The Stacey Wedding Group

When I flip the calendar to December each year, my reaction never changes. My husband can hear me yelling, “Oh crap!!!” from the other room! I then try to remind myself that days are just numbers on a calendar. The world won’t implode if I don’t accomplish everything on my “to do” list before the end of the year. Then, of course, the game of mental ping pong begins as I consider how to push hard and finish because I like to make progress and wrap up the year with a bow on it.

Eventually, I settle somewhere in the middle. I choose one goal to focus on and complete, no matter how small it is.

What is your mindset as we wrap up the final month of 2023?

It’s a wrap–you made it through another month in one of the busiest seasons of the year!🥳 What are you celebrating as November comes to a close? I’m celebrating moving my goal forward to deliver more keynote addresses. This month, the progress has included a website revamp with a heightened emphasis on my keynotes, as well as the exciting opportunity I had to present one of my keynotes at a conference earlier this month.

If you're in need of a speaker, don't hesitate to reach out and book me for your next event!👇
https://staceywedding.com/staceys-signature-keynote/

Stacey's Signature Keynote - Stacey Wedding Group Whether you are a rising or established leader, business professional, or charitable change maker, you likely want to make a meaningful contribution and live

Introducing our November Community Hero: Wendi Schweigart, the Founder of Project Marilyn.

Wendi's mission through Project Marilyn is crystal clear: to ensure everyone experiences a healthy and dignified period. PERIOD.

To dive deeper into Wendi's story, discover more about Project Marilyn, and access additional nonprofit resources, subscribe to the SWGazette here: https://loom.ly/PcYLPME.

Exciting News from Nonprofit Everything Podcast! This week, we've got a new and exciting format for you! Andy Schuricht and I camped out at a table at the Alliance for Nevada Nonprofits Fall Conference, and used the opportunity to chat with some up-and-coming nonprofit leaders. Join us for a free-flowing conversation (and a few questions, too!) – it's an episode you won't want to miss!
Listen here: https://bit.ly/3MQG7cP

Last week I had the pleasure of leading the Southern Nevada Senior Law Program staff team through some goal setting and planning for the next couple of years. This organization has come so far under the leadership and resourcefulness of Diane Fearon and her dedicated team. A huge thank you for all they do to empower seniors through no-cost legal services!

Sincere, thoughtful gestures of gratitude cost nothing and yet build dividends that last a lifetime. As we near Thanksgiving, I’d like to give a shout out to Girls on the Run - Las Vegas (GOTR), a nonprofit that recognizes the importance of showing thanks in all that they do. Recently their board and staff team took time during their busy season to host a Limitless Potential Brunch for volunteers and donors—no “ask,” just pure gratitude 😊.

If you’re looking to support an organization that values your time and money, I’d encourage you to check them out and attend their Fall 5K Community Celebration on December 2nd. The 5K is always a “feel good” and energizing event as those of all ages come together to join side by side with the program participants crossing the finish line!

https://www.girlsontherunlv.org/5k

Thank you:
Kate McLaughlin
Kristen Fulmer

November is full of feel good events, and today was no exception. The Association of Fundraising Professionals AFP Las Vegas Chapter organized an inspiring luncheon to recognize professional fundraisers and the generous individuals and corporations who make our community stronger through their giving hearts each day. Endless gratitude to this year’s Philanthropy Day honorees!

President's Award
NFL Alumni Association - Las Vegas Chapter

Outstanding Philanthropist
Don and Dee Snyder

Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser
Harold (Hal) Weller

Outstanding Corporation
Roberto's Taco Shop

Outstanding Foundation
Share Foundation

Outstanding Fundraising Professional
Anthony Alonso

Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy
Oniana Boulware

Outstanding Champion of Diversity
Janet Quintero

Lifetime Achievement
Michael Blimes, FAFP

If you’re anything like me, you probably agree that the world could use a little more kindness. On World Kindness Day, please tag someone you think is kind and pay forward their kindness with your own kind act!

