Urban Views Weekly November 9, 2016 by Urban Views Weekly

Nov. 9, 2016

Scholar of the Week - Kendall Smith

Millennials

and the almighty dollar

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Civic Beat FUNdraising Good Times

Don’t wait until everyone resigns: three ways to retain staff and board members

“Nobody taught us how to go out and fundraise.” – Former board member.

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TanyaFree.com/ Urban Views Weekly Poll The 2016 presidential election is finally over, and it’s time to recover from our campaign fatigue. Did you vote?

“After my experience at this organization, I am no longer interested in working in fundraising.” – Former fundraising professional.

the common complaint. Yet board members do have a fiduciary responsibility to the nonprofit organizations they govern. Take the time to learn the level of fundraising skill that each member possesses, and match these to your fundraising strategies. The same is true with staff. “Take the time No one should be charged with in the to learn the level money“bringing – no questions of fundraising skill asked.” That is not a winning strategy.

We heard each of these statements during the past week. These are not uncommon sentiments. However, they are not that each member frequently voiced before possesses...” people reach their The board member we breaking point. With heard from last week said this column, we share he made the required three proactive steps your organization gift and then resigned. He didn’t share can take to support board members and his reasons for removing himself with the fundraising professionals. board president. The nonprofit lost a board member without gaining insight into how to Provide coaching and opportunities to prevent the situation from repeating itself. learn. This is important for both board members and fundraising professionals. Provide leadership. An executive director, When board members are “told” they are president or CEO needs to lead the responsible for making a personal gift and organization and hold people accountable. raising a specific amount of money, they That means they need to know fundraising can be put off by what they perceive as a as well as the roles and responsibilities of mandate. “I didn’t sign up to fundraise” is board members and continues to page 11

What’s your take? How do you feel about the outcome? Check out the story and respond to this week’s poll at TanyaFree.com and the Urban Views Weekly FACEBOOK Page. Listen to the Tanya Free and Friends Talk Show Wednesdays @ 2pm on WCLM1450AM streaming LIVE @ TanyaFree.com and BlackTalkRadioNetwork.com. You can now watch us LIVE at TanyaFree.com and ustream.tv

Urban Views Weekly | November 9, 2016

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Richmond Native, Angela Patton, Honored at the White House Richmond native Angela Patton, Chief Executive Officer of Girls For A Change and the founder of CAMP DIVA, was honored as a White House “Champion of Change” for Extracurricular Enrichment for Marginalized Girls and Girls of Color in September of 2016. Read their story next week in Urban Views 11/16 Edition and how the community can support this hometown organization.

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Urban Views Weekly | November 9, 2016

ViewPoints

A Good Name…what’s it worth? A good name speaks to your trustworthiness and your integrity. A good name represents your character and reputation, even to those who don’t know you personally. Are you an ethical person? Do you have a moral compass that grounds you and anchors the decisions that you make because they have to measure up to a certain principled standard? When your name is mentioned in public, what do people think about you? There’s a Bible verse in Proverbs that says “A good name is to be more desired than great riches …” Is it true that a good name is better than riches? Do people value your name in the way they value money or wealth? What do people think about you when your name comes up in conversation?

“A good name is to be more desired than great riches…”

As we grew up, many of us heard our parents say, “don’t ruin our good name!” A good family name always represented a solid reputation and had real value within communities large and small. Businesses were built on the reputation and standing of a good family name, and big risks were often taken on unproven and unknown individuals based solely on the solid evidence of personal integrity and a character that someone could vouch for. Unfortunately, it appears times have changed and the things that used to matter so much seem to be less important than the trappings of wealth, fame and excess. In the age of the information highway, social media memes and 140 character tweets, the anonymity of the Internet and façade that many people live behind have made a good name less important than it once was in years past. Fame and recognition are the opioids that ignite the passion of the contemporary class. They don’t Spiritual Music is our Specialty

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seem to care about facts or even truth. When it comes to integrity and reputation, there appears to be almost nothing and no one that a well orchestrated social media marketing campaign can’t rehabilitate when attempting to promote a so-called “good reputation.” And these days, there’s almost nothing an individual cannot overcome in their personal character or reputation by constructing a façade of success, money, wealth and fame built on the flimsiest of foundations; they “spin a tale” for themselves that overpowers any lack they may have, shortfalls or missteps they may have taken in their past. Indiscretions and intentional harm, hurt and victimization inflicted on others can be put behind these flawed individuals almost instantly by whipping up a good media campaign and putting out a slew of surrogate mouthpieces that will vouch for this “new character” that the mega marketing machine has built.

