Help Wanted: Managers with a Business Mind & Servant Heart

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

December
17

We need to talk. The responsibilities of managers of non-profits have changed drastically. In earlier generations, the typical non-profit manager was judged by and guided in daily decisions by the kindness of his or her heart. Today, that is still a baseline requirement. However, in addition, the non-profit manager must be able to comply with laws, maintain fundamental accountability for all resources entrusted to the agency, and recognize that non-profits are part of the engine of social order. The non-profit leader needs to be equipped and skilled to manage staff, reduce costs, manage their human resources, increase production, lead in times of financial crisis, and be very effective in fundraising and public education efforts.

Consider the demands of laws, rules and regulations. As a faith-based non-profit, the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) is sometimes criticized for accepting government funds under the mistaken belief that we must be compromising our faith to get government dollars. People miss the concept that — like it or not — whether you run a religious organization, social service or community organization, or a foundation, government plays a role in your funding and operations. Whether you take government money or not, they are still in your business if for no other reason than that the government gives your donors tax breaks when they donate to you as a tax deductible organization. Whether bound by the rules that govern non-profit organizations or simply because the donor trusts the non-profit to provide quality services to the public, the non-profit should always excel in obeying rules and regulations and meeting the highest standards of the industry. It’s an ethical obligation.

The non-profit world is now operating in times of a very stressed economy. Not only are they providers of services needed by increasing numbers of people, but they also employ people who perhaps would not have otherwise considered non-profit work. It once surprised people to see a smart, young professional leading a non-profit. The perception was, “That’s the kind of work you do when you are ready to give something back, during your retirement years.” That thinking guaranteed a non-profit organization the benefit of skilled leadership at a lower cost, because the salary paid to the seasoned manager was supplemented by the manager’s Social Security and other retirement income.

There is always a need for seasoned managers who want to give back, support and surround the paid non-profit manager as a mentor, Board member, participant in a strategic planning effort, or to help bring resources to the non-profit. At the same time, we should not be troubled to see younger professionals leading the non-profits.

The question is not whether to hire a non-profit manager who believes in the cause as opposed to hiring a good manager. It is whether the non-profit management candidate really loves and believes in the cause and brings the needed skills and knowledge to what they do. With fewer resources and more competition for those resources, the highly qualified manager who can manage under stress and in complex situations, who is experienced in sound management practices, and who can master taxation and accountability rules, is in higher demand than ever before. We need managers who have a business mind and a servant heart.

The best reward of leading a non-profit is the experience of giving back, improving the organization you love, believing in your cause, and being able and willing to acquire and increase the knowledge needed to do the work. The very best is to welcome the competition and possess a strong desire to match and model the skill levels used in the for-profit world. When we gain that mind-set, we poise the non-profit community to give its very best services to clients without fear of tomorrow.

The Forgotten Vote

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

October
6

As we approach one of the most significant presidential elections in our history, it’s important that everyone has the right to vote. That includes the homeless and poor. Having no home or money should not hinder a person from casting a vote for an administration that will undoubtedly have a huge impact on his or her future. Homelessness can occur for many reasons, including the state of the economy. The loss of a job can lead to the loss of a home. We see that happening more today than ever before with the high rate of home foreclosures across the country.

So what efforts are being taken to ensure the disadvantaged have a say at the polls? Some states have launched campaigns to register thousands of homeless people to vote in the presidential election. In Ohio, advocates are driving the homeless to election offices to take advantage of a one-week period that allows people to register and vote on the same day. In other instances, the homeless are getting assistance applying for absentee ballots, which will be sent to the shelters and returned with postage that has been purchased through fund-raising. A coalition in Philadelphia held a rally calling on the major presidential candidates to not ignore persons who are homeless, low-income, disabled or ex-offenders.

No matter what the method, getting the poor and homeless to vote in this historic election is key. They have a huge stake in this year’s election. The critical issues that have affected their economic status need to be heard and examined more closely. Strategies need to be devised to provide more help for those who are homeless, disadvantaged and addicted. After all, we’re talking about a group of people that number more than 2 million nationwide. The impact could be staggering.

I’m interested in hearing what you think about voting rights for the homeless and poor. Send me your comments.

We All Count

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

October
6

“Every Person Counts.” That statement is so very true. Especially when we think about the tens of thousands of homeless people living in the Detroit area. They count too. In fact, “Every Person Counts” is the name of a citywide campaign to literally count the homeless. The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), Homeless Action Network of Detroit, University of Detroit Mercy’s Leadership Development Institute, and several other groups are involved in the initiative. The count helps determine government funding for homeless services.

While the required count will take place in January, there was a preliminary count taken this summer. Teams of people fanned out around the Detroit area, locating and counting the homeless. From grassy fields to abandoned buildings to cardboard houses beneath freeway bridges, team members went in search of the homeless to ask them basic and detailed questions about their background, health and family status. The counters passed out bottled water, personal hygiene kits and gave the homeless phone numbers to shelters and other service providers.

Counting the homeless is important in planning services that meet their needs. Counting the homeless also raises public awareness about this population’s plight. Although DRMM services nearly 1,300 people each day, there are still thousands of disadvantaged and addicted people who call the streets home. Some choose to remain there; others may not know where to get help. Some are visible to the eye; others remain out of sight. DRMM tries to reach out to all of them, because we believe that every person counts.

100 Years of Helping the Homeless

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

August
22

It’s hard to believe, but next year is the 100th anniversary of the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM). That means a lot to us. We have been servicing the Detroit-area community for a very long time and are quite proud of our accomplishments and thousands of success stories throughout the years.

