and the first step in helping is giving others the respect they deserve. The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina is far from perfect and we learn new things every day. God has blessed us with an opportunity to make a difference and we do not take that responsibility lightly.

The core value of respect is one of the most important values we have because it exemplifies who we are and how we operate. Through respect we engage, teach, listen, learn, support and adapt. Respect matters and it matters not just once in awhile; it matters always and it matters in every single situation. We fulfill our mission as a Foundation in a multitude of ways and at the forefront of that work is our unwavering respect for every single person we meet. It sounds simple, but it may be the most important thing we can do for others.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Thinking About Mother

I think Mother’s Day is one of the best days of the year. For me, it is a time to celebrate my own mother’s contributions to my life and reflect on the wonderful memories of the past. My mom is elderly and in poor health, but she lives nearby and we can visit on a regular basis. I see her almost every day and she is still my biggest fan and my biggest critic. With mom, there is no sugar coating. If you have circles under your eyes, you are going to hear about it. If you have on a snazzy tie, you will get a compliment. If you have gained a little weight, she will bring it to your attention. I love that about mom. It is pure honesty.

The other day, mom said to me, “You still love me a lot don’t you?” I replied, “I can’t believe you asked me that question mom, of course I love you with all my heart.” She grinned and said, “Just checking.” Then, I asked her, “Do you still love me?” and she said, “Oh my goodness, more than tongue can tell.” I had never heard that expression before but it really made me feel good.

I have wonderful memories of mom in our hometown in West Virginia. She always wore an apron in the kitchen and was always cooking something for us. She was a faithful member of the local Baptist Church. She taught Sunday School, sang in the choir and served on several boards and committees. My mom has lived her faith in her daily life as well as anyone. She had a job in the local bank that positioned her in the middle of the lobby. She greeted every single person who came into the bank with a smile and a warm welcome. I still have people come up to me today and tell me how much mom influenced their lives. She supported them through a divorce or gave them advice during a pregnancy or was just there to listen when people needed to talk. That is a great quality-listening, and mom has always been a great listener. She nursed my wounds both inside and out and I went off into the world a much better person because of her.

As we celebrate Mother’s Day, we celebrate a bond like no other. Our moms birthed us and cared for us, raised us and sent us out into the world. I am blessed to still have my mother as part of my life. There is no one else like her and there never will be. I wish a Happy Mother’s Day to every mother out there. You deserve this special day.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Ethics are Important in Nonprofits

Ethics are extremely important in nonprofit organizations and for many different reasons. The challenges facing nonprofits today is greater than ever before. This is true with financial, operational and organizational issues. Ethical dilemmas face nonprofits in all three of these areas.

Recently, the United Way of Charlotte was placed under the microscope when the board’s executive committee, unbeknownst to many of the other board members, took nearly $1 million of donor funds and placed it in the retirement account of the CEO. Their explanation was that it was to make up for past commitments. The outcome of this dilemma was not pretty. The chairman of the board and several trustees resigned. The public relations fall out to the United Way of Charlotte was devastating. Their financial campaign was significantly down from the previous year, and the CEO was forced to resign and has since sued the United Way for wrongful termination.

Could this all have been avoided? Yes. First of all, there should be full disclosure among all board members. A commitment of this nature was the first mistake made by the board of trustees. You don’t want to promise things that you will have to pay for later, particularly if it involves a lump sum of nearly $1 million. If a commitment was made to the CEO then an equitable plan should be devised that is fair to the donors, fair to the CEO and protective of the reputation of the United Way.

Trustees are as responsible as staff for the health and well-being of a nonprofit. There should be a code of ethics, conflict of interest statements signed by every board member and other checks and balances in place to protect the integrity of the organization. In addition, the board should appoint a committee to monitor the board’s performance and behavior.

