September: A Season of Change and Harvest
Dear VISIONS Community,
As we move into fall, a season of both change and harvest, I want to share where VISIONS stands and how each of you can play a role in our next chapter.
We continue to face financial challenges. Like so many nonprofits, contracts have slowed, and the climate for equity work remains complex. At the same time, we are taking action on multiple fronts: pursuing new contracts, submitting many grant proposals, reaching out to individual donors, and nurturing our new membership model. I encourage each of you to invite your networks and communities to join as members - it’s one of the simplest and most impactful ways to strengthen our sustainability.
Externally, we know many organizations remain hesitant to engage in this work, even when the need is urgent. That reality makes our message, our clarity, and our courage all the more important. We are actively discussing how to present VISIONS’ work so that organizations can better see the value and feel safe enough to take the next step.
In this issue of the newsletter, you’ll also find results from our July pulse survey. Thank you to everyone who participated. Your honest reflections are helping us better understand where we are strong, where we have room to better meet some of your needs, and how we can continue to grow together.
This is a hard moment, AND it is not without hope. What sustains me is the dedication and brilliance of this community, from board members, advisory board members, staff, and consultants, whose commitment to VISIONS’ mission continues to ripple outward. Together, we will keep building spaces for connection, learning, and transformation
With gratitude and resolve,
Elika
From VP Admin
Finances. As you know, we are in a very challenging financial moment at VISIONS. Each week, we are carefully managing cash flow to make sure that our commitments are met. In practice, this means doing our best to prioritize payments to consultants and essential bills. To support this, the leadership team has collectively chosen to continue delaying our own payroll until after these obligations are covered.
We want to be transparent about this reality, while also assuring you that we are actively working toward solutions. Over the past months, we have:
- Accelerated our grant writing and foundation outreach.
- Expanded individual giving through renewed donor stewardship activities and campaigns.
- Launched our Membership Circle to expand individual and community support.
- Built retainer-based partnerships and prepared for the fall launch of our Leadership Institute.
These steps are part of our larger strategy to stabilize and sustain VISIONS for the long term. While the urgency is real, we remain confident in the value of our mission and in the possibilities ahead. You can continue to help by donating, asking others to support the work (donations, membership circle and/or telling others to join), connecting the organization with potential clients and funders and promoting VISIONS programs to those in your circle.
Thank you for your dedication, patience, and commitment to this work during a time that asks much of all of us. Together, we are carrying VISIONS’ legacy forward — and we will continue to adapt with integrity, care, and hope.
VISIONS Client Work.
- Amendments. Please make sure you are monitoring your end dates on contracts. If a client needs more time, the lead consultant must request an amendment in Salesforce.
- Expense Receipts. Please upload all receipts in Salesforce along with your details. And please make sure your amounts match what you enter.
Consulting and Programs
From Jeanne Firth
All Hands on Deck Part 2
Thanks to all consultants who attended the “All Hands on Deck: Part 2” on Aug 12 facilitated by Stella and Rick. I emailed out the slide deck to all active consultants Aug 27; please let me know if you didn’t receive it or would like that information.
Unfortunately, VISIONS’ financial situation has not improved from our last meeting in May as you read above. Our board will continue to vote only on quarterly (3-month) budgets due to our current financial landscape. Nikki frequently shares “how you can help” in these newsletters; to highlight a few needs now, we would appreciate any warm introductions to possible funders, bringing in new contracts to VISIONS, and promoting VISIONS programs. Transformational Leadership still has a spot or two open if you know if anyone!, also PACE (October), Guidelines, Peer Supervision, etc. Inquiry Team (myself, Rick, Kaitlin and led by Jabari) is here to support with developing new or cultivating returning clients. One awesome commitment that Miriam Abrams helped hatch is In This Together: Supporting our Organizations in Turbulent Times.
I have been tracking commitments and helping consultants if they need any support in making ideas happen, so please do let me know what you are thinking of or already working on by emailing me at: jfirth@visions-inc.org.
Free ticket to MBBI’s Peace Congress in Lima!
