Networking In Non-Governmental Organizations

During my break from social media, I realized the need for more thoughtful and intentional ways to engage with the world's many conflicts. This resource is a testament to that journey—a way of conditioning my body and mind for the long-term work of making change. It's offered with humility as just one approach among many, hoping it might resonate with others looking for ways to sustain their activism. Crafting resilience, focusing amidst the chaos, and battling the fog of forgetfulness in our activism journey require intentional practice and dedicated care. So, I review this every month and quarter. Here are the sections in my personal blueprint: 🧠 Top of Mind: This section identifies the three issues that currently occupy most of my time, attention, and learning efforts. It's about prioritizing what matters most at any given moment, recognizing emergent issues that are just coming onto my radar, and maintaining a consistent focus on areas of long-term engagement. This practice helps in directing my energy where it's most needed 📣 Voices + Organizations: Here, I list the voices and organizations I trust and follow for dependable insights and information. This involves curating a list of reliable sources that can guide my understanding and actions. It's about connecting with communities of knowledge and practice that align with my values and focus areas, enriching my perspective and grounding my activism in informed empathy and strategic action. ✅ Current Actions: This block outlines my actions, largely inspired by the leaders and voices I trust within my top issues. Whether it's sending support to communities in need, engaging in advocacy, or spreading awareness, this section is about translating awareness into tangible actions that contribute to the causes I care about. 🤝 Communities I'm Engaging With: Engagement takes many forms, both online and in-person. This part of the resource emphasizes the importance of community—finding solidarity, support, and shared purpose with others committed to similar causes. It's a reminder that we're not alone in our struggles and that collective action is powerful. 📕 Learning: Recognizing that the journey of activism is also one of continuous learning, this section prompts me to reflect on what I need to learn more about. It's about staying curious, asking questions, and engaging in research that deepens my understanding and effectiveness as an activist. 💰 Donating: This part acknowledges that support can be material as well as moral. It encourages thoughtful consideration of how I can contribute resources—be it time or money—to causes and organizations that make a difference. 📖 Reading: Finally, this section is dedicated to sharing resources and recommendations for further reading. It's about fostering a learning culture and sharing knowledge that can inspire and inform others.  #Activism #Resilience #SelfCare #CommunityEngagement

After founding and scaling a women's organization to 15,000+ members, I know one truth: 89% of women's networks fail to deliver real value. This one won't. As the founder and former CEO of the National Association of Women Sales Professionals (NAWSP), I built a community that transformed careers, not just conversations. Three critical elements I learned about building powerful women's networks: • Success depends on curation, not collection. The right 20 connections outperform 2,000 random ones every time. • Women leaders need spaces designed for their actual lives, not idealized versions. Your calendar is already full. • Networks that drive results focus on action and visibility, not just talk and theory. This is why I immediately recognized the power of the Wednesday Women Membership that just launched today. It's not another crowded Slack group with performative networking. It's built for exec-level women who lead with conviction, value authentic connection, and want every woman to rise. No Instagram-perfect corporate masks. No status symbol price tags. No time-wasting activities. Instead: ✅ Hand-curated and AI-powered network connections that actually matter ✅ Value that fits into your actual life ✅ A community rooted in action, generosity, authenticity, and visibility I've built and led organizations that changed the trajectory of women's careers for over a decade. The Wednesday Women approach aligns with everything I know works. Power doesn't come from larger networks. It comes from strategic ones. What would change if you stopped collecting connections and started cultivating the right ones? P.S. For women executives tired of networks that take more than they give: This is your community. https://lnkd.in/epHyq42c #WednesdayWomen #ExecutiveWomen

Most NGOs I meet are doing incredible work. But their communications? Often unpolished, cluttered, and doesn't justice to their work. Over the years, I've noticed a pattern and five common mistakes that hold NGOs back from telling their stories well: 1. Trying to speak to everyone and connecting with no one. 2. Overloading reports, websites, and decks with too much information. 3. Ignoring visuals or treating them as decoration, not storytelling. 4. Speaking in jargon that alienates audiences instead of inviting them in. 5. Treating communications as an afterthought rather than part of the work. The good news? These are all fixable. Be intentional about who you’re speaking to. Keep your content clear, skimmable, and respectful of time. Invest in authentic visuals that respect dignity. Use simple, human language (not AI generated content). Plan your communications alongside your programmes - not after. Your communications aren’t just a “nice-to-have.” They are part of your impact. If you’re ready to rethink how you tell your story, we’d be happy to help. Send me a DM or share below: which of these mistakes have you experienced or struggled with? . . . . #VisualStorytelling #SocialSector #Communications #CreativeAgency #SimitBhagatStudios