People are so gullible and, unfortunately, in these contemporary insta-fact and faux news network times, we have created a culture of complacent ignorance. Intellectual curiosity has been severely diminished. There is a lack of research employed, facts don’t seem to matter, and whoever is talking the most and the loudest becomes the dominant voice in the room. People seem to have lost the ability to measure and evaluate what is repeated to them as fact when it is often a “conjured spell” based on a deceptively constructed narrative using distortion and false equivalency to remake or build a reputation for an individual who Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, Ph.D. hasn’t built that reputation for themselves. There Founder and Artistic Director are those who DO NOT have a good name or The Conciliation Project and Associate Professor a good reputation. They have money. One is Virginia Commonwealth University temporal, relative and will pass away, while the DrT@Margins2theCenter.com | www.theconciliationproject.org other will last forever.

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Urban Views Weekly | November 9, 2016

Funny Abo

How Millennials Can Se Throughout history, each generation held their own views about money, financial success, and the timeline needed to acquire it all. The Greatest Generation, marked by those born in 1946 and before, typically held staunch ideas about gender roles— the man brought home the proverbial bacon, and the woman cooked it for their family. Such a dynamic made for a stable, fulfilled life for the entire household. Moving into later generations, we begin to see more women buckling their briefcases and earning a paycheck of their own, allowing the burden of financial stability and financial literacy to fall onto both husband and wife. Women played a more active role in their household, including whose name was on the deed. Baby Boomers’ ideas of success was also rooted in stability, both for themselves and their children. Over the years, though, the desire for and understanding of true financial stability has changed, and recent generations find themselves in times much different than their parents. The “American Dream,” for many young adults, not only seems unattainable, but they’ve begun to reshape what that actually means. Millennials, in particular, find themselves in a relatively tough spot. The lives their parents lived is not only harder to attain due to a change in the housing market and job stability at an all-time low, but the cost of both education and living is at an alltime high while income remains stagnant. Understanding this, it’s no surprise that their lives are centered more on instant gratification than lofty goals like saving money, homeownership, and retirement. In fact, millennials are marked as the first generation to demand fulfillment from their chosen careers, often 6

Urban Views Weekly | November 9, 2016

bidding adieu to their dreadful desk jobs in search of something more meaningful. Sometimes that “something meaningful” comes in the form of a lower-paying job at a mission-driven nonprofit organization, and for some, it means backpacking across a foreign land. They’re also willing to put off having children, more invested in the idea of “living their dreams” and securing their dream job, no matter how long it takes them. Because of the housing market, you’ll find many in their late-twenties and early thirties living with roommates, saving money on rent in more expensive cities. The bottom line? Millennials’ relationship with the almighty dollar has changed tremendously. Their sense of fulfillment isn’t as tied to how much money they make during their lifetime, but rather the experiences they gain along the way. It’s crucial, though, that this generation understands that saving is possible, and a stable future doesn’t have to be ruled out because desires and opportunities aren’t the same as their parents and grandparents. Yes, in the midst of their latte buying and weekend getaways, millennials can achieve financial stability and live their own “American Dream.” Jimmette Jones, Richmond lifestyle blogger behind the popular site JandMikeJones. com, uses her platform to cover all aspects of financial literacy for her generation. Jones encourages her readers to cut costs wherever possible in order to maximize their income, no matter

“Millennials’ relationship has changed tremendously isn’t as tied to how muc how large or small their salary. In a post titled “5 Things I Stopped Wasting Money On,” she provides multiple solutions to frivolous spending, like cutting out the luxury of drinking expensive lattes and opting to brew coffee at home instead. She also suggests examining your bank statement to see how frequent restaurant visits impact your spending in contrast to cooking at home. While many bemoan the thought of sacrificing beloved pumpkin spiced lattes and Taco Tuesday at Wong Gonzalez, Jones ensures her

out Money

ecure Financial Success

p with the almighty dollar y. Their sense of fulfillment ch money they make...” audience that with proper planning, making the transition won’t be as dreadful as they may expect. “I turned it into a lifestyle fairly quickly, actually,” she says. “I repurposed my budget with a goal. I didn’t just decide one day to start saving more money; I had a very specific reason for this change. Because I knew my goal and what was needed to achieve it, it didn’t take long before I stopped swiping my card on certain things.” While her site delves into tips about saving money on a smaller