I’ll get us started and invite you to follow my lead…I want to give a virtual fist bump to Jamie Dean-Touzinsky. Jamie was my dad’s BFF when he volunteered at St. Rose Siena Pediatrics, and for the past 11 years since his passing, she has continued to reach out to my mom and me, sharing memories of my dad, and ensuring we gather annually for a meal in his honor. Her kindness and thoughtfulness have touched my soul greatly, and in honor of her, I’m going to give someone in my life a “just because” gift.

In honor of our monthly furry Friday feature, we figured now was a great time to celebrate our selfless vets AND the dogs by their side every step of the way. From military working dogs on the front lines to guide dogs providing safety and companionship for wounded veterans, let’s show some love to both our vets and their military service dogs!

Here are some ideas to turn your appreciation into action! ⬇ https://www.military.com/veterans-day/ways-to-give-back-to-veterans.html

If you have a "Donate Now" button on your website. do you need to do a charitable solicitation registration in every single state in the US? Andy Schuricht and I have the answer. Also this week, I have some opinions about whether or not you should allow board members to take a leave of absence, Andy talks about just how fancy video screens should be in order to prevent triggering angst among your volunteers, and we answer a perennial favorite: "How do I start a foundation?"👇
https://bit.ly/476cufI



Nonprofit Everything

The Alliance for Nevada Nonprofits (ANN) Conference in partnership with the YNPN Southern Nevada (Young Nonprofit Professionals Network) kicked off the conference’s opening reception at DISCOVERY Children's Museum last night with some fun nonprofit trivia and remarks from Melissa Kaiser, CEO of the Museum. Friendship and fellowship make the nonprofit community stronger, and if last night is any indicator, today’s all-day conference at the The LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada is going to be jam packed with learning, sharing, and connecting! Excited!

Captured in photos:
Samantha Wilson
Carrie Neuman
Kimberly Kindig
Melissa Sufana-Cipriano
Tim Mullin
Lisa Nelsen

A few months ago in one of his thought-provoking posts, “When in doubt, look for the fear,” Seth Godin shared the following:

“When someone acts in a surprising way, we can begin to understand by wondering what they might be afraid of.”

If you are a nonprofit CEO who wonders why your board sometimes makes the decisions it does, this post is for you. And if you’re a nonprofit board member who wonders why your CEO always seems discontent with the board’s performance, this is also for you. ⬇
https://staceywedding.com/2023/10/beyond-halloween-unmasking-the-fears-haunting-nonprofit-boardrooms/

Happy first day of November! As we kick off this new month, what are you looking forward to? I’m excited about the Alliance for Nevada Nonprofits Conference this week, the AFP Las Vegas (Association of Fundraising Professionals Las Vegas Chapter) Philanthropy Day Luncheon, and a few client retreats I’ll be leading. On a personal side, I’ll be celebrating cooler temps and fall-colored clothes, two of my favorites this time of year!

If you celebrate Halloween, I’d love to hear about the favorite costume you’ve worn– whether as a kiddo or in your adult years.

Here are a couple of pics of me as Rosie the Riveter! It certainly wasn’t a fancy costume but I love the spirit behind it– strong women saying, “We Can Do It!”

Whatever you do or wear this Halloween, I hope it’s spooktacular!

Are you a senior or do you have a senior in your life who may need the expertise of a lawyer but may not have the means to engage one? Thankfully, there are amazing nonprofits like the Southern Nevada Senior Law Program who help fill this void by empowering seniors through no-cost legal services.

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to attend the SLP Salutes Senior Advocates event, a fundraiser and recognition event to celebrate the exceptional compassion of dedicated attorneys who provide pro bono volunteer support. You can learn more about this organization at https://snslp.org/.

Captured alongside:
Diane Fearon
Adilene Plancarte

Is it wise to consider a loan to kickstart your fundraising program? Join my co-host, Andy Schuricht , and me as we share our insights. We also explore finding the right bank and bylaws issues.

Tune in to our podcast here: https://apple.co/3rZrv3Z, and don't forget to send us your questions for future episodes of Nonprofit Everything to [email protected]!

Introducing our Community Hero for October: Leah Brady!

There is no better time than Domestic Violence Awareness Month to celebrate the passionate and dedicated volunteer leader behind Safe Nest TADC. Join with us to celebrate Leah Brady, the Board President of SafeNest and the Chair of the SafeNest Foundation!

