Welcome to a new ASU Lodestar Center Blog series, “Get to Know the Lodestar Center!” We’d like to provide our readers with a peek into what we do each day to accomplish our mission by introducing members of the faculty and staff via short interviews and conversations. Meet the folks who are here to help you and your nonprofit succeed!

Patricia F. Lewis, ACFRE, serves as Sr. Professional-in-Residence at the ASU Lodestar Center. She is the longest-serving employee at the Lodestar Center with the exception of the Executive Director, Dr. Robert Ashcraft. She brings to the Center a wealth of knowledge and a wide array of experience in the nonprofit sector and beyond.

Meet Pat...

You are a Senior Professional in Residence here at the ASU Lodestar Center. What does that entail?

This is a very unique position. The overall purpose of the position is as a bridge between academia and practice, to bring professional experience to the academic area. There are many ways to do that. The Lodestar Center has two -- Anne Byrne is the other Professional-in-Residence who works with me. We are responsible for the Ask the Nonprofit Specialists program, in which we answer questions anybody may have about the nonprofit sector and philanthropy. I also work on curriculum development for our professional development courses and…

Welcome to a new ASU Lodestar Center Blog series, “Get to Know the Lodestar Center!” We’d like to provide our readers with a peek into what we do each day to accomplish our mission by introducing members of the faculty and staff via short interviews and conversations. Meet the folks who are here to help you and your nonprofit succeed!

Last time we introduced Anne, a new lecturer in the School of Community Resources & Development and coordinator of the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance and the Certified Nonprofit Professional Credential.

The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (NLA) is a student association for undergraduates interested in nonprofit careers. The NLA program was originally founded as the American Humanics program at Arizona State University in 1980 with the support of the Phoenix Rotary Club 100 and local nonprofit organizations. They recognized the need for highly skilled leaders in the nonprofit sector. American Humanics officially changed its name to the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance in 2011. Through the dedication of students and the support of the community, ASU has evolved into the nation's leader among the more than 50 universities affiliated with the…

Welcome to a new ASU Lodestar Center Blog series, “Get to Know the Lodestar Center!” We’d like to provide our readers with a peek into what we do each day to accomplish our mission by introducing members of the faculty and staff via short interviews and conversations. Meet the folks who are here to help you and your nonprofit succeed!

Anne Kotleba is our newest staff member, joining us as a lecturer in the School of Community Resources & Development and coordinator of the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance and the Certified Nonprofit Professional Credential. She joins us just in time to start a new school year and meet a new group of wonderful nonprofit students!

Meet Anne...

How would you describe yourself in 5-10 words?

Passionate, enthusiastic, creative, loving, and tall.

What is your main area of interest?

Being a force for justice and arming young people with the courage and freedom to define their own identity.

This means access and encouragement to step outside of the boundaries of what society or the world places on people based on where they grew up, what they look like, all the ways that we try to classify people. Also, the…

For many nonprofit founders, managers and employees, their work in the organization is their baby—you don’t trust just anyone to take care of it. Whether you’re looking to hire new employees or contract for services, you want to make sure that whoever you bring into the fold shares your goals and interests in moving the organization and issue forward. Here are a few tips about what to look for and what to ask to see who may be the right fit:

FOR PARTNERS AND SERVICES

Identify what’s in it for them—other than good feelings

Anyone who wants your business can paint a rosy picture about why they’re the best fit for you. But the real question is, how are you the right fit for them? Lots of companies can wax poetic about how they share your values or care about your cause. That all may be true, but that’s rarely ever the whole story. Many law firms, for instance, require their employees to do pro bono hours, which helps with their branding. A public relations firm may offer a nonprofit discount, but with the assumption that they’ll get to rub noses with other high-profile supporters at your annual gala.

These aren’t reasons not to work with a vendor. In fact, many of the best partnerships work precisely because both entities can scratch each other’s backs. But it’s important to have a frank conversation about expectations. Don’t be afraid to ask what they get from the deal. You may not mind…

One of the core problems that many nonprofits face is that although we work to serve or protect people or resources that are often called “priceless,” this failure to monetize our causes has the ironic effect of rendering them valueless. Certain sustainability and environmental business stakeholders are now taking the step of monetizing to try to force corporate leaders to manage natural resources more effectively.

A close examination of these tactics reveals several strategies that other nonprofits can use to monetize the work they do every day and add value to their time and output in corporate terms. Assigning value to nonprofit work in this way isn't just good for business; it's great for the vulnerable people and resources that nonprofits work to protect and serves the greater public interest, too.

Tying your cause to the cost of running other businesses

Sustainability advocates are now starting to have success showing corporate leaders just how costly it is to run a business without green, environmentally friendly practices in place. For example, while many businesses have resisted building more energy efficient buildings, it's now clear that doing so reduces their costs over time. This kind of investment in sustainability pays off, especially for big businesses.

But how does this work for other nonprofit messaging? That depends on the…