Community Outreach Committee Connects JLW with Local Thought Leaders

When the Junior League of Washington (JLW) formed the Community Outreach Committee, its original intent was to create a home for and bring together multiple initiatives that didn’t belong to any specific committee. The Community Outreach Committee is charged with working with community partners and the broader nonprofit ecosystem, but focuses heavily on education. It serves as a permanent place to convene nonprofit leaders, help them to build their skills, discover new approaches, and create new areas of interest.

In 2019, the Community Outreach Committee decided to focus the existing Roundtable series on aspects of nonprofit management and to serve as a way for thought leaders to identify avenues of opportunity for different issue areas, allow nonprofit leaders to network and skill-build, and identify avenues where JLW can help.

Following the series that took place throughout this past year, the two main needs identified by community partners were: how to increase the focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) at the leadership level, and how to better implement ethical storytelling into client outreach materials.

Despite working on DEIB issues very broadly last League year, the Committee used this opportunity to keep the momentum going by creating two sessions on client-centered work and finding ways thought leaders could engage their clients. An example that came out of the sessions included engaging veterans in an art program and finding ways to involve them in aspects such as fundraising, marketing, etc., and how that engagement can help nonprofits get more donors by using the resources they already have.

The term ethical storytelling refers to the practice of centering the stories around the positive outcome that the organization is

Erika Burnett

creating. This involves promoting stories that use the client’s voice to tell you what their successes are, rather than imagining what their successes are. This League year, the focus remained on creating stories paired with data collection — the data collection aspect allows leaders to give a business case argument for why DEIB should be at the center of the organization’s work. At the board level, the Committee wanted to highlight how different organizations were creating space for people of diverse backgrounds and how that has impacted their communities.

While the sessions have been a success so far, in order to keep repeat attendees happy and engaged, the Committee tries to have the sessions build on each other. The Committee also uses its considerable reach in the nonprofit world to provide a great high-level view of what is ahead in the industry and create resources for what’s missing.

Session attendees have been happy with the speakers and programming thus far. This is evidenced by the glowing testimonials from attendees:

“Another outstanding roundtable! I learned quite a lot and picked up several action items I can incorporate into my work in the Volunteer Engagement Office of Catholic Charities. You facilitating this and other excellent roundtable presentations for the non-profit community is a wonderful service of the JLW. Thank you.” – Margaret O’Neill, Director of Volunteer Engagement, Catholic Charities

“Thank you for opening today’s roundtable to GOB [JLW’s Get on Board program] alumni, it was absolutely fantastic and so insightful! Dana was a great speaker and very knowledgeable.” – Carissa Cyran, JLW member

And speakers alike:

“There is a misconception I see sometimes that diversifying your Board means sacrificing fundraising potential - and this could not be farther from the case. Every organization I have been a part of, when they’ve worked to diversify their Board in a real, honest, and careful manner, has actually seen their fundraising ability improve dramatically. People from every background, culture, and identity will make gifts, be generous, help expand your community, and offer their passion for your mission in many other ways too.” – Matt Boyer, College Tracks

“It’s critical that we shift from thinking about just ‘diversity’ and focus on using an equity lens. With a lens of equity we can more authentically make difficult decisions that advance our mission. One example of this is doubling down on budget items that are critical to achieving equity-- such as providing transportation for our students and investing in our teachers. Without this focus, it’s tempting to look at your budget and eliminate the most expensive line items, but doing so can be counterproductive from an equity and mission attainment perspective” – Mike DiMarco, Horizons Greater Washington

“Never forget that just because there is a black man at the table he is not there to be “the black perspective.” Everyone you invite to your board table should be invited for a variety of reasons centered on a passion for your mission, a skills set that can help your organization grow and a unique and valuable perspective.” – Reginald Grant, Generation Hope

This is just the beginning for the Roundtable program — a program that has proved itself to be a great place for conversation in the nonprofit sector, a hub for connecting for thought leaders, and a way to help the broader community. •