State of the Nonprofits

In recent years, we've seen a surge of people and groups coming together to create impact in our communities. One such group is the Permian Strategic Partnership, a coalition of leading Permian Basin energy companies who joined together to work in partnership with leaders across the region’s communities to address current and future challenges to the responsible development of the vast oil and...

Autumn Vest, MSS ED, and Bailee Hennis, RLWT ED, join forces to co-host this episode of State of the Nonprofits. Autumn and Bailee visit with Catherine Ashton, Founder and CEO of The Giant Squid Group. This conversation dives into thinking beyond the box when it comes to staffing and building your nonprofit team. Through meeting team members' individual needs and understanding their experience...

No matter the reason an executive director or CEO leaves a nonprofit, planning for future leadership is not something many organizations do very well.  The best thing we can do for our missions, is to plan ahead and be prepared for the future. In this episode, two guests to chat with me about how Midland Children's Rehabilitation Center (or MCRC) faced succession planning. Our host MSS Executi...

If you have worked in nonprofits in Midland-Odessa, you've likely met this episodes' guest along the way. Joining MSS Executive Director and Host, Autumn Vest in the Recording Library of West Texas Studio is Kay Crites, the soon to be retired executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Permian Basin. MSS is proud to be a partner with Pioneer Natural Resources . With Pioneer's...

Our nonprofit community is robust and serving youth in Midland is the focus of a great many nonprofits. In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Howard, the new superintendent of Midland Independent School District explores her vision of how nonprofits can partner with the district for student success.     Connect with Dr. Stephanie Howard , Superintendent   Connect with Melissa Horner , Executive Director...

MSS is hosting a FREE Midland Nonprofit Celebration and Social event on Wednesday, July 19 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This episode is all about the who, what, when, where and why! Host Autumn Vest is joined by MSS staff members Gary Hires and Marc Kondrup.     After you learn all about it, visit  https://midlandss.org/services/mss-events  to save your seat!  "State of the Nonprofits" is a pr...

This episode of state of the nonprofits discusses sensitive issues that may be a trigger for some of our listeners. Our conversation focuses on emergency preparedness particularly for active shooter events. Please listen with caution.   How can nonprofits best prepare for emergencies like active shooter events? Eric Harrell of the Midland Fire Department joins MSS in the studio to share some guida...

It's award season in the Permian Basin! Nominations are now open for the 2023 Beacon Awards. In this episode, Laurie Johnson, executive director of the Nonprofit Management Center of the Permian Basin, shares the details of the awards. Learn more about the categories and nomination process.     For more details or complete a nomination form, click here:  https://www.nmc-pb.org/beacon  The 2023...

Funders across West Texas and South Eastern New Mexico recently gathered for the first “Permian Basin Area Funders Network.” Private and community foundations joined with corporate funders to discuss the greatest issues facing our region and to share ideas across county and state lines. Mark Palmer, CEO of the Abell-Hanger Foundation, joins our host, Autumn Vest, in studio to share why this conven...

For decades, nonprofits have relied upon volunteers to deliver services and achieve missions. The last few years volunteer recruitment has become increasingly difficult. In the 2022 State of the Nonprofits survey, we learned that recruiting and retaining volunteers is one of the greatest challenges facing our nonprofits. In this episode we sit down with Mikey Jacquez, program coordinator for SHARE...

Across West Texas, nonprofits are seeing a rise in the needs of their communities. With the lingering impacts of COVID and ongoing economic challenges, nonprofits are working to overcome a variety of obstacles in order to provide necessary services with excellence to the people of our region. In this episode, our host Autumn Vest is joined by Libby Campbell, CEO of the West Texas Foodbank to discu...

WTXNonprofits.org is a project of MSS designed to connect individuals with nonprofits through outreach efforts including a robust, vibrant online directory of nonprofits operating or serving in West Texas, for community members to access information about missions, services, volunteer opportunities, and events. Learn more with MSS Impact Coordinator, Leslie English.  In this episode: For more info...

Collaboration may seem like a bit of a buzzword these days, but in reality, it can redefine the way in which nonprofits can effectively deliver goals in exciting and unprecedented ways. In this episode we're joined by Laura Wolf of Basin PBS and Rachel Ritter of Midland Festival Ballet. These two executive directors have figured out The Power of Collaboration! In this episode: Basin PBS  http...