To learn more about Leah and access other nonprofit resources, subscribe to the SWGazette here: https://loom.ly/PcYLPME.

Have you ever taken your dogs on a walk and just marveled at how much joy they find in the simple things? The smells of what’s around them, the licks of things they probably shouldn’t be licking, and the wide-eyed wonder of things as simple as the lizard that scoots past them.

What a valuable lesson our dogs (and most animals, for that matter) teach us– the simple act of enjoying every step of the journey, of being centered in the present moment, and of finding pleasure along the path to achieving our goals, not just the end results.

The clock is ticking…have you registered yet for the Alliance for Nevada Nonprofits (ANN) Conference on November 2nd and 3rd? Less than 50 seats left! It’s a great opportunity for emerging leaders to level up and make some new connections along the way! November 2nd will kick off at Discovery Children’s Museum Las Vegas with CEO Melissa D. Kaiser, and Friday will start with yours truly, Stacey Devald-Wedding, as the opening keynote speaker and wrap up with Elizabeth Muto Hunterton as the closing keynote presenter.

Hope to see you there for learning, sharing, connection making, and fun social time! Follow this link for more information and to register: https://conta.cc/3sGJNXw

One of the best strategies I’ve found to make sure I’m prioritizing what’s most important to me is to compare my priorities and values with my calendar. By simply printing my calendar for a month or quarter at a time tells me what I need to know. Am I devoting time to my goals and what’s most important to me, or am I letting all of the other “stuff” take over my schedule? It’s not an easy exercise but a necessary one.

Tune in to the latest episode of the Nonprofit Everything podcast, where my co-host Andy Schuricht and I discuss "Questions to Ask in a Job Interview." Give it a listen at https://apple.co/3S0qu6i, and don't forget to DM me your questions for future episodes.

What skeletons are hiding in your nonprofit’s closet? Check out my latest blog post, inspired by Halloween, of course! Here's the link - enjoy! ⬇
https://staceywedding.com/2023/10/confronting-your-organizational-skeletons/

Spreading seeds of kindness benefits the giver and the receiver, so in honor of Do Something Nice Day, please post below something nice you commit to doing today. It doesn’t have to be big and grandiose– a simple compliment, buying someone a cup of coffee, or smiling and saying “hello” to someone goes a LONG way!

My commitment today? I’m going to send a hand-written card to someone I am thinking of but don’t connect with often enough.

Getting excited about the Alliance for Nevada Nonprofits (ANN’s) upcoming conference, Transformational Leadership: Building Capacity for Today & Tomorrow! On November 2nd and 3rd, emerging leaders in Nevada’s nonprofit sector will gather to learn, connect, socialize, and engage in topics focused on innovation and technology, strategy and operations, fundraising and revenue generation, and talent and culture.

Seats are limited, so for any nonprofit CEOs/EDs looking to find professional development for your team members, be sure to act soon, so you can secure your spot.

Find more details here: https://www.givsum.com/opportunities/transformational-leadership-3f3412cb4

Happy fall and happy first Monday of a new month! What are you celebrating or looking forward to this month?

Meet our September Community Hero, Kelly Maxwell, who serves as the CEO and Executive Director of Baby's Bounty.

Discover more about Kelly and access additional nonprofit resources by subscribing to the SWGazette here: https://bit.ly/3PzMPot

When I was a little girl, I remember running excitedly to greet my dad at the back door when he came home from work. As I got older, it changed (I blame hormones!). Eventually he and my mom would be lucky to even see me for dinner some nights, as I was often tucked in my bedroom chatting obsessively with friends on the phone (yes, I am old–we didn’t text back then!).

My fur baby Felicity, on the other hand, is elated every single time I walk through the door, come out of my home office, or step out of the shower. She drops everything (even her favorite squeaky toy) and runs to me, tail wagging.

In a time when we’re all glued to our devices, Felicity has reminded me to apply the love I show her to the amazing people in my life.

Life Lesson: Make people feel important and special by warmly greeting them– whether a hug, fist bump, or “