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, we created Fieldstone4U, 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. Our regular programs serving nonprofit leaders also transitioned virtually and the Fieldstone4U sessions will continue as needed.
I wanted to respond immediately to the needs of our network so they could navigate their organizations through the most trying times most have ever faced. With total support from our board of directors, we quickly set up multiple sessions based on our members’ requests. Our offerings have grown organically based on issues and challenges they are facing on a day-to-day basis.
Opportunities through Zoom teleconferencing 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 and Building a Dream Team: Hiring and Firing During the Pandemic. 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.
Farrell Hirsch, CEO of The Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton and Network member said, “For me, what separates the Fieldstone Zoom chats in a very crowded field is context. I look at the names and faces of the other participants and I’m highly aware that this is a group of peers – the very people who are facing the same set of circumstances as I am. This allows us to get to the meat of the discussion quickly, whether the problems are about cash flow, programmatic challenges, or loneliness.”
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