Every nonprofit is beholding to the public trust. When they accept a donation or grant from an individual or group, they have a fiduciary responsibility to protect these funds and use it for its mission and purpose. When one nonprofit falters then it has a very negative impact on other nonprofit organizations in that community. It is without question that nonprofit are, and should be, held to a higher standard. It is the role of the board and staff to insure that protective measures are put in place and certain standards are met continuously. Anything less is a recipe for problems which need to be avoided at all costs.


Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Prayer

Ever since I got on my knees as a youngster and prayed before going to sleep, I have wondered about and witnessed prayer. The power of prayer can often go unnoticed in our every day lives. It is prayer that gives us a sense of comfort, a sense of hope and a feeling of God’s hand and spirit in our lives.

By sharing our feelings through prayer, we open our hearts to God with a spiritual conversation. To me, it is like talking to a family member in the same room. “Hey God, I have a heavy burden and I need to share it with you.” I want to pray not only when prayer is needed but when prayer is a form of sharing and expressing. When my son leaves to drive back to Atlanta, I pray for him. When I visit my Mother in the retirement home, I pray for her. Prayer has become a daily activity and necessity. The day does not feel complete without it.

Whether you pray alone or pray out loud in a group, it is such a valuable message to God. It connects our lives with God’s purpose for us. We often ask for guidance, wisdom, understanding, healing, patience and gratefulness. It is important to me to always thank God for his presence in our lives and for the many gifts he has given me and my family. Sometimes I feel like I am on life’s treadmill and the machine is going faster and faster and it is difficult to keep up. But it helps to take the time to reflect, meditate and pray.

Prayer may be the best stress reliever we have. What prayer can do for our physical, mental and emotional health is pretty astounding not to mention our spiritual health. Many times my prayers are not very eloquent or even not well thought out. But, the fact that they are heartfelt and well-intended gives me comfort and, I believe, is just fine with God.

I think that prayer is the great connector. We have an opportunity to praise God for his goodness, to ask for his forgiveness, to pray for someone in need, to forgive us of our sins, thank him for the gifts he has given us and to keep us safe. Whatever the reason, God is there for us and is always ready to listen.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

What is the profile of today's leader?

The discussion around leadership and what it takes to be a good leader occurs every single day. What are the qualities and expectations of today’s leaders verse those in the past?

First, we must recognize that we live in a very different world today. There are many challenges facing today’s leaders that were not “in play” even five years ago. Jobs are being outsourced, technology and information are instantly accessible and competition is no longer “down the street,” but it is worldwide.

So, leaders today in both the nonprofit and for profit sector have to deal with a lot of variables. For example, raising money or making revenue on the Internet has become a fascinating phenomenon. Leaders have to be much more sophisticated and technologically savvy individuals.

However, leaders today do not have to be a lot different in other ways. There are certain core qualities that are needed to be a successful leader no matter where you are leading and what decade you are leading in.

Here are my top ten core qualities of a leader of an organization:

1. Leaders must build trust with their staff and board or they will never be able to lead at the maximum level.

2. Leaders must be extraordinary communicators. They must communicate effectively with individuals, internal and external stakeholders.

3. Leaders should be humble leaders and, as my grandmother would say, never get “too big for their britches.” Lead by example and knowledge and not by using a heavy hand. Always be fair and sensitive to others.

4. A leader does not spend his or her time being consumed with managing processes and systems. That is management. A leader sees the big picture and provides the strategic thinking needed to take the organization to a different level.

5. Leadership is a combination of ever changing and moving parts. A leader must be flexible, adaptable and accepting of change.

6. A good leader does not have all the answers. There are a lot of great ideas and bright minds that can give great advice and make useful suggestions.

7. A good leader must be willing to get down in the trenches and understand the organization from the ground up. There should be no job too big or too small for a good leader.

8. A good leader should be consistent in their demeanor, attitude and style.

9. A good leader needs to be a good listener. We all grow from listening and learning, no matter who is talking.

10. The leader must always be unselfish and put the mission first. It should never be about the individual leader but that leader is a conduit to success within the overall organization.


Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

Wisdom

As I think about the “doom and gloom” that faces all of us today, I ask myself “what went wrong?” We find ourselves in such a complicated mess that I think the answer to this question is unachievable, at least, in a single response.

To me, it is a combination of many things that has put this nation, our economy and our future at risk. Furthermore, there is an overarching theme that can apply to the problems that have occurred.

“We have lost our moral compass and our wisdom.” We have become a self-centered, greedy and “instant gratification” society and we are now paying the price for it. It starts in our families and transcends into our schools, businesses, government and financial markets. Moreover, I don’t think we as a society, both individually and collectively, are a bit happier today because of our narcissism. I think we are more frustrated and less satisfied. I think we have created a society full of segregated egos and self-indulgence that overshadows the good things people do in society, and there are many people doing good things. And though there are plenty of these wonderful altruistic people in the world, it seems they are in the minority today.

So what is our moral compass? It is the God given wisdom and virtues that each of us possess in our hearts, minds and souls. It is starting every single day not thinking about what I am going to do for myself but what difference can I make in the world in which I live. Can it be that simple? Well, if we all get up tomorrow and our goal is to be honest, unselfish, virtuous, collaborative and sensitive, would it be different than how we viewed our day today? I say “yes.”

I also think if we were a society of people and not things we would be better off. We have become a people of computers, Blackberry’s, cell phones, video games, I-Pods, Tom-Toms, laptops, etc., and I don’t think it has made us any wiser or more moral. I wish we were more about talking face-to-face with people and making more of an effort to simply listen and interact with others “live and in person.” We are a smarter and more sophisticated society today with access to information instantly, but are we wiser? I am not sure that we are.

We must prioritize our lives and make it important to spend quality time with our families, help our neighbors and fellow citizens and do the right thing for others--even if it means personal sacrifice. I believe it is the only real way we will truly recover from the mess we are in. We must be willing to sacrifice and get away from our self-serving greedy attitudes. If we don’t, I truly believe we can expect, and maybe deserve, more doom and gloom in the future.

It is the wisdom and sensibility that exists in each of us that can guide us through these difficult times and make all of our lives more meaningful and, yes, happier.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

Outlying USC Campuses Are Important to Our Future

The recent discussion regarding the closing of some of our outlying University of South Carolina campuses such as Lancaster and Salkehatchie concerns me. It is pretty easy to put a financial number on a facility and determine that by cutting back or closing it money is saved. I think the real issue here is what a decision of this magnitude will have on those communities and on the young people who reside in or near those communities.

When you look at rural South Carolina where poverty runs rampant, it is a whole different scenario than here in the capital city. There are very few educational options for students beyond high school. Many who live in Allendale and other outlying communities are the first in their families to ever attend college. I recently heard USC President Dr. Harris Pastides say that the gap between no college education and a two-year college degree is monumental. It can mean the difference between a job with growth potential, a retirement plan and health benefits versus a job that pays a minimum hourly wage with no benefits and a very limited future for growth.

With only 23% of the adult population in South Carolina, 18 years and older, having earned a four-year degree, having higher education attainable for these residents is a must. These schools give local students a hope for a better future and an opportunity for a better education right in the community where they reside. This is true not only for high school students, but also for younger students in elementary school. It gives them something tangible to strive for as a student. However, the chances of those same students enrolling in the Columbia campus or traveling 50 miles to the closest technical college are slim at best.

In addition, the influence of these schools goes beyond the classroom and earning degrees. They better the community through their libraries, cultural performances and programs to engage and enhance the residents. These schools bring communities together.

Even though we are going through tough economic times, let’s not throw the proverbial baby out with the bath water. Higher education is the stepping stone for our future workforce and yes, our future economy. Public education in South Carolina has been dismal for years, and I applaud the work of State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex’s effort to raise quality and overall standards for students so they can learn in a better environment and learn from teachers that have all the tools necessary to teach effectively.

