← We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits
We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits
695. How to Build an Organization Ready for Its Biggest Moment - Sara LaBarge
00:28:12
Loading summary
Transcript54 lines
- [00:03]
A
That's where the dreaming started. We went from a space where we're operating. And a lot of nonprofits can relate to you operate in the scarcity model. We need to secure the resources that we need to to be able to operate, to serve our constituents. And Indigenous and Native nonprofits receive less than half of a percentage of all funding, especially when it comes to foundations. And so the gap that exists, it' seems insurmountable. And so to receive not only one, but two gifts has been phenomenal. We've taken our model that has proven to be successful and figured out how we can scale it.
- [00:45]
B
Hey, I'm John.
- [00:46]
C
And I'm Becky.
- [00:48]
B
And this is the We Here for Good podcast.
- [00:50]
C
Let's get started.
- [00:53]
B
Hey, Becky. This is gonna be a fun one.
- [00:55]
C
This is gonna be a fun conversation. We're gonna be exploring unrestricted giving, Indigenous leadership, and building readiness for scale with an incred today. Sarah LaBarge. She is the director of Strategic Partnerships at Native Forward Scholars Fund. What we're exploring today, trust becomes possible when philanthropy is built on that and when organizations receiving it are truly ready to act. So we want to talk about being ready for moments that come. And Sarah knows exactly all about that, because at Native Forward Scholars Fund, they are the largest direct scholarship provider to Native students in the country. And Sarah is an enrolled member of the Menominee Indian tribe of Wisconsin. She was born and raised on the Menominee Reservation in northeastern Wisconsin. So equity and higher education for Native people isn't just her work. It is deeply personal, and it shows in how she leads. And so this incredible organization is sitting in a moment right now, a moment that every single person in this community wishes that they were sitting in, which is they recently received a $50 million unrestricted gift from MacKenzie Scott. And P.S. it was their second Mackenzie Scott gift. And at the same time, their scholarship applications are surging. So we're going to get into all of it today, what trust based philanthropy actually looks like on the ground, how you build organizational readiness at scale, and what it really takes to show up as an authentic partner to Indigenous communities. These are, like, all of our favorite things. Sarah, welcome to the We Are For Good podcast. We are so thrilled that you are here today.
- [02:32]
A
Thank you. Thank you so much for having us and having me be a part of this conversation.
- [02:37]
C
I just think it's such an important one and you're clearly doing something right. Mackenzie Scott has called you twice. I mean, the first one, I'm sure, gave you some heart palpitations. The second one probably gave you other heart palpitations. So we're going to get into all of it, but we really want to know more about your origin story. Tell us about little Sarah growing up and what led her to, like, kind of want to go into this work.
- [03:00]
A
Yeah, absolutely. So I was born and raised on the Menominee Reservation, which is north central Wisconsin. I grew up here with my family. I have two brothers and one sister. And went to school on the reservation. Obviously, our schools were very much heavily native populated. And when I was in high school, I decided to attend an Upward Bound session just randomly with my friends and love Outward Bound.
- [03:30]
B
I remember that.
- [03:31]
A
Yeah, totally. It was during that session that they were presenting the Gates Millennium Scholarship Fund, which was then administered by. Well, it's partially administered by American Indian Graduate center, which is now Native Forward Scholars Fund. And so I got to learn all about this magnificent organization and this magnificent scholarship. Not thinking too much about it at the time, because I was a freshman and later on in life decided to give it a sh. I applied for the scholarship, and I actually won the Gates Millennium Scholarship. That is huge.
- [04:07]
C
That's a huge deal. I want to impress upon people. That is a very big deal when that scholarship was out. Congratulations.
