Monthly articles from President and CEO Marnie Taylor, published in the Journal Record and online.
I had the absolute privilege of attending Philanthropy Southwest’s 76th annual conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico, this past week with 550 other professionals. The conference, themed ‘Unity in Action,’ is held each year to foster collaboration in the Southwestern philanthropic... Continue Reading
You don’t have to look very far to recognize that we are currently in election season. Driving down the road, you will see candidate signs in yards. There are ads on television and in your email boxes every day. The conversation is everywhere—on the news, social media and even at the... Continue Reading
On August 17, we celebrated National Nonprofit Day, a day dedicated to acknowledging the profound impacts nonprofits have on our communities and the outstanding work they provide year-round. While this celebration occurs just once a year, the contributions of the nonprofit sector are felt daily,... Continue Reading
The nonprofit sector is a place to serve and solve problems. It brings together community leaders, lawmakers, academics and volunteers to create positive change in our communities. For nearly 70 years, a provision in the federal tax code Section 501(c)(3), known as the Johnson Amendment, has... Continue Reading
Nonprofits across Oklahoma are crunching the numbers and adjusting their budgets to comply with a new federal salary rule. Starting July 1st, the minimum an employee must earn to be exempt from being paid overtime is increasing from $35,308 to $43,888. On January 1, 2025, the salary threshold will... Continue Reading
This week Oklahoma lost a leader of law, energy, philanthropy, and service. Ray Potts, the patriarch of the Potts family, passed surrounded by his adoring family. I know I join a chorus of others when I say that he and his immense heart will be missed. Words cannot adequately describe a life as... Continue Reading
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
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