In this episode, meet the newest member of the Abell-Hanger Foundation, Julia Vickery. Julia sits down with us to discuss the launch of the Leadership Acceleration Program, an effort to strengthen nonprofit leaders in our community. Mentioned in this episode: Abell-Hanger Foundation,  https://abell-hanger.org/ Leadership Acceleration Program,  https://abell-hanger.org/our-initiatives/lea...

The final episode of season 1 of the State of the Nonprofits looks ahead to 2023. It's time to start planning for the 2023 Permian Basin Gives Event coming on February 21! Registration is now open! In this episode, hear from Leslie Uchytil, the event coordinator. We're also talking about the State of the Nonprofits Study, now open for all nonprofits in West Texas.  In this episode:  Regi...

Nonprofits use programming to deliver services into our community and to spread the message of their mission. There are some truly innovative and exciting programs happening right here in West Texas. Sometimes the biggest challenge is in bringing people to your program. In this episode, our host is joined by Randy Ham, Executive Director of Odessa Arts, to talk about how he's working to engage the...

In this episode, our host and MSS Executive Director, Autumn Vest, is joined by the incomparable Sue Roseberry. Mama Sue, as she is often called, is master storyteller and presenter and also the Executive Director of the Midland Storytelling Festival. Join the conversation with Sue as she presents a different perspective on embracing diversity and being more inclusive.  In this episode: ...

Nonprofits use storytelling to build relationships with a variety of audiences. In this episode, Ryan McGuire, founder of Armic Systems, helps us understand how nonprofits can maximize social media to tell the story and get the message out. If you are interested in learning more about Armic Systems services, visit  https://www.armicsystems.com/  or reach out to Ryan at ryan@armicsystems....

Have you ever been interested in working in nonprofits or moving into a fundraising role? There is support for that from the Nonprofit Management Center of the Permian Basin (NMC). In this episode, Erika Chavez with NMC joins our host Autumn Vest and fund academy graduate, Catrina Spears, Director of Marketing and Development for Spectrum of Solutions, to discuss the Nonprofit Management Center's...

Fundraising is a fundamental and ever changing part of nonprofit life. In the Permian Basin, we have access to a network of fundraising professionals through the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). In this episode, hear from the 2022 AFP Permian Basin President, Melanie Saiz, and learn more about our local chapter and fundraising strategies. In this episode: Association of Fundraising...

Nonprofits have the unique opportunity to not only serve community, but to build community among clients, volunteers, staff and beyond. In this episode, our host, MSS Executive Director, Autumn Vest, explores the role of nonprofits in connectedness and belonging with Becky Spurlock, Ph. D, Vice President of Student Affairs for the University of Texas Permian Basin. Join the conversation on how non...

IT is an integral part of the mission at MSS where we work to enhance nonprofit efficiency. In this episode, Autumn Vest, host and MSS Executive Director, sits down with Gary Hires, MSS IT Director, to remove some of the mystery of technology. Discover resources to access IT support and software at discounted costs and start planning for the future.  Featured in this episode:  MSS Manic...

Collective giving is a growing movement in West Texas, groups of people coming together to pool their dollars for greater impact. But in the case of 100 Men Who Give a Damn, it's so much more than just dollars. It's about creating connections and helping nonprofits share their stories. Join the conversation with the founder of 100 Men Who Give a Damn Midland, Jeff Hughes. Featured in this epi...

This is Part 2 of Taking the Blinders Off, a conversation with new collective impact agency, The Literacy Coalition of the Permian Basin. Part 1 was released on June 23 and is available wherever you listen.  The Literacy Coalition of the Permian Basin is a new collective impact agency founded to address adult and family literacy throughout our region. This is episode one of a two-part convers...

The Literacy Coalition of the Permian Basin is a new collective impact agency founded to address adult and family literacy throughout our region. This is episode one of a two-part conversation with executive director, John Trischitti. Join us for a dive into the results of the 2022 Adult Literacy Needs Assessment and find out why adult and family literacy is such a critical issue for West Texas.&n...