Everyday, I count myself extremely lucky to be associated with organisations like READ India. Here's a story out of the 100s we hear everyday. Faced with the devastating death of her brother during Covid19, and loss of financial resources, Sandhya Shrikrushna Salte, joined a READ India course on Food Processing in Kathoda village, Yavatmal, India. She soon launched her own home-based business, "Gopi Gruh Udyog", learnt how to use social media to promote her products, earning currently over Rs. 50,000/pm. Her success story is an inspiration to her other colleagues from the same centre. READ India recognises that women often face special barriers to education, formal employment, economic independence, perpetuating gender inequity and inequality. Which is why they have paid special attention to curating their trainings to focus on close-to-home, centre-based ones that can be provided online - the resultant activities can be completed either at the centre or at home. By equipping women with marketable skills and resources, these programs catalyse a process to break the cycle of poverty & empower women to actively participate in economic activities, promoting their social and economic wellbeing. Greater attention has been paid to women from minority communities & differently abled women so that solutions are created for a diverse group of women. READ India's skilling programs empowers women like Sandhya with necessary tools and knowledge to secure gainful employment or start their own micro-enterprises, in sectors with significant opportunities for self-employability. The impact has been profound and multifaceted: - Economic Empowerment: Partners gain skills and knowledge to access sustainable employment or start businesses, leading to increased income and financial independence. - Enhanced Social Status: New skills and economic independence improve the women's social standing, making them role models and leaders in their communities. - Improved Self-Confidence: Acquiring and applying new skills boosts women’s' self-esteem and empowers them to take on challenges. - Community Development: The program fosters self-reliance and economic empowerment, leading to individual success and broader community development initiatives. READ India put this model into practice in 2007, 17 years ago, and have created over 60 Community Library and Resource Centres (CLRCs) nationwide reaching more than 170,000 unique individuals. Lead by Geeta Malhotra and ably assisted by Smita Rai, READ has stood with 50,000+ women. The impact of Read India has been evaluated by their corporate partners, Accenture and Culvar Max. Their evaluation noted that the slow change in economic status or the growth of women’s participation in economic activities is further responsible for more respect for women, both in the community and household. On International Women's Day we stand in solidarity with all the women from READ. #skilling #womenempowerment #genderequality #IWD2025

What Are Radical Ways to Connect Startups, Founders, and Investors While Showcasing Local Talent? Networking could be more than the typical hotel conference room or formal meet-and-greet over coffee. Take a bolder approach to creating unforgettable connections while supporting local entrepreneurs in 2025– ☕️ Diners and Cafés? Hold networking breakfasts at a diner or coffee shop that opened recently. Let the founder share their story of perseverance and vision while attendees connect over coffee. 🌟 Startup Spotlight Nights Feature a handful of local startups in a pitch or demo session. Pair this with food and drink from local vendors for a true celebration of community talent. 🎨 Artisan Showcases Partner with local artists, musicians, crafters, or designers to highlight creativity and business synergy, proving innovation isn’t limited to tech. 🚶♀️ Startup Safari Create a “trail” where attendees visit multiple local businesses, hear founder stories, and connect with other participants along the way. ☕ Breakfast with Founders Create intimate morning meetups for founders and investors to share advice over coffee. 🍪 Workshops at Local Spots Host events where attendees can learn the story of a local business and participate in a fun activity (like baking or crafting). ➡️ Let’s reimagine networking. Which of these ideas resonates with you to build relationships? #CollaborateForChange #FounderResources