By Janna M. Hall

scale, Jones covers reaching long-term goals many millennials don’t believe is a reality for them in 2016. Recently, she discussed the financial plans she and her husband put in place to become homeowners at just 27 years old.

for them further down the road. Younger generations tend to obsess over purchases of the day. They’re so excited to finally have their own money that material things are made a priority. But you have to rein it in.”

“Aside from making minor adjustments to our budget, we were very much in tune with what we could afford in the housing market,” Jones explains. “It was very important for us to know our financial status. This can be achieved by developing a personal goal, but ultimately consulting with a mortgage broker. They have the ability to tell you what you can comfortably afford and what is necessary to secure a home loan. From there, we were very strategic and aggressive in our saving.”

Jiles suggests setting a realistic budget with realistic goals, and choosing to invest. Admittedly, many young people struggle with saving because the idea of money sitting dormant in an account is far less attractive. As a solution, Jiles recommends investing money into an account that grows over time.

Her journey to homeownership is something she speaks candidly about on both her website and Instagram page, empowering others to make small, but necessary sacrifices in order to live a more fruitful life. Will Jiles, Operations Manager with Capitol Securities Management, also agrees that making sacrifices now will not only ensure a stable future full of luxuries millennials want in the moment, but a long-term savings plan makes retirement—a life event that many millennials don’t plan for—a reality. Those sacrifices include “paying yourself first,” or putting aside money each paycheck into an account that can’t be easily accessed.

“I work with some young people who say, ‘my goal is to buy a drone’, or my goal is to buy a purse’,” he says. “I stress to them that if they take the $500 they’ll spend on those things and put it in a Roth IRA and let it grow unencumbered by federal or state taxes, by the time they’re 65, that money will be worth enough to buy multiple drones and multiple Kate Spade purses. At some point, you have to look at your future and get out of ‘the now’. Don’t purchase a car that you can’t pay off in three years. Don’t buy that Mercedes; buy a Honda.”

Enjoying the luxuries of “the now” is what has so many young people discouraged about saving, in the dark about investments, and ambivalent about Will Jiles retirement. They’ve viewed the lives older “By and large, when you’re in your twenties, you don’t generations live as unattainable, and deny themselves want to think about being at retirement age,” Jiles explains. the opportunity for true financial security. The days of “But older generations have to be more forthcoming with guaranteed pensions are gone, and younger generations information for millennials about what money has to do are put in the driver’s seat of their continues on page 9 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

The Deal

By Nathaniel Sillin

How a Little Work Could Lead to Over $1,000 in Savings How long would it take you to earn an extra $1,000? Contrary to what spam and internet ads tell us, after taking taxes and deductions into account, it’s not an easy task. But you might be able to save over a thousand dollars with a little work. The key is to decrease or eliminate unnecessary recurring expenses.

Some accounts waive fees as long as you maintain a minimum balance, and there often isn’t an ATM fee for withdrawing money from an in-network ATM or getting cash back when making a purchase. There are also checking accounts that refund ATM fees at the end of each month. There can be advantages and disadvantages to any account; read the terms of your checking and saving account agreements to understand when, and why, you may need to pay a fee.

You can use the savings to build up an emergency fund or invest them for important long-term goals, such as travel or retirement. Additionally, a savings safety cushion can help keep an unexpected setback from ballooning into a financial crisis, such as a broken down car or the loss of a job leading to debt. First, identify savings opportunities. You may want to start by connecting your bank and credit card accounts to budgeting software, or uploading previous months’ statements and categorize purchases. You’ll get a quick snapshot of your finances, which can help you identify savings opportunities and get a sense of how much money is on the line. Cancel services and regularly negotiate rates – save over $100 a month. “Cord cutting” is a popular and simple way to save money. Rather than pay for cable or satellite TV, you might choose to cancel your service and opt for lower-cost entertainment options.

