More than 50 people have shared their love story with Frederick with Federated Charities as part of our Love Locks project. Check out recent coverage from the Frederick News Post!
You Can Be a LOCK Star!
Federated Charities launches a new public art initiative today. Modeled after the Love Locks on bridges in cities like Paris and New York, this hyper local project #LoveLocksFrederick is both a fundraiser and will become part of the Downtown streetscape. Architects use the term “third space” to denote places that are neither home nor work but that contribute to overall community well being. The 2024 renovation/restoration of the courtyard belonging to the Federated Charities Nonprofit Center will coherently blend two distinct historic properties and improve accessibility and safety for the community. Love Locks Frederick is our love letter to Frederick and a way for the community to contribute to the development of a new and beautiful third space. The project launches on Wednesday October 16th and every dollar raised will be matched. The full press release is below…
To become part of the #LoveLocksFrederick project, click here for more information
You LOCK!
2023 Annual Impact Statement
Our themes in 2023 were to invest, develop and preserve the work of nonprofits in our community. To those ends, we invested in an additional layer of free space through our Incubate+ program. We helped nonprofits develop programs and activities and we continue to build out our spaces so they work for the people who work here. Moving into 2024, we have an additional 5 infrastructure projects planned, including a front garden restoration and renovation. Things are moving at Federated Charities and we’re meeting the evolving work needs of community based organizations.
Open AI and Nonprofit Practice
Wondering how nonprofits like ours are using ChatGPT and other open AI systems? First, you’re going to have to take a look at each of these pictures because all 4 of them were created with open AI using a series of prompts about black dogs (like #CharityDogFrederick) and just seeing what happened. Obviously we weren’t very good at this until the 4th time we tried and ended up with the black dog using crutches. But the point is that Federated Charities and other nonprofits are using the technology in their organizations and like the rest of us, wondering what it means for our practice. According to a Forbes article from 2021, there are several practical applications for AI in our sector, including helping us with the kinds of tasks that are repetitive and take attention away from programs. Higher efficiency in the nonprofit space leads to greater impact, and less time spent on time consuming administrative tasks means more resources for mission-based services. As a nonprofit center, we can relate to that philosophy. Many organizations are already using it to help with employee development, fundraising and marketing.
How will we use it at Federated Charities? We’re envisioning a new wall in our lobby highlighting our corporate sponsors through creative and colorful art. As spacemakers, we want our nonprofit tenants and their clients to walk through beautiful space as they make changes in their lives. We’ve also used it to write a poem about Charity (our favorite dog). You can read it here.
How will your nonprofit use AI?
How Do You “Board?”
It’s not uncommon for people to join nonprofit boards and then wonder what being on a board really means. We recently asked our board members to share the questions they wish they had asked when they first started serving on our board.
As a nonprofit center, part of our programs includes preparing our board members to serve Federated Charities but we also hope they leave our organization and continue to serve other community-based organizations. So there are no wrong questions and we can definitely help with the answers. If you serve on a board of directors in the community, there’s assistance from us…whether we come and speak to your organization or you attend one of our professional development events. Click here for more information.
How long are board terms? How many people make up a quorum?
Board terms are defined by the organization and as a new board member, you should definitely know how long a standard terms lasts. Quorum questions are frequently answered in the bylaws of an organization or are at least referenced there. Quorum indicates the minimum number of people who need to be present in order to cast a binding vote of the board of directors.
How do I know if the organization is making an impact in the community?
Because boards are the strategic guide for an organization, board members should ask themselves (and the staff) regularly about the impact of the organization. Boards should also self evaluate their own activities in relation to the strategic goals of the organization regularly. At Federated Charities, a board self assessment is taken on by the governance committee at least annually. In general, the board of directors should see reports at meetings that demonstrate the impact of the day to day activities and evaluate it in alignment with the mission and vision.
How does dialogue continue between meetings?
Board meetings are for action but boards of directors should be able to have conversations with one another between meetings. Committee meetings are great places for dialogue and the steps leading to action to take place. It’s also good practice to offer board members the opportunity (at meetings and outside of meetings) to get together and volunteer for an activity of the organization or just socialize and get to know one another. Strangers sitting around a table can certainly get things done but it’s much easier to make strategic decisions if everyone in board meetings has built relationships with one another. It is important to remember though that boards should act collectively…no one member makes decisions for nor acts independently from the rest of the board.
In the Know
You might have walked past our building recently and noticed something new (other than the dog missing…again). Federated Charities has partnered with The Housing Authority of the City of Frederick to install one in a series of meditation murals. Envisioned by the artist Karen Pollard and brought to mural form by local artists Anthony Owens and Jack Pabis, the mural on our building is one of three planned for installation in our community.
The new public art demands and invites communication and the engagement of others.
Thank you to our sponsors…
The Delaplaine Foundation, Inc.
The Ausherman Family Foundation
Southway Charitable Trust
Jason & April Lee
The Miner & Feinstein Families