I’ve spent most of my professional life, including at Nestlé, engaging with stakeholders in boardrooms and in the field, from representatives of governments, international organization and NGOs to farmers, factory workers and members of local communities. I was reflecting on this experience while reading the latest version of the newly adopted Corporate Social Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), and in particular the provisions on “meaningful stakeholder engagement”. I’ve learned a lot from different voices. The inputs we collected from a wide range of stakeholders have shaped our approach to human rights at Nestlé and helped make our programs more effective and impactful. No doubt, meaningful stakeholder engagement is the way to go but what does that mean in practice? I don’t have any ready-made solution but can share a few thoughts based on some of the most recent work we've done on the ground with key partners: ➡️ Our income accelerator program, launched in 2022, is built on the inputs collected from cocoa-growing households who participated in the pilot program. We made significant adjustments based on their feedback. One change was to ensure a more even distribution of cash incentives throughout the year. Another was to split the cash incentives between male and female household owners, recognizing the contribution of women to cocoa production. Latest results from KIT Institute show that cocoa family income increased by 38% as a result of the program. Most importantly, the share of women having access to mobile money increased from 28% to 72%. ➡️ The Nescafé Plan pilot program in South Sumatra is based on our engagement with coffee farmers, addressing and adapting the program to their priorities and needs. The recent interviews conducted with farmers by our partner, Sustainable Food Lab, offered insights into the impact of the program on farmers’ yield, income and cash incentives. More than 80% of RegenTa farmers trained said that they gained knowledge in climate change risks and skills to mitigate them. 88 % who reinvested funds did so to rejuvenate their farms and drive future yields. ➡️ In Mexico, we’re testing a new approach, working with Proforest to identify and prioritize high-risk human rights issues. Meaningful stakeholder engagement is key for this model, ensuring stakeholders like local authorities, coffee farmers, and sugarcane workers are engaged so we can address the root causes of these issues together. While implementing these engagement processes at-scale isn’t always easy, they are key to the success of our programs. Stakeholders must be part of the design and implementation of any sustainability initiative. The fact that meaningful stakeholder engagement is now explicitly reflected in legislative acts like the CS3D means that we all need to be even more rigorous and systematic, even if it takes a bit more time to make sure we do it right. I'm eager to learn from your thoughts and experience in this area.

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗱. But, it does not have to be that way: Funding co-creative work can be painful. 💸 Resources run low 💔 Members burn out 🗣️ Collaboration fades Sound familiar? What if we flipped the script? Imagine your network fueled by: • Mutual care • Enough money • Time and energy To make it easier we co-created a guide to create blended resourcing strategies. Here are the highlights: 𝗦𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 🐝 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴, 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴 → Non-financial contributions. 𝙏𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨: Host a “contributions circle” where members offer what they can—facilitation, tech, space, etc. 🌱 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴 → Recurring income from members. 𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀: Create tiers that unlock access to tools, events, or learning spaces. 💱 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 → A portion of income goes back into the network. 𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀: Set a 10% contribution on paid projects and reinvest it into shared needs. 🌉 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 → Tap into infrastructure, funding, or expertise from aligned institutions. 𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀: Make a partnership with a university, NGO, or public agency. 🔥𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 → Run workshops, retreats, or consulting projects through the network. 𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀: Co-design a service offer and use income to sustain core operations. 🌻𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 → Great for launching big projects with funder alignment. 𝙏𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨: Apply for flexible funding that supports coordination, not just outputs. 🌀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝘙𝘦𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 → Share tools, knowledge, and space instead of always seeking cash. 𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀: Map assets and set up a simple system for sharing what’s underused. 👉 Most networks blend 2–4 of these models. The key is finding the right mix. Here is how: 1. 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 → Map needs, values, and current flows. Introduce the models. Facilitate an inquiry. 2. 𝗠𝗶𝘅 → Combine complementary models. Co-create a strategy that fits your network’s culture. 3. 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 → Start small. Pilot one piece. Reflect, adjust, and evolve together. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀? Your resourcing model: ✅ Aligns with your values ✅ Builds trust and ownership ✅ Supports long-term resilience Networks don’t just need money. They need living strategies built on relationships. 🧵 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲: https://lnkd.in/dAMbzaMn The guides was co-created by 30+ network practitioners convened by the Fito Network & Funded by INTRAC. 👇𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 What models has your network tried? What’s worked?