- [04:14]
A
Yeah, I think it was one of like 55,000 across the country that had applied for it. And so imagine my surprise when the Little res girl got the big envelope, which was the exciting part. Right. Everyone talks about the big envelope when it comes in the mail because, you know, it has all information that you need to be successful. And so I decided to go to the institution where I actually went to Upward Bound. So I went to a small private college in northeast Wisconsin. But getting to college was very different than being in high school. I went from an all native high school to basically being the only native on campus. And so I struggled a lot with identity and trying to fit in. And at that time, I had located a. She worked in the diversity office on campus. She was one of our tribal members. And she took me under her wing, helped me out, get into tutoring. She really encouraged me to be a part of the social life on campus. And so it was early on that I knew that I wanted to be in higher ed because she had done such a wonderful job helping me. I wanted to be that for somebody else. And so I knew I wanted to be in higher ed. I didn't know exactly what that looked like for me. And then fast forward through all of that. I graduated four years later and then took a position at rtcu, which is a tribal College and University, which is on the Menominee Reservation, which I now sit on the board for, which is a full circle moment.
- [05:56]
C
So cool.
- [05:57]
A
Yeah, so it was. It was a wonderful journey and learning experience. But along the way, I've been picking up so skills that I just knew that I needed to activate them within my own skill set and. And utilize them to be able to help other students who want to go to college. And so that's kind of where I. I landed with fundraising. I'm like, hey, I can do this. This is actually something I enjoy. It's something that's obviously needed. And so that's where I am today.
- [06:23]
B
Sarah, I mean, I love your story because it's taken me back. I'm over here on memory lane, remembering when I met Becky 20 years ago. This was our job. We were raising scholarship dollars. And as a scholarship recipient, Jean.
- [06:38]
C
Yes.
- [06:40]
B
All of us, you see what it does not just for the person, but I want to ask you about that, but also just, like, what it can do generationally for your family, like the opportunity that exists, the upward mobility that comes out of it, and just like the confidence that comes. So I'm curious for you, as a Native forward scholar yourself, before it was called that, maybe, what did that scholarship change in you personally, and how do you see that change happening for students still today?
- [07:07]
A
I think this is probably the most impactful question that anyone could ask, and it's really about unlocking potential. For me personally, it's an opportunity to thrive. So, so many of our students, myself included at the time, struggled meeting basic needs. So, you know, housing, food, all of that. All of that stuff, which is really important to a human being's ability to thrive. Not being able to address some of those is challenging. And so with the scholarship, it gives you an opportunity to put those barriers aside, to say, what do you really want to do? What are you passionate about? How can you contribute to greater society as a whole? And so I think it's about that unlocking potential piece to really see what is this person capable of if they go after their passion, if they don't have those basic needs that need to be met, that's one thing. But also, if we want Native people to be in spaces where decisions are made, where policies are shaped, where communities are impacted, we need to support them early on in their journey. I don't believe higher education is the only path to be successful, but I think it is one of the most powerful. So I think that's important to note. Our tribal leaders are in a variety Variety of sectors, including law, medicine, social work, education. And if you look at some of our alumni, they're doing incredible things. We've funded the former Secretary of Interior, Deb Haaland, who was in a position within the Interior that was actually designed to. Well, it caused a lot of harm to Native communities. And so to have a person leading that space is very, very transformative long term. I think the impact is profound. Native people are more visible and represented in the places where our voices are seen and heard. And so we're looking at those sovereignty rights, the ability to influence policy and shape the future of our communities, not just at, in tribal spaces, but the communities that Native people live in as well.
- [09:23]
C
I just feel like these points have been coming back on this podcast over and over. One, we're talking about giving agency and voice. We had the same conversation with Carmen Patlin over at the center for Immigrant Progress. And we're talking about how people need to not be talked about. We need to pass them the microphone so they have control over their own story and their own narrative. Because when you give that agency and that co creation ability to people on the front line, something happens. And it's what we're talking about right here, which is trust. And trust deepens. And then you get a McKenzie Scott gift. Not really. That's not a direct correlation, but I do want to get into that.
- [10:08]
A
I wish it were.
- [10:09]
C
I know, I know because I, I really think this is a huge unlock for people is not holding so tightly to your mission, but allowing people in your community to help shape where you're headed next. So you received this incredible $50 million unrestricted gift from MacKenzie Scott. What did you, that level of trust make possible, like right away? And I want to know, like, what do you hope it teaches the sector about trust based philanthropy? And feel free to take that from the first gift or the second gift.