But to now reduce the opportunities for extended education beyond high school, particularly in low-income communities, would be a mistake. We have to be sensible with our resources, and I realize that tough decisions must be made in state government with regard to costs and budget shortfalls. However, the last thing I would do is close any college campus in an outlying area. The minimal savings (less than 1% of the state’s higher education budget) that would occur would pale in comparison to the devastation it would have on these rural communities, and it will send a strong message to its young residents and also older working residents that want to go back and continue their education. “We don’t think getting an education beyond high school is that important.”

We already have one corridor of shame with our public schools in the I-95 corridor. Let’s not create a second corridor of shame for higher education, because to me, it will truly mean we are headed in the wrong direction.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

The One Grant

Since the Foundation’s inception in 1996, there have been over 1,300 grant awards made to hundreds of organizations across South Carolina. Actually, the Foundation has awarded grants in every single county in the state. There have been very large grants and very small grants. Some have served large populations and some have served a small group of people. Several have been very strategic and systemic and others have been to deal with consequences and meeting basic needs of those living in poverty.

I have often been asked which grant made the biggest impact on me personally. That is a difficult question because so many good people are doing tremendous work and I value the hundreds and hundreds of nonprofit organizations and their people who serve others. It is one of the most rewarding parts of our Foundation ministry to me.

But back to the question about one grant. Well, yes there is one grant and grantee that changed my life in an instant. It came unexpectedly and it came quickly.

Back in the late 1990’s, I had a call from the mayor of Ravenel, South Carolina. Ravenel is a small town about 15 miles south of Charleston on Highway 17, also known as Savannah Highway. There is not much to see in Ravenel and most people see it by passing through it on their way to Charleston. The mayor told me about a lady named Claudia Bing who ran a small nonprofit called Caregivers for Individuals with Disabilities and she thought I should visit Ms. Bing to learn more about her work.

I had to be in Charleston the next week so I made arrangements to travel to Ravenel. I did not know what to expect and I wondered if this was going to be a worthwhile trip. The directions I was given was to go to Ravenel and look for the fireworks store in the middle of town on Highway 17, then drive behind the fireworks store to a double-wide mobile home. That is where I would find Ms. Bing. I followed the directions and sure enough I found the location.

It was a modest standard double-wide. As I parked and walked up to the house, I noticed a wheelchair ramp and a van with a lift. I also saw a couple of oxygen tanks on the wooden porch at the entrance. I knocked on the door and Ms. Bing greeted me.

Ms. Bing is a soft spoken older African-American lady and she welcomed me into her home. The first thing I saw was a younger white female in a wheelchair. I then saw another young man also in a wheelchair who was severely handicapped. There was another young adult in a hospital bed and he was very ill. I did not know what to think. I asked Ms. Bing, “What do you do here and what is your ministry?”

Ms. Bing replied, “I care for dying children. These are children that nobody else wants because they have terminal illnesses and have fallen through the foster care system, orphanages, etc. They have no family that wants them.”

I was speechless. Ms. Bing then took me by the hand and led me to her living room where there was a large framed picture collage. It had about 30 pictures in it. She said, “These are my children that I cared for that have passed on.” She began to name them one by one. “This was Cynthia; she was with me for 14 months and died of leukemia. This is Jason; he was with me for three years and died of brain cancer. This was Lawrence; he was with me for two years and died of cystic fibrosis.” She went through each picture one by one and told me their story.

I was beyond overwhelmed by this point. I asked Ms. Bing, “Why do you do this? Isn’t the pain of dealing with a child who is terminally ill a terrible thing and here you are by yourself carrying this heavy load? Tell me why?”

I will never forget her words. Ms. Bing looked me straight in the eye and said, “This is not hard at all. This is my calling. God has given me a gift and I am using it to my full ability. I don’t have a lot of money or material things but I do have a lot of love and I give it each and every day.” She went on to say, “my mission is to love these children and make them feel loved and when it is their time to pass, I will hand each one of them off to God and they will have been loved, valued, blessed and cared for. That is what I do.”