On a daily basis, we service 1,200 to 1,300 people. Our program “graduates” are now employed in all walks of life. DRMM alumni include police officers, firefighters, store managers, hotel employees, medical staff, nonprofit agency employees, and Detroit Rescue Mission staff who are giving back to the agency that gave them new lives. Even the popular, national recording artist known as KEM at one time sought shelter at our Mission. Now, look at him!

As a result, DRMM is proud to contribute to the economy and well-being of the City of Detroit and the State of Michigan. Thousands of our clients have returned to society as productive citizens. They often share with the community firsthand testimonies of how their lives have been dramatically changed. Over the next 100 years, DRMM plans to continue producing success stories while increasing public awareness of our agency’s programs. We are constantly looking for new ideas to enhance our services and meet the new needs of the community. Let me know your thoughts and ideas.

As with most non-profits, we couldn’t do what we do with out the financial and physical support of people in the community. We depend on our supporters and donors to give money and other items, to pray with us, and volunteer their time. We salute them and thank them. The Detroit Rescue Mission has been a vital part of the community for a very long time and we are going to continue to be a part of the community for a very long time.

The Changing Needs of the Homeless

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

August
22

Everyone knows the basic services provided by most homeless shelters: a place to sleep, nourishing meals, clean clothes and a hot shower. But today there is a need to expand those services to provide many more opportunities for the growing number of disadvantaged people looking for another chance in life. As far back as the 1990s, the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) recognized that need and began to adapt. The Mission changed its whole image from just being a soup kitchen that only addressed the needs of the hungry to becoming a complete support system for the homeless, addicted and disadvantaged. Yes, we continued to care for the hungry and provide them with meals and clothing, but we also began to help them find a permanent solution so that they would never have to look back at the past. Instead, they can focus on the future. The Mission provides food, clothing and job leads. It reunites the homeless with family, places them in churches, and surrounds them with a very strong support system independent from an institutional setting. Additionally, the Mission offers programs to help a person successfully reintegrate into society, including job training and education — whatever he or she needs to learn or regain valuable skills.

For a long time, the DRMM simply performed the “front work” — keeping a person sober by treating his or her addiction. We discovered from our data that this did not always produce a long-lasting solution. It is just the first part of the answer. The second part involves the creation of collaborations to help the person become successful on a long term basis. In other words, we felt we need to teach people how to fish, not just give them a fish. Plus we needed to bring those support services directly to the person. We can’t expect a person who was lost at one point in life to know where or how to find these opportunities on their own.

Approaching the issue of homelessness in this comprehensive manner produces positive results. All individuals are treated with dignity and respect. They are exposed to the unconditional love of God. Not only are a person’s “surface” needs met, but so are their physical and spiritual needs. This is what keeps a person from returning to addiction, homelessness and despair and creates hope for the future.

Surviving Tough Times

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

July
17

We are all connected. Anything that affects one of us affects each of us. Given that, we know that times are tough for a lot of us today. Have you found yourself trading sympathetic glances or talking about the state of the nation or world with strangers at the next gas pump? Have you asked for help from friends and relatives to pay routine bills or been asked to help your relatives or friends with bills? Have you changed your driving habits or been more frugal about spending money? Are you genuinely worried about the future?

Housing, transportation and financial services industries are scrambling to reorganize to survive. Individuals are finding that the $25 they used to have left over after filling their gas tank is no longer there to buy milk and bread for the family. People are dipping into their savings to pay bills. The government is facing a squeeze, so money it once gave for direct services to people is now being redirected. Grant allocations are stagnant or being cut.

As the president of the non-profit Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), which serves those in need with the help and support of government and donors, we are having to tighten our belts too and think about how many more notches to take it in during the months to come. The costs of food and fuel to serve people in our facilities are climbing through the roof. The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently published a report called, “Giving’s Tough Climate: Economic Woes put Damper on Some Donations in 2007.” It cites organizations that are downsizing their staffs and halting projects and programs because the giving well is drying up.

Historically, people of faith have given the largest amount of money to charitable causes. In the U.S., they donate at least 33 percent of all of the money given to faith-based non-profits. That is not surprising when you consider the teachings that people of faith live by: “Give to those in need,” “Whoever gives will be given a great reward,” and “Take care of widows and orphans.” The ability to give to others in the face of one’s own needs is what marks people of faith. It is believed that as the economy worsens, faith-based donors have been channeling additional charitable dollars to non-religious based causes that provide vital human needs, such as water, food and other forms of emergency relief or social services. However, the demands on such organizations are increasing. Aside from the rising demand for services, there is shrinking government, foundation and corporate support looming for direct aid to clients.

So what should you do to meet your own family’s needs and the needs of those you know? What should agencies like the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries do? I believe we should follow the same course of action. Know that we need wisdom if we are to take care of our own responsibilities while we continue to share with others in need. Ask for guidance from God and from those who have been given wisdom in such matters. Do not see struggles or adversity as a reason to neglect our responsibilities, but strive instead to even improve on what we are doing and how we do it. View current challenges as the opportunity we have been given to re-evaluate our priorities and make sure they are in the right place. Reach out to accomplish in partnership with others what our own resources cannot accomplish. Look for new avenues to meet needs and seek education to do more with what we have. Finally, continue to have faith that if we do the best we can and really love Him and our neighbors, God will see us through despite any mistakes we may make or our lack of knowledge. If we do these things, we will do well for ourselves and those around us.