- [10:40]
A
Absolutely. I think I would start with the first gift because that's where the dreaming started. I feel like we went from a space where we're operating and a lot of nonprofits can relate to you operate in the scarcity model. We need to secure the resources that we need to, to be able to operate, to serve our constituents. And, and so we got to a space with that first gift where we, we were like, what can we do for our students? So we went into this dreaming phase, I call it, where we dreamed up these ideas of what we could do with the funding, how we could activate it, how we could increase our impact. And so that was the, the, the primary Thing. And Mackenzie Scott has really led the way for in terms of trust based philanthropy. It's something that I've been kind of watching. It's been really beautiful. But it's also an important time because indigenous Native non profits receive less than half of a percentage of all funding.
- [11:41]
B
Oh, my gosh.
- [11:43]
C
Wow.
- [11:43]
A
Yes. Especially when it comes to foundations. And so we think about that and the. The gap that exists, it seems insurmountable. And so to receive not only one, but two gifts has been phenomenal. We've activated the first gift, we increased scholarships to our students. We were able to make that direct impact right away. We put some funding behind our operations and our infrastructure. And now this second gift has been also very humbling and amazing. We've put a good portion of it into an endowment. And so to have that long term sustainability for our students is just wonderful. Something that I'll always be very happy to see.
- [12:30]
B
You know, we've had the chance to. To meet a few folks that have gotten these type of gifts. And when I hear that I can dream again or that we can run, the unencumbered nature of this is such a different motion than what I think we live in reality, often in the nonprofit world. And so I love hearing these moments. And I'm curious. I mean, very practically speaking, you're leading strategic partnerships. I mean, what did you have in place or what did you have to build to be able to, like, absorb and deploy a gift of this magnitude in this scale? Like, what did that look like on the inside?
- [13:03]
A
One of the really amazing things that we had in place already was our very strong scholarship programs that we've administered for well over half a century, which is funny to say it's really 55 years, but it's over half a century. And so we've taken our model that is proven to be successful and figured out how we can scale it. And that's what we really activated that first gift with. And so we've been kind of on that mission ever since. With a $50 million gift, we, like I mentioned, we put it into this endowment, which will allow a lot more sustainability for the organization, which is great. But it's really us taking what we knew worked for our communities and expanding on that. So it is that trust base. It's the donor saying, hey, you guys know what you're doing? Let me give you a bunch of money so you can expand what you're already doing and make it even better. And that's exactly what happened. And so for us, we continue to lead in that sense, but also to be good stewards of that funding and say, here's how we're going to activate it in a way that makes the most sense for our students. Keeping the students at the top of mind because they are the constituents that we serve. And so that's one thing that I know our leadership and board always continue to keep in mind.
- [14:20]
C
I just think about 55 years and that legacy and that many students who've come through and been able to elevate themselves and their lives and their families, like, what a really rich legacy. And if you are someone who's ever been lucky enough to be on the front lines of like watching scholarships be handed out and watching lives change, it is a beautiful thing to watch someone understand that they are going to be able to seize their future. And so I want to talk about how we scale impact through strategic partnerships and making sure that we can pair these really brilliant partnerships with this authentic vision. And so talk about how you're doing that, because as beautiful as the $50 million gift from MacKenzie Scott is, you're seeing a 35% increase in your scholarship. So how are strategic partnerships really helping you meet that growing demand without sacrificing trust, quality of student support? And also what you talked about earlier,
- [15:24]
A
your dreams, One of the major concepts that comes to mind is alignment. And so one thing that we've also been very lucky to be blessed with is this amazing network of folks who are either interested in giving back to native forward because they receive funding or they know someone who received funding. And so we have a really strong network of individuals that we can connect with in terms of how do we identify who our strategic partners are, so they're the ones that are most closely aligned with our mission. And so for us, we look at where is that alignment and how do we get in front of those folks to create a genuine relationship to see if it's something that, you know, aligns with them as well. Because it's not just about our alignment with the funding, but then also, also that accountability piece is really key. And so making sure that we're tracking all of our goals, all of our metrics, we're sharing that both publicly with funders is a really easy way to showcase the fact that we value our partnerships, we are accountable to the funding that we receive and we want to continue to grow that.
