Welcome to Cultivating Generosity,

a Rad Philanthropy Newsletter

Welcome to Cultivating Generosity, the newsletter to help you flourish as a values-driven and joyful nonprofit and advancement professional. I'm here to help you connect to you and your community's purpose. I'll share tactical information to engage your supporters around the acts of giving (time, talent, treasure, ties, testimony), ask you to reflect deeply about the why behind your programs, provide sector news, and we'll have a fun time while we're at it.

Today's issue is about Long COVID at work, nonprofits that create more problems, and how cool New Mexico is. Let's get straight into it.

Cheers -

Perry Radford,

Rad Philanthropy

Learn Long COVID at Work

Long COVID is personal for me, having had friends go through extreme experiences with it, and navigating it first hand myself. And if you didn't already know, 17.8 million people, or 6.9% of American adults, are currently suffering from this disease and its broad constellation of symptoms. And research shows 700,000 are missing from the American labor population because Long COVID prevents them from working. So, how do we manage Long COVID in our nonprofits?

First, I urge you to read HBR's report on this issue. Key takeaways include:

• The medical industry is ill-equipped to handle this secondary pandemic. Employees may struggle to get necessary documentation and records in order to get accomodations.

• Flexibility is paramount. Symptoms and needs of employees can frequently shift, so accommodations that support these needs will make the biggest difference. This could look like asynchronous work, remote work, not requiring employees to be on video (laying down is an important accomodation, and some people can work from this position and not others).

• Inclusion of those with Long COVID and other chronic illnesses can be baked into every aspect of work, from ditching requirements to be able to carry 30 lbs to flexible scheduling around when an employee is best able to conduct their work.

• Want to learn more? The end of the HBR article includes a table of 10 Common Symptoms of Long Covid and Associated Chronic Illnesses and potential workplace accommodations for each.

Rad Reflections Fixing Problems Or Creating More?

The trope of low-paid nonprofit workers exists for a reason. While it may one thing to satirize, what does it say when a nonprofit's staff is paid so little they qualify for their organizations' services?

At the very least, nonprofits should do no harm, if not outright achieving their aims while offering responsible renumeration to their staff. Here are some ways for you to ensure your nonprofit isn't creating more problems that its solving:

• A budget is a moral document. For any part of a budget you are responsible for, does it reflect your organization's mission, values, and goals? Does it allow for living wages? Does it include adequate resources to meet your goals? If the answers are no, use your influence to adjust.

• Get fractional. If you can't pay a role a living wage, can you contract the work to a fractional employee? Fractional fundraisers, marketers, financial officers, assistants, and more are available to help get your team support. Especially if you are open to remote workers, you can pay a fair contract wage and get your most critical tasks handled.

• Check yourself. If your nonprofit has to use exploitative wages to stay afloat, should you exist? Can you merge with another organization? Attract more resources? Or is it time to shut down, move on, and seek to make impact in a sustainable way?

Playtime with Perry

It's officially been a year since I moved to New Mexico! I will continue to refer to it as the most underrated state. Here's a sampling of what this place is like - it is worth a trip or two for the traveling types.

Desktop, clockwise from top left, or mobile, top to bottom:

Meow Wolf is acid trip, art gallery, and Disneyland for adults, all rolled into one journey.

Pueblo history and Spanish colonization meet at the Abo Ruins luminaria display.

Happy Accidents is one of the many nationally rated food and drink spots here.

I went to Roswell and all I got was Dunkin' and this stupid hat.

Did this newsletter leave you with any burning questions about fundraising or nonprofit? Drop me a line at perry@radphilanthropy.com and I'll help you out.

Interested in working with me? Book a session with my Calendly link.

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