What you didn’t know about non-profits

In 805conversations by Mark Sylvester

How to not reinvent the non-profit wheel.

Lesley Santos Dierks, CEO of Spokes in San Luis Obispo recently sat down with 805conversations’ host Mark Sylvester to talk about her passion for helping those in the non-profit sector. Spokes, under her leadership, focuses on helping both internal staff and the ecosystem that surrounds the non-profit, including the members of the Board.
Your perspective is the thing that can’t be taken from you.”
Topics included;
  • How to use Corporate Philanthropy as a recruiting tool
  • What is CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility
  • How to avoid the Peanut Butter Theory – spreading yourself too thin
  • What defines as non-profit – hint: it’s about your Mission
  • Why there are over 1,500 non-profits in San Luis Obispo
  • The classes that are available to learn all aspects of running and working with a non-profit
  • How to think about succession planning – a great way to build leadership
  • How to get clarity on the expectations and responsibilities of being a board member of a non-profit
  • Why you should consider being a board member next time you are asked.
This was an enlightening conversation and unique in that Spokes provides such an important service to the community. Getting a deeper understanding of the role of non-profits in the region also helps us as members of the 805 region’s business community get a better feel on how we can help, collectively and individually.

For every dragon there’s a white knight.”