January 2025 Volume 12, Issue 1
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Dear friends, In 2024, you helped raise girls' confidence. Now, in 2025, they're ready to soar.
As we enter the new year, I, too, feel ready to soar. I have such immense gratitude, hope, and excitement for the journey ahead. My optimism is rooted in the strong foundation we have built together through the years. By finding strength in our connectedness, we are prepared to spread our wings to achieve our goals, just as our girls boldly do in our program. This year, we are releasing another timelier-than-ever curriculum and launching two exciting new initiatives – an alumni engagement strategy and a national coach recognition program. |
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With your unwavering dedication and support we'll continue to expand our reach, create places of belonging, and inspire the next generation of girls.
Stories from the families we serve always reinforce the impact we are having and warm my heart. A parent from South Carolina recently shared how GOTR positively impacted her daughter, "My child is so much stronger, responsible, and confident in her resilience to try and not give up. She would lay out her running clothes for practice the night before. She loves Girls on the Run, and so do I. Thank you to the team." Another caregiver from Florida shared that “GOTR taught my girl to see the best in everyone.”
Receiving feedback like this deeply reinforces my commitment to our mission and fills me with purposeful drive for the year ahead. And thanks to you, I know so many transformational experiences like these will happen in 2025. Each initiative is a step toward our shared vision of a world where every girl can activate her limitless potential. Thank you for your continued commitment to our mission. Your leadership and passion make every uplifting success story possible, and I am truly honored to serve alongside each of you. Here's to another remarkable year. Already one month in, and I can see it's shaping up to be one brimming with courage, collaboration, and meaningful change.
See you at the starting line! With gratitude, |
Elizabeth Kunz CEO, Girls on the Run International |
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The relationship between a board chair and council director sets the tone for governance, strategic direction, and organizational culture. A strong indicator of a successful non-profit organization starts with a healthy, effective relationship between these two individuals. To learn more about building these positive relationships, please review the pre-recorded Board Chair Training webinar and Board Chair Prep Kit.
The following board chairs and council directors shared the benefits of maintaining a meaningful and collaborative relationship and the strategies behind building them. |
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Nicole and Kasha focus on growing professionally and building mutual respect and trust to strengthen their bond. Together, they recently participated in a professional development coaching program through the Rhode Island Foundation. This cohort delved into critical areas for successful governance, such as fundraising, recruitment, and financial oversight. The program was instrumental in defining their responsibilities and expectations and supporting their strategic planning for the upcoming fiscal year.
Since they began working together, Nicole and Kasha have prioritized flexible and informal planning meetings that foster trust and openness. They have found that productivity can take place in various settings. Sometimes it occurs working behind a desk, and other times it occurs in a relaxing setting like a brewery. |
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Kathy and Sarah believe communicating clearly and professional development are crucial to their healthy relationship. To facilitate consistent and effective communication, they remain accessible by phone for urgent matters and schedule regular in-person meetings for comprehensive discussions. They also prioritize learning and growing. Although they cannot always attend professional development events together, they both allocate time for workshops, seminars, and training opportunities to improve their leadership skills. One notable experience was attending the GOTR Summit. They have attended twice together and found it inspiring, providing new ideas to incorporate into the program.
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Brian and Kayla highlight the importance of setting strategic goals, prioritizing professional development, and networking with sister councils. They work together to develop and review strategic plans to ensure progress toward shared objectives. A strategic planning committee assists Brian and Kayla by clarifying the strategic goals and providing guidance on how to achieve those objectives. Each January, the board and staff convene to review expectations and ensure organizational alignment.
In regard to prioritizing professional development and networking with sister councils, Brian and Kayla attended the 2024 Summit in Las Vegas and completed the T3 Training to better support their program coordinator. Additionally, in February, they attended Central Ohio's Sneaker Soiree for fundraising event tips, and this past fall, they visited Northeast Ohio's fall 5K to gain insights on scaling their own 5K. By collaborating with sister councils and learning new things together, their relationship has deepened and they have been able to set new aspirational goals as a team.
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Molly and Suzanne emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and celebrating milestones as key strategies for an effective partnership. After working as a school psychologist, in addition to other personal hobbies, Suzanne often participates in GOTR activities during evenings and weekends. Similarly, Molly manages her busy personal schedule alongside her role at GOTR. They maintain this balance by communicating clearly and defining boundaries. They communicate urgent matters via text or call, send emails using the scheduling function to respect each other’s time, and encourage self-care. The highlight of their partnership is acknowledging achievements and celebrating wins together. Such accomplishments include recruiting new sites, training new coaches, securing funding, organizing successful 5K events, and recognizing the contributions of volunteers, participants, staff, and board members.
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NEW: Board Chair Training & Prep Kit
The on-demand Board Chair Training webinar provides a comprehensive overview of board chairs' key responsibilities and skills. Whether you are new to the role or a seasoned leader, the training covers essential topics, including leadership responsibilities, strategies for effective execution, and the importance of fostering strong organizational relationships. In addition, the Board Chair Prep Kit is a resource that provides essential insights, practical tips, and best practices, emphasizing the critical 30-, 60-, and 90-day milestones as well as key planning tasks for a board chair’s first year.
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NEW: National Candid Report & Council Director Compensation Setting
The 2024 Candid Nonprofit Compensation Report, previously known as the GuideStar report, is now available on the Council Portal. (Please contact your regional director to gain access to the Council Portal and this report.) This report is the most comprehensive compilation of nonprofit employee compensation data and is the only large-scale analysis of its kind. The Candid report assists in evaluating salary levels for key positions within the organization.
This 24th edition is derived from more than 128,000 Form 990s compensation data filed by tax-exempt organizations with the IRS for fiscal year 2022. The compensation report includes data categorized by state, metropolitan statistical areas, organization type, and budget size.
Attracting and retaining exceptional leaders through fair and equitable compensation practices is important for operating successful and sustainable nonprofit organizations. We strongly encourage council leaders and boards to utilize this report, along with other localized data. Please email your regional director with any questions.
As council leaders and boards prepare budgets and compensation planning, remember it is the board's responsibility to annually assess the performance of the council director and set and evaluate their compensation. Additionally, please take note that the updated Mission Advancement Markers now have a Competitive Council Director Salary category, which assesses the council director's compensation utilizing the National Candid Report and Living Wage data. This reporting ensures that council leadership is paid at or above the median salary or living wage (whichever is greater) for the local council. Please refer to page 6 of the FY24 Mission Advancement Guidebook for more information on this category, indicator, and target.
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REMINDER: Board Resources Page & Board Fundamentals Webinar Series
As a reminder, the Board Resources Page is the online organizational hub for board members that includes: - Regional director support
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Governance
- Position descriptions
- Recruitment
- Orientation
- IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity, and access)
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Mission Advancement Markers
- Webinars
- Board training
- Performance management
- Leadership recruitment and hiring
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Succession planning
We require no login to access the webpage.
Tip: If your board is gearing up for new board member orientation or you are seeking foundational board training, be sure to check out the Board Fundamentals four-part mini-series or the Board Training Playlist.
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