When stay-at-home orders were enacted in March, Fieldstone Leadership Network Orange County was quick to respond to the over 325 nonprofit leaders we serve. Within two weeks, Fieldstone4U was created, to connect and respond to the most pressing needs of the nonprofit community during COVID-19.
Fieldstone4U engages nonprofit executives virtually and connects them to leading industry teachers, resources and mentors. Regular programs serving nonprofit leaders also transitioned virtually and Fieldstone4U webinars will continue as needed. With total support from our board of directors, multiple sessions were quickly set up based on our members’ requests. Our offerings have grown organically based on issues and challenges they are facing daily.
Webinars have included Employment Law, Drafting a COVID-19 Action Plan, How to Engage Teams Remotely, SBA Funding, Steady Development in Unsteady Times, Public Law Center Q&A, Change Management, Think Tank Session: Where do Volunteers Fit in With Virtual Mission Delivery?, Storytelling, and Creating a Culture of Trust & Accountability. Reciprocal learning opportunities are also made available during virtual Happy Hours and Network member check-ins to combat isolation and to respond to immediate issues.
Many thanks to Janet Buck, Senior Managing Director with First Republic Bank who assisted with SBA and PPP loan questions and to Employment attorneys Tiffanny Brosnan and Ron Brand, who donated their time by providing vital support on navigating a myriad of HR issues.
Manivanh Khy, Chief of Staff with First Fruit, Inc. shared, “imagine yourself back at that moment when everything shut down in California, and you didn’t know what to do. As an individual contributor to an organization, you look to the leader. As a beneficiary or client, you look to the leader. Leading amid a crisis is something no one prepares you for, and it could cause great paralysis because, well, moving forward means so many unknowns exist. But Fieldstone Leadership Network moved into action on our behalf, listening to the community, and asking what they needed. And since March, they’ve been providing information to keep leaders well-informed, discerning, and well-connected. I, too, felt the intentionality of their actions to be less about securing their own presence during the pandemic. They were truly serving the nonprofit community in OC.”
For more information on how to get involved with Fieldstone Leadership Network, please email me at [email protected]. I look forward to chatting about opportunities to partner with you and your organization.
Robin K. Sinclair
Executive Director