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐟 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 & 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 When I started out on LinkedIn, I used to read posts on networking & wonder why would I waste time networking while I should only focus on my studies and work (I was a naive student back then) Slowly when I started building my career as a psychologist, I realized the power of networking and it has been played a crucial role in my journey. Today, I want to share the ways it can really help YOU boost YOUR CAREER in the field of mental health & psychology. 1. 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑲𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒍𝒆𝒅𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔: In the dynamic field of psychology, knowledge is the key. When you network with professionals working in different niches, you can open the doors to a fortune of insights, upcoming practices, latest research, and beyond. 2. 𝑩𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝑺𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒎: The work of Mental health professionals is often emotionally taxing & lonely. When you meet other professionals, it is an amazing space where you can find support & a social circle of people who really get your work. (𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑦 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘!) 3. 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑶𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔: When you meet professionals from diverse backgrounds, you can figure out ways to collaborate & help each other grow in the field. Remember, collaboration is way above competition. By joining forces with other mental health professionals, we can expand our reach and offer comprehensive services that address a wider range of needs. It improves the quality of your services as well. 4. 𝑹𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔: Networking can also be a vehicle for advocacy and raising awareness about mental health. By uniting with others who share our passion, we can collectively work towards destigmatizing mental health issues, promoting well-being, and reaching out to people. 5. 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒕𝒉: Every connection you make, whether with a peer, mentor, or mentee, it contributes to your personal and professional growth. Engaging with others can challenge your preconceived notions, inspire you to improve, and provide fresh perspectives on the issues we address daily. Networking is not just about trading business cards or becoming LinkedIn connections; it's about building a community of support & knowledge that can help us navigate the complexities of our field. So, whether you're a seasoned mental health professional, a psychology student or just starting your journey in this field, remember that your network can be an invaluable asset. Reach out, engage, and make connections; it could be the key to your personal and professional growth as well as the betterment of the mental health landscape. 🤝❤️ P.S. Have you tried networking before? #MentalHealthNetwork #networking #StrongerTogether #collaboration #letstalk

Stop Networking the Wrong Way in the NGO Space! 🚫🤝 Networking is powerful—no matter the sector—but only if you stop doing this one thing: 👉 Stop chasing only the “big names” with flashy titles, positions, and popularity in the NGO world. Yes, I know this isn’t what you expected, but here’s the truth: Networking is about building meaningful relationships across all levels—above, beside, and even below you. Here’s why: 1️⃣ People Above You These are the experienced leaders with impressive roles in major organizations. 🔑 They can offer: - Access to funding and technical resources. - Job opportunities and mentorship. - Visibility for your work. - Strategic connections and expert counsel. 2️⃣ People On the Same Level as You Your peers are just as valuable in your network! 🔑 They can: - Publicize and support your work. - Be more accessible for collaborations. - Share opportunities you might have missed. 3️⃣ People Below You This might surprise you, but don’t underestimate their importance. 🔑 They could: - Be tomorrow’s leaders in top positions. - Remember how you supported or mentored them. - Advocate for you or your work in the present and future. Everyone in your network is an asset, regardless of where they are right now. Treat every connection with respect, kindness, and intentionality. 💡 Networking is about relationships, not rankings. Grow your network vertically and horizontally, and watch your opportunities multiply! ✨ How do you approach networking? Let’s share strategies in the comments! 👇 #NetworkingTips #NGOLeadership #ProfessionalGrowth #InclusiveNetworking #CareerDevelopment #SocialImpact

Since the October 7th terror attack on Israel, numerous commendable nonprofits (many supported by The Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation) have made a resounding impact in combating antisemitism and supporting Israel both digitally and on the ground. Their dedication and efforts, which were robust before the tragedy, have now surged exponentially. At the same time, we have witnessed multiple new initiatives from individuals and groups who are eager to contribute more. However, since they just started, many of these new initiatives lack the positioning, resources, and brand recognition needed to maximize their impact during such a critical period. To guarantee the success of these emerging initiatives, they can’t operate in silos. It's important for them to collaborate with established groups and organizations to build a powerful network that multiplies the impact through combined efforts. Here are 5 pivotal ways through which nonprofits can collaboratively thrive: 1. 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞: Nonprofits often have unique strengths, whether it's a robust social media presence, a network of influential supporters, or specialized knowledge. By sharing these resources, organizations can leverage each other's strengths while compensating for individual limitations. 2. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬: Connecting with organizations that share similar goals but approach them from different angles can lead to innovative solutions. For example, an organization focusing on education could team up with one specializing in media outreach to create comprehensive awareness campaigns. 3. 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬-𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: In the age of social media, visibility is key. Nonprofits can amplify their messages by cross-promoting each other's content. This not only broadens the reach of individual campaigns but also introduces supporters to related causes they might be passionate about. 4. 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐕𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞: Nonprofits often advocate for systemic change, and a unified voice carries more weight. The recent rally in Washington DC, where various organizations including the TalkIsrael Foundation united to support Israel, shows the strength of a collective front. 5. 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: To encourage collaboration, nonprofits can establish incentive programs that recognize and reward joint efforts, such as the Impact Forum Venture Fund. This could include grants for collaborative projects, recognition awards for impactful partnerships, or shared fundraising initiatives. As connectors in this field, it's our responsibility to champion collaboration and pave the way for a more impactful future. Together, let's amplify our voices, share our strengths, and create a force that stands far beyond the boundaries of individual organizations. #letsstandtogether #standwithisrael #nonprofits