- [16:36]
B
I mean, I think partnerships is the great unlock. We call it like locking arms for impact. We feel like when those are values based, things just move faster. It's the only way to Truly, like, solve for the greater problems around the world. So I'm just curious, like, what does authentic partnership look like in practice? I mean, get brass tacks with me, like, from a donor and partner perspective that really is value aligned and wants to support Indigenous communities. What does that authentic partnership look like actually in practice from their perspective and yours?
- [17:06]
A
Yeah, I think the number one thing is sharing the accountability to our students success. If you are as accountable as we are to our students and their success, we are aligned. And so that's really important to us. But it's also the ability to have candid and sometimes difficult conversations with each other. Like, hey, this is happening. Maybe this could have been framed a different way. It provides a space that encourages people to learn and grow and thrive. And so being able to have candid conversations with partners are some of the most successful partnerships that I've seen with Native Forward. I think we also look for partners who see our students as whole people, not just numbers that they need to, you know, check off on, on their side of things. We're looking for creative ways to work with universities to support our students. We're looking for creative employers or potential corporate partners who are looking to fast track some of our graduates into their respective fields. We're also looking at, you know, our funders and what are their goals and desires and how can we marry both of the. The work that we're trying to do. And so it's really just thinking about that alignment piece and making sure we're being accountable to each other in the way that we say that we're going to.
- [18:28]
C
My dimple is out because I. Sarah, is saying this so calmly, and in my mind, I'm like, oh, my gosh. These are such important tips that I don't want anyone to miss, because you're naming things that I don't think we're bold enough, typically in the sector to name, which is calling out misalignment when there is power and money involved and still calling it out. Glenda Testone just talked to us about this over at the nonprofit lab. Guess what happens when you do that, y'? All. You reframe and strengthen that relationship with that challenge. Because it's a call back to your values. It's a call back to your mission, and it also is giving me the vibes. I forget who said this on the podcast, but they talked about their students being their board of directors and that they are accountable to this board of directors. And so I actually think when you make bold moves like this, when you re center Values. When you make sure that partnerships are not just about cash value, they're about currency and things like, creatively, what else can we do? And how do we put this marketing together for both of us? How do we use your conference room and not just take your money, but we can use your spaces, we can use your experts. This is the kind of deep partnership that really big CSR and foundations are looking for. And I just want to commend you, Sarah, because you're saying it, because you do this every day, and I'm sure it's just the way your culture runs, but I just want to make sure that we point that out, that that is hallmark. That is how trust is built. So big snaps here for you.
- [20:14]
A
I do want to add a little piece to that. As you were talking, it brought up an idea which was, you know, sometimes it is a difficult conversation that is had, but the. The majority of the time when I've experienced this personally, people are very receptive. And I think it builds that trust and there's a level of authenticity that's involved to say, hey, I don't want you to go out there and say this and. And it's going to reflect badly on, you know, the. Whatever it is, the partnership or whatever. I think it builds that trust and authenticity piece. And so taking good care relationships. I think when you were talking about currency, I also think about relationships in the way that, you know, like currency, like when you take good care of them, it's going to yield more results.
- [21:03]
B
But you're also saying words that I saw on Yalls website. I mean, like in prep for this interview, it's like, y' all showcase your values really well, which I think is a hack for attracting those type of partners. Like, you lean into it. You don't like, it's the core and it's in your messaging, it's in how you show up, and it's how you ultimately deliver its values, like, in action. So I think that's beautiful.
- [21:25]
C
I just think Sarah is living it. And I think that's my point is this organization is so sound and they know who they are, they know who they're serving, and they know where they want to go. And so I just, I commend you for the way that you are operating and living in service of humanity. So I'm going to get to this question because I really want to know. I want to know about a story of philanthropy that changed you, Sarah.