I left Claudia Bing’s home that day a different person. She had just taught me some of the most valuable lessons in life in a single hour. It was real clear and real simple to me. Claudia Bing was one of the richest people I had ever met and for all the right reasons. She received a grant from the Foundation and that is the one grant that changed my life the most.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

Now What?

A plant near my hometown closed today. Nearly 700 jobs lost in an instant. The plant had been operating in the community for over 50 years. Now it is gone forever. What does it do to that community of 3,000 people? It does everything to it and none of it is good. The repercussions will include store closings, home foreclosures, default on personal loans, long unemployment lines and an overall community that will be devastated beyond recognition. Worse than that, this is just one community in one small state. If you multiply this situation times 1,000 then you get a better picture of what is happening.

We are in deep trouble in this country and it is not getting better in the foreseeable future. Can the government resolve our problems with stimulus money? It may help some, but it will not fix the problems we have. We are now witnessing the consequences of systemic problems that have been going on for years. A propped up financial system, poor loan practices, far too much debt to capital ratio and we are spending money we never had - both as individuals and as a country. We are the “want” generation and not the “need” generation and it is all tumbling down right in our proverbial laps.

Now what? I can tell you one thing; it is a pretty helpless feeling out there. People’s retirement funds have gone down the drain. Homeowners have lost value in their homes by the thousands. Jobs are dropping by the way side at a rate of more than 100,000 per week and state and local governments and school systems are on the brink of bankruptcy.

My advice is to protect your own families and finances as best you can while reaching out to others. There are a lot of people hurting and we have to help.

I was stopped at a gas station in Charlotte this week and a man came up to me and explained he was trying to get home to Asheville and did not have any money to put in his gas tank. He had a clunker car pulled up to the pumps, and he showed me the dollar in change he had. I went inside told the cashier to set his pump for $5 worth of gas and he added his money for a total of $6. It wasn’t much, but it got him on his way.

Help when you can. You may be feeling pain, but there are always others that are suffering more than we are.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

Mission Impossible?

The clock strikes twelve on New Year’s Eve. For a lot of people it is a time of celebration; it is a time for champagne, confetti and Dick Clark. However, there is another reality to the beginning of the new year. It is a tough time for many nonprofit and faith-based organizations trying to raise money and to regroup. It is a time of anxiousness and feelings of fear and distress with so many unanswered questions about the coming year. What do we do? Where do we go to raise money? How can we fulfill or mission? How can we keep our doors open and pay our staff? Where do we start?

Yes, January 1, 2009, did represent the start of a new year which also means the fund-raising budget has been rolled back to zero. It is now a clean slate with all new goals and expectations. The anxiety we feel is understandable. We have just come off the worst financial year in our lifetime. The Dow Jones average was down 36% and NASDAQ 40% and both indicators are down from that number so far this year. People by the hundreds of thousands have lost their jobs, lost their homes, lost savings and lost retirement income. We have borrowed our way into a financial quagmire and each and every one of us is affected by it - either personally or professionally.

It is pretty easy to feel hopelessness. It is pretty easy to feel uneasy and it is pretty clear that 2009 is going to be more than difficult, thus the topic and title of this blog: Mission Impossible. These two words should really have a question mark behind it as the two words really need to ask the question, “Mission Impossible?” This can have more than one meaning. Is carrying out our mission impossible under the current economic conditions? Or is the mission to raise the necessary funds to sustain our organization through tough times impossible? Both are important and both are difficult questions to answer.

In my opinion, it depends. It depends on a lot of factors. It depends on a certain amount of luck and it depends on a whole lot of creativity, ingenuity and sweat equity on the part of nonprofits. It is also the time for self evaluation and organization evaluation. You must ask yourselves some tough questions; what happens if my organization goes away today or tomorrow? Nobody wants to consider these questions, but we must.

