State lawmakers have the unenviable responsibility of creating next year’s budget and deciding how Oklahoma’s resources will be allocated. Although the numbers in the headlines – numbers with the word “billions” behind them – appear enormous at the onset, when... Continue Reading
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Unlike some sectors known for poor gender parity, the nonprofit space is brimming with an inordinate amount of strong, talented women. According to studies, 75% of nonprofit professionals are female, but climbing the career ladder isn’t easy. Even though we account for three out of every... Continue Reading
With two wars raging overseas and a political battle boiling over here at home, we are inundated with messages of hatred, brutality and incivility. Vicious debates about ideology are dividing our country, leaving us weakened by our own discord. Embracing our humanity amid an increasingly inhumane... Continue Reading
Oklahoma’s thousands of unique nonprofits play an essential role in spurring social change and addressing some of our most difficult societal issues. Homelessness, food insecurity, child abuse, education and critical medical services are just some of the systemic problems nonprofits tackle... Continue Reading
Justice. Kindness. Humility. Three words that, in my mind, characterize one person – Debby Hampton. After a more than 30-year career in the nonprofit sector, Debby recently decided to retire from her role as CEO of the United Way of Central Oklahoma. Her storied career of service is marked... Continue Reading
Oklahomans are an independent, self-sufficient people. History books are littered with stories of the strength and resilience of our ancestors. Their spirit of autonomy shines through in our most cherished values and ideals. As Oklahomans, we still believe in and work for the American Dream, which... Continue Reading
We’ve all seen the statistics. We’re familiar with the lackluster outcomes. We all know where Oklahoma falls in the rankings. Our state has a lot to overcome. But where do we even start? While I consider that question, the words of the late President John F. Kennedy ring in my head,... Continue Reading
As natural disasters displace thousands across the country and many parents are settling into an empty nest for the first time, I am reminded of the importance of home. Acting as a place of refuge and respite, home serves as our still point in the constantly turning world, as T.S. Eliot writes.... Continue Reading
At the intersection of nonprofits and change lies advocacy. While many nonprofits work on the front lines of society’s largest issues, fewer attempt to address the problems’ systemic causes through public policy advocacy efforts. A new Independent Sector study finds that only 31% of... Continue Reading
The way we see the world can change over the course of a lifetime or in an instant. It can shift intentionally or unconsciously. The one constant is that the perspective we use to view our world and experiences directly correlates with our happiness. After working in the nonprofit sector for many... Continue Reading
When I use the word “nonprofit” in my monthly article, many people probably think of a food bank, an arts center, or maybe an education center. Rarely do they think about Oklahoma’s various houses of worship. However, the largest – and most overlooked – part of the... Continue Reading
Former President Teddy Roosevelt famously said, “It is not the critic who counts … The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.” However, technology and social media gives critics a higher platform and louder microphone than ever before. From food to sports to... Continue Reading