A successful call could lower your bill by $20 a month or more, saving you a couple hundred dollars a year. A few tips: ask for the cancellation department and request the business match a competitor’s lower price or give you the current promotional rate. Don’t be afraid to try again if you’re not successful – it can take several attempts to connect with a representative who will work with you.

Avoid bank fees – save over $10 a month. Occasionally paying to withdraw money from an ATM or paying fees for a low-balance checking account might not seem like If you don’t want to eliminate services entirely, you could a big deal, but the money adds up. Two ATM fees and a try to negotiate rates with your cable or internet providers. checking-account fee could cost you over $10.

Urban Views Weekly | November 9, 2016

Shop for insurance discounts – you might be able to save over 20 percent on your premiums each month. Use online comparison tools to quickly and easily get quotes on auto, renters, homeowners and other types of insurance. Compare the rates, coverage and insurance companies to see if switching makes sense for you. Ask your agent about potential savings if you decide to stick with your current insurer. You might be eligible for discounts you aren’t receiving because the information on file doesn’t reflect your current situation. If not, there are usually discounts for simple purchases, such as a fire extinguisher for your home or an anti-theft device for your car. Buy products that more than pay for themselves – save hundreds each year. Sometimes you need to spend money to save money. Buying Continues to Page 11

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President proclaims November 2016 to be National Entrepreneurship Month The Central Virginia African American Chamber of Commerce is proud to stand with President Barack Obama to support and celebrate his proclamation that the month of November will be recognized as National Entrepreneurship Month. President Obama proclaimed that “During National Entrepreneurship Month, we celebrate the entrepreneurs who serve their communities and bolster our economy, and we pledge our support for them in their pursuit of the ideas and innovations of tomorrow.” The mission of the Central Virginia African American Chamber of Commerce is to strengthen the community by supporting and promoting the recycling of dollars within the African American community.

Millennials from page 7

own future. It’s important that they heed the counsel of older generations to get started on the right path.

are us, so we’re reaching back and talking to them, because we’re really talking to ourselves. We’re saying save your money; don’t do the crazy things we did with money at those times. We want youth to grasp the ideas about saving and investing so you don’t have to struggle the way many of us do today. Take our advice.”

The chamber’s founder and CEO, Ervin Clarke “All of us older cats were twenty-something stated “Our mission reflects the purpose and once,” Jiles explains. “We alway say, ‘if need for the recognition of entrepreneurs and I knew then what I know now, I’d be a the small business owners that we work with millionaire’ . And the truth is, millennials and spend with daily. We take this mission seriously, and work on behalf of businesses in the African American community as they Birthdays • Anniversaries • Weddings • Funerals grow and thrive. Our chamber membership is comprised of a variety of talented, innovative, and successful entrepreneurs. We celebrate each of them. Every day, we support entrepreneurs and work to foster an environment of growth. During this month, however, we put greater emphasis on the entrepreneurs and small business owners who are the backbone of our community.”

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Urban Views Weekly | November 9, 2016

Scholar of the Week

By Janeal Downs

With so many interests inside and outside of school, one thing Kendall Smith is passionate about is giving back. “I can instill in others what I’ve been taught, to be selfless and not selfish,” Kendall said about why she enjoys giving back and volunteering in her community. Not only does she work to stay selfless while she is still in high school, but also in the future as she prepares to go to college and study to become a doctor.

Kendall Smith

of Richmond Community High School GPA: 4.67 College of Interest: Howard University Major Community Service: ASCV, Shalom Baptist Fellowship Church and JEB Stuart Elementary School Strong Interests: Biology and health sciences Favorite Activities: Hanging out with friends, shopping, spending time with family

she is “able to touch someone else’s life while also being touched.” With all of these activities, Kendall currently maintains a 4.67 GPA. Her academic strength and passion to give back has encouraged her to pursue higher education and pursue degrees in biology or in the health sciences. Throughout her life, math and science have always been her favorite subjects. Because of this, she has always wanted to be a doctor. After participating in a program with VCU Health Sciences, Kendall was reassured that this was the field she wanted to pursue. “We got to work closely with different medical fields and it just reinsured my passion for medicine and it also incorporates me helping others, which I’m very passionate about,” Kendall said.