As a partner with MBBI’s Peace Congress coming up in Lima, Peru, VISIONS has been offered a free registration for someone from our community to attend! Scroll down to “Out Doing the Work” for more info. While we are not able to support travel expenses, we’d love to extend this opportunity to you. If you are interested, please email jfirth@visions-inc.org
Transformational Leadership launches this September!
Thanks to everyone who expressed interest in being on the team – we value your contributions to the VISIONS community and hope to connect around future opportunities as the Learning Institute grows! There might be mentor/coach or guest educator opportunities as they arise over the course of the program, so stay tuned.
In the News: VISIONS' Executive Director, Elika, Weighs In
We’re proud to share recent media highlights featuring insights and quotes from our Executive Director.
- Survey finds most teachers down on ‘equitable grading’
- Foster Youth And Mentorship: Finding Stability In School Life
- Digital Workplace Tech Priorities Narrow as Budgets Tighten
- Debate Rages Between Generations Over Whose Experience Sparked Viral Idea
- Do you have time blindness?
- When Schools Try to Erase Diversity, Parents Have To Make It Part Of The Curriculum
- How women over 50 are redefining solo travel through culture connection and purpose
Salesforce Corner
Do you need to adjust the scope of work, end date, or contract amount on a contract that hasn't ended yet? Use a contract amendment! An amendment is the legal way to adjust a contract that has already been signed by the client. We have to send the client an amendment of the changes for them to sign to ensure the changes are legally approved. If you have any questions around the amendment process, you can reach out to Kaitlin.
Here is a video showing you where to find this process and fields within Salesforce. Please reach out to Amy with any questions around the process in Salesforce!
From the Office
Clarissa has welcomed a new baby boy, Hollis! He was born August 26th and both mommy and baby are doing well. If you haven’t had a chance to celebrate her new bundle of joy, she is registered here: Baby Registry.
Stephanie Blount, our VISIONS Finance Committee Co-Chair, also welcomed her new baby boy, Nico!
Welcome, Hollis and Nico, to the VISIONS Family!
Have any general feedback, questions, or ideas? Let us know!
Out Doing Work
VISIONS is proud to be featured at Mediators Beyond Borders International’s Peace Summit in Lima, Peru this September. Over the years, MBBI’s Peace Summits have proven to be critical spaces for the global peace community to connect, learn, and gather momentum. This year, our programming promises to continue this mission through exploring our theme, Reconciling Growth and Governance, in Lima. Elika will present on the topic “Bridging Divides in Governance: Conflict Resolution & Neutral Facilitation for Sustainable Development”.
Visit https://mediatorsbeyondborders.org/lima/ to register, sponsor, or explore logistics.
Upcoming Programs
PACE Level I is the foundational workshop offered by VISIONS. When you complete this virtual course, we believe you will have the skills necessary to:
- Identify unconsciously held misinformation in yourself, in others, and in organizations.
- Communicate more effectively across difference.
- Recognize personal, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural barriers to belonging.
- Understand the ongoing personal effects of historical and contemporary exclusion.
- Facilitate change in groups and organizations to create supportive environments for all.
- Per person cost: $1,150.00 (A Supporter Rate of $1,250.00 is also available).
- If you need support on the course fees, please email us at office@visions-inc.org.
Upcoming Dates:
October 29
January 28
March 25
May 27
June 24
Are you looking for ways to strengthen and deepen your relationships? Would you like to enhance your communication skills and promote successful outcomes in a variety of settings? Join our virtual transformative workshop, where you’ll learn VISIONS Guidelines for Effective Cross-Cultural Dialogue.
- Develop practical communications skills that you can apply every day, both at work and in your personal life.
- Strengthen your ability to communicate with people from different backgrounds, identities, and experiences.
- Foster a culture of inclusivity and respect within your organization.
VISIONS has been teaching these guidelines to individuals, groups, and organizations for over 40 years. They have been instrumental in transforming organizations into inclusive, welcoming environments, and are also powerful skills for cultivating rich, enduring relationships between individuals.
Per person cost: $25.00 regular rate (A supporter rate of $35.00 is also available).