First let’s think about it another way. Don’t you think that now is the time to call in all your favors? Now is the time to have a plan that is different than previous plans and techniques. Now is the time to take a different path and strategy than ever taken before. You may think that this is all well and good, but what exactly does that mean? I’ll tell you what it means to me in the form of a question: “What if?”

What if?
What if philanthropy ramped up full force and advocated for federal assistance for our nonprofit organizations as part of the economic stimulus package currently being considered? It seems likely; every group has been considered (financial institutions, small businesses, the automotive industry, and manufacturing). Why don’t we really push for the nonprofit sector? What if we pull out all the stops to contact every member of congress, the new presidential team and anyone else that can help? I believe the time is now to include nonprofit organizations in the stimulus package. We have unprecedented volume of requests for assistance during these times.

The Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009 is broad and is intended to jumpstart the economy. We must also insure that in addition to helping with emergency food and shelter, community services and community development, we make finds available for nonprofits to get emergency bridge loans to stay afloat or to deal with severe cash flow problems. We just spent $350 billion on the financial sector and we are not sure where it went. Now, let’s spend $15 billion on the nonprofit sector and save services that need to continue now more than ever and save those important nonprofit jobs. Action is now needed.

What if?
What if you reached every person who has ever given to your organization since its inception and asked then to give again this year and give a little more?

What if?
What if we were able to mobilize a new group of givers who have never been asked but can give some funds at some level?

What if? What if community service becomes the hallmark of this country and this state, and we are able to energize a whole new cadre of volunteers to give time, talent and even money to your cause?

What if?
What if each board member gave two or three of four times more than they have given before and 100% of your board members gave something and they ask 10 of their friends to give something?

What if?
What if somebody who has been touched by your organization knows somebody of wealth and they are enthralled by the passion and enthusiasm of this person that they chose to give a large gift knowing the circumstances your organization faces at this point in time?

What if?
What if somebody who knows your organization organizes a golf tournament, bowling event, gala, town’s largest garage sale or something else to benefit your organization?

What if?
What if the Civitans, Rotarians, Kiwanis, Masons, Elks, Lions, Moose, Optimist Clubs, church youth groups, senior groups and every other organization considered helping your organization in some small way?

What if? What if the local bank, insurance company, doctor, lawyer, local business or business person gave something, anything during these times?

What if?
What if the local printer donated one order or the office supply company donated one box of paper and the other vendors each of us work with gave something?

What if? What if somebody’s grandmother or another person passes away after a long and fruitful life and left just a portion of their estate to your organization?

What if?
What if you partnered with an organization you have previously viewed as your competitor and your partnership saves money and delivers services in a more efficient manner?

What if?
What if the only way your services can continue at all is to merge with another organization with a like mission and similar purpose?

What if?
And what if the ultimate answer is, we just can’t make it?

I am saying try everything you can now and don’t give up. But you must do things differently and think differently. Tighten your belt. Yes, prepare for difficult times. Yes, do more with less. And yes, be willing to make more sacrifices than you care to think about.

There are hundreds of opportunities and thousands of ways to involve people who can give, get, work or support. It is the fundamental principle we have always operated under during good times and bad times in the nonprofit sector. It is the same principle we must operate under today only with more passion, perseverance, gusto and every other emotion we can muster. There are nearly 335 days left in 2009. Don’t waste one of them. Don’t waste an hour and don’t waste a minute.

Make a plan. Be creative. Be willing to take a different approach. Don’t be afraid to ask people you have never asked before to help. Don’t be afraid to go back to those who have helped in the past and ask for more help. And do it with every singe ounce of passion and God-given ability you have.

You see, the mission is not impossible at all. The opportunities are there. You just have to make what seems impossible – possible. In his book “The Soul of Politics,” Jim Wallace writes, “Hope unbelieved is considered nonsense. But hope believed is history in the process of being changed.”

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.