Currently a senior in high school, Kendall volunteers at a variety of places. One of her favorite places is with the Autism Society of Central Virginia. With ASCV, she works closely with the children and assists the organization in hosting activities such as Lego builds, ice cream races and bowling. For years, Kendall volunteers with her Kendall particularly wants to study to church, Shalom Baptist Fellowship Church. become an obstetrician and eventually With the church she has volunteered at open her own private practice. Her top nursing homes, fed the homeless and also ™ college of choice is Howard University in k e e helped teach and lead vacation Bible Study. of the W Washington D.C. Howard’s medical program She also volunteers as a teacher’s assistant and pleasant atmosphere attracted her to the at JEB Stuart Elementary School where she university. One lesson she will take with her tutors children in math and social studies from high school to college is that “even though something may not among other assignments. work the first time, there’s always something better in store.” Not only does Kendall work hard to stay involved in the community, As she pursues her goals, Kendall gives a special thanks to her but she also stays active with school organizations by serving as a member of FBLA, Mu Alpha Theta, Key Club, the softball team and school for offering amazing opportunities. She also thanks her mother, who she named as one of her biggest inspirations. “I see her more. One of her favorite extracurricular activities is cheerleading working hard every day just so my sister and I can have the things for Thomas Jefferson High School. “Cheerleading has always been that we desire and I see that even though some things may not go an outlet for me,” Kendall stated in an essay. “When I am cheering her way, she doesn’t let that stop her,” Kendall said. One thing she I no longer feel the weight of my educational responsibilities. Also, cheerleading has contributed to my confidence level.” Not only does wants the community to know about her is that she will always give she cheer, but dancing with her church’s Inspirational Arts Ministry back to those in need and “even when all odds are against me I will for six years is also an activity she uses as an outlet. Through dance, still prosper and meet every goal that I set for myself.”

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Urban Views Weekly | November 9, 2016

Do you know a High School Senior who can meet the following criteria?

1. Have a 3.0 grade point average or better 2. Participates in extracurricular community service activities 3. Attends public school in Central Virginia Go to UrbanViewsWeekly.com for application and details.

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Classifieds

The Deal from page 8

FUNdraising from page 2

staff. The executive needs to ensure board members don’t take charge of operations, directing staff on what to do. Likewise, they need to hold staff accountable for reaching agreed upon goals. Note the phrase “agreed upon.” No one can mandate anything to anyone and expect smooth results. Fundraising professionals know their responsibilities and are often eager to expand these. At the same time, they know that they are not miracle workers. They need the involvement of board members, the executive, and local stakeholders. The fundraising professional we talked with last week was exasperated by how he was treated by the board. His work was not respected, the constraints he was operating under were not acknowledged, and he was publicly humiliated. That is not a program for retaining professionals.

a coffee maker for your home is the cliché example, but that doesn’t mean it’s without merit. Purchasing a water pitcher with a filter rather than bottled water can also lead to immediate savings. Other purchases are long-term investments. It might take months to break even after buying LED bulbs or upgrading your appliances to energyefficient models, but after that you could save money on your utility bill each month. Bottom line. Start your savings effort as soon as possible and you can build

your emergency fund, a safety net that can help you avoid stressing about potential financial setbacks. Lowering your monthly cable bill will lead to almost instant savings, while making an investment in energy-efficient appliances will pay off after months or years. Add it all up and in the end you could find that just a bit of effort leads to over $1,000 in annual savings. It’s a great start.

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Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www.twitter. com/PracticalMoney.

Know your roles and responsibilities and fulfill them. Board members and fundraising professionals have distinct responsibilities. They need to work together, but each needs to understand his or her own role. Staff focuses on managing and implementing strategy and people; board members focus on policy, in addition to cultivating and soliciting major gifts. The fundraising plan should outline roles and responsibilities for staff and board. Neither should be insulted by professional development opportunities such as coaching, workshops, strategy sessions, and role playing. Our guidance: Work from a plan and stay in your lane; don’t take over other people’s responsibilities. Copyright 2016 – Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl Shaw are authors of the new book FUNdraising Good Times Classics Vol. 1 now available on Amazon.com. For help growing your fundraising visit

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