- [21:51]
A
We.
- [21:51]
C
We're big proponents of sharing moments of joy and kindness and generosity that show up in the world. What's one that happened to you somewhere in your life that you felt profoundly changed by?
- [22:04]
A
I am going to take this opportunity to highlight Mackenzie Scott, not because of the profound amount of giving that she has had, which has been insane. Like. Like, kudos to her. It's about her approach. And so if you go to her website, she has these published essays. Every time she does a round of giving, she publishes an essay associated with that round. And. And that level of intent and thought behind it is really that care piece that I was referencing. And so collectively, it's those essays as a whole that have moved me, because it's really. There's a lot of reasons why donors and philanthropists want to give. And you can see in her giving that it's just very honest and raw and truthful that she cares about the people and the organizations that she's reaching out to with. With this funding. And in one of her more recent ones, she talked about a Hopi legacy, and it's called We Are the Ones We've Been Waiting For. And I just almost cried because it's her centering Native, indigenous perspective in a space where we've consistently remained invisible. And so bringing that to light was just. It was one of the things that has moved me the most since I've been in philanthropy and fundraising.
- [23:32]
B
I mean, I can. Becky lifts this quote all the time.
- [23:35]
C
I do. That was like, my one good thing for the We Are For Good summit was we are the ones we've been waiting for. I had no idea that was connected to a Hopi legend. That is incredible. I will start citing that.
- [23:48]
A
Absolutely. And go check out her essay on it. It was really good.
- [23:52]
C
I usually follow hers because they used to be on medium. Right?
- [23:56]
A
Yeah. Now she has her own giving.
- [23:59]
B
Yeah, yeah. Yield giving. I mean, I think it's beautiful. I know being an educator was kind of threaded in her story, too. So I love. It's like bringing these kind of passions together. I love that she's walking us through, kind of lifting the collective tides for all of us to aspire to something bigger and to trust those that are closest to making an impact. And I think actually doing that in practice is the way. Like, modeling it is the way. So thank you for this conversation, Sarah. Thanks for how y' all show up in the world. You know, we gotta ask you for a one good thing. I mean, you've got so much wisdom within you, and you're.
- [24:32]
A
I don't know about that.
- [24:33]
B
An audience of change makers that want to hear from you today. Like, what's a piece of advice or maybe a mantra for yourself or a life hack that you want to share as your one good thing?
- [24:43]
A
I think my one good thing is discipline and alignment. Too many people chase opportunity without asking if it actually aligns with who they are and what they stand for. And so I think that's where burnout and drift can happen. And for me, it starts with that clarity, knowing exactly what I'm responsible for, who I'm accountable to. And once that's clear, discipline becomes the practice of just showing up every day, even when it's not convenient, when nobody can see me, every single day. And so my one takeaway that I would say is that passion is not enough alone. You have to be disciplined as well. And when you're aligned and disciplined, you don't just move the needle, you move it it in the right direction.
- [25:33]
C
That was so beautiful. And we're all here in this work because of passion. And I just think alignment with that passion unlocks something very, very deep. And it's clear it's happened within you. I know people are going to want to connect with you, Sarah. I know they're going to want to connect with Native Forward Scholars Fund. Tell us how we can be a support to you.
- [25:53]
A
Yeah, absolutely. Well, you can find me on LinkedIn. I tend not to do other social platforms, but Native Forward is definitely on virtually every social media platform, so definitely follow us. And in terms of how y' all can help, definitely amplifying the messaging that we're putting out. If you know of someone who might be interested and there's alignment, send them my way. I'd be happy to have a conversation with them.
- [26:19]
B
I mean, Sarah, you have elevated us today. You've given me so much hope in the work that y' all are doing and just the way that you approach it. So thanks for being here. We're so glad to stay in touch now and appreciate you, you sharing your story.
- [26:33]
C
Keep going.
- [26:33]
A
Yeah. Thank you so much. Thank you.