Hartford Business Journal

20 Hartford Business Journal • July 13, 2020 • www.HartfordBusiness.com OPINION & COMMENTARY EXPERTS CORNER Nonprofit leaders rise to COVID-19 challenge By Sondra Lintelmann Dellaripa I t is easy to envision the reopening of our country as a scene out of an apocalyptic movie. There is a hill of smoldering rub- ble, smoke rising, a glowing orange hazed sunrise silhouetting a lineup of weary warriors, arms around each other, legs in a firm stance, facing the new day. In this movie, the lineup would represent non- profits. Throughout the last four months, the sector has been at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic. We at Harvest Development Group have been privileged to serve these nonprofit warriors, witness- ing firsthand the delivery of critical services, in health care certainly, but also in other needs decimated by both a virus and a socio-economic abortion. Nonprofits have truly been the saviors through it all. But they have also been the vic- tims of this demise, losing financial support, staffing and constituents — restrained from their true pur- pose, restricted from delivering on their mission, and relegated to oper- ating from a "wait-and-see" position. Operating as a "victimized sav- ior" is untenable. Nonprofits are exhausted. But as the dust settles on Pandemic 1.0 and we navigate forward from our bunkers, the non- profit industry must shake off its ex- haustion and rise, re-igniting their engines of purpose and strategy. As a sector that employs more than 10% of the national workforce and represents 5.5% of the national GDP, they are too big — and too important — to fail. It is an industry highly attuned to functioning in disruption and uncertainty, which is what provided for the foundation of its endurance during the crisis. But they must not get stuck here. As a powerhouse in our country's social, economic and political machine, they have an ob- ligation to regain their agency and influence for good. This will require stalwart lead- ership from organizational board members and CEOs, retreating and recalibrating their strategy toward a future-focused vision of purpose and production. Many may find a mission shift in the center of their recalibration. Some may have discovered power- ful affiliations, partnerships or a strength in merging. Whatever they discover, their decisions and ac- tions will require courage and bold innovation. We recently convened experts from across the nation to give direc- tion and tools to nonprofits on ris- ing to their reframed leadership. Six key imperatives were revealed: 1. Create a unified vision for the organization by assessing recent operations, risks and opportuni- ties, defining what serves the nonprofits purpose and what must go. 2. Develop Logic Models for strat- egy and actions that meet the new vision. 3. Establish new funding models that fit the organization's busi- ness strategy. 4. Define the new/renewed case for support and realign the communities focus to re-en- gage. 5. Leverage board and volunteer leadership to create and evolve market expansion opportunities for growth. 6. And finally, make no apologies and be forthright in asking for the financial support your orga- nization needs. As we look toward the future, our essential sector needs continuing inspiration, encouragement and support. Honoring their role in the pandemic and meeting their future value will require decisive and reso- lute leadership. Sondra Lintelmann Dellaripa is president and principal consultant of Harvest Development Group in Middletown, a nonprofit consultant firm. Sondra Lintelmann Dellaripa A parting note from HBJ Founding Publisher Joe Zwiebel T hirteen years ago, in partnership with my longtime colleague Peter Stanton, we started New England Business Media LLC. I was just back from Australia, after spending a magical sabbatical year there with my family. For Peter, and for me, owning the titles we had helped build for so many years was the culmination of a dream. We published Mainebiz, Worcester Busi- ness Journal and Hartford Business Journal. In the intervening years we added products like New Haven Biz and STUFF Magazine, and excised others that had run their course. We survived, we innovated and thrived, through the Great Reces- sion, right up through the current stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the many challenges, I couldn't be prouder of what we have accomplished together. Bittersweet as many transitions are, at the end of June, I stepped down from my longtime role as president of NEBM, and publisher of the Hartford Business Journal. It is the right time for me to move on. The Hartford Business Journal and our other titles are in very capable hands. Peter Stanton remains as CEO, and Tom Curtin, who joined the Hartford Business Journal as chief revenue officer last October, has acquired my shares, taking a 50% ownership stake in the company. Tom will run New England Business Media's Connecticut operations, assuming the role of president and publisher of Hartford Business Journal and New Haven Biz. He comes to the Connecticut marketplace with deep industry knowledge, a truly impressive track record, and perhaps most importantly, an unparalleled love of media, specifically the B2B space. He is capable, deeply commit- ted and enthusiastic about driving what we have built to new heights. F. Scott Fitzgerald famously wrote: "There are no second acts in Ameri- can lives." I don't know if that was ever true, but it certainly isn't now. Despite the upheaval of the mo- ment, more of us than ever before are blessed with the energy and good health (knock wood!) to vigorously and passionately pursue encore careers. I certainly hope to make the best of mine. First, though, I'll travel a bit, should COVID-19 allow, improve my conver- sational Spanish, and maybe climb a mountain in Mexico with some dear friends (Iztaccihuatl). After a good rest to recharge, I'll get to work defin- ing a new passion project for the next 10 years or so. Maybe grow a ponytail. (Kidding on the last one.) I'll miss the day to day at the Hartford Business Journal; the media business is — on good days, and most are — fun. The many re- lationships with the business com- munity forged through common purpose mean the world to me, and I hope to maintain them. Thank you all for your support and friendship. The work that the excellent staff of the Hartford Busi- ness Journal, and all of our titles do is noble and important. I can't say enough about the dedication and commitment that our people bring to their work every day, and I'm both humbled and deeply grateful. These are unprecedented times. We will get through them and emerge stronger. Wishing all of you the best of luck wherever your futures take you, and whatever second act you seek, or which ulti- mately finds you. Please stay healthy, and stay in touch! I'll be around. Joe Zwiebel JosephZwiebel1961@gmail.com 774-230-8486 (mobile) Joe Zwiebel

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