Feb. 9: Monthly Legislative Update at 2 p.m. ET. Staff from IS member organizations can participate in our Monthly Legislative Update sessions to learn about the latest federal policy developments affecting our community and strategies for sharing solutions and concerns with Congress and the administration.
Feb. 21: Easter Seals Disability Services invited Diana to discuss "Charting Impact" at their annual gathering. Charting Impact is an initiative by BBB Wise Giving Alliance, GuideStar USA, Inc., and Independent Sector designed to help organizations assess and communicate their impact improving lives and strengthening communities.
Feb. 22: NGen Leadership Series- "A Call To Leadership", 2-3 p.m. ET. This discussion will focus on how to address the leadership challenges – at both organizational and sector levels – that are getting in the way of greater effectiveness.
Feb. 24: Policy Webinar- President Obama's FY2013 Budget, 2-3 p.m. ET. Register today.
Staff Changes
Angelia Bland accepted a new opportunity and left Independent Sector in January. Angelia joined Independent Sector as the Assistant Director of Conference Planning in March of 2004. In June of 2005, Angelia was promoted to the position of Director, Conference and Meeting Planning. During her time with us, Angelia has played a key role on our Annual Conference management team – overseeing the planning and implementation of logistics and operations. We thank Angelia for her nearly 8 years of service and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
Samantha Fien-Helfman joins Independent Sector as our new Specialist, Nonprofit Strategy and Executive Office. Samantha most recently served as a Communications Intern with The Hospitality and Information Service (THIS) for Diplomats. While at THIS, Samantha developed fundraising brochures, administered THIS’s social media outreach and utilized the CRM software to update and maintain current information on THIS’s clients. Prior to her time at THIS, Samantha worked as a Marketing Assistant for the Jewish Federation in Rockville, MD and as a Development Assistant for Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos in Parramos, Guatemala. Samantha is a 2009 graduate of the College of William and Mary and comes to IS with experience in fundraising, research, and writing for nonprofit and international nonprofit organizations.
Sandra Harris joined IS this month as our Senior Vice President, Organizational Effectiveness and Business Development. Reporting to the president and CEO, Sandra will identify, develop and pursue new opportunities with an eye towards identifying new perspectives and driving business growth. Working with Membership, Sandra will continue to oversee our efforts to strengthen our network and build further connections. Sandra will also continue to oversee information systems and technology, our conference operations and other convenings, and will ensure IS’s organizational effectiveness through leading, monitoring and overseeing the implementation of our risk management work and subsequent mitigation strategies. Sandra will also be responsible for providing guidance and leadership through management of Independent Sector’s systems, metrics and measurements, and by recommending and implementing best practices that advance IS’s effectiveness. Sandra joined IS on February 1, 2011 as a "Loaned Executive" from the Ford Foundation for one year.
Luba Mullen left Independent Sector in January. Luba joined Independent Sector in April of 2006 as a Development Specialist and was promoted to Development Associate later in that same year. In 2010, Luba was again promoted to Senior Associate, Resource Development. Since joining IS, she has played an important role in working with foundations and corporations to raise funds for the IS Annual Conference. She also developed and wrote the manual for the Annual Conference Sponsorship program and has led the work on the conference scholarship program.
Mark Schultz concluded his work at IS in January with the completion of a one-year grant to launch an IS advocacy initiative. Independent Sector will continue advancing this project through our policy team and remains committed to make it easier for charitable organizations to participate in our nation’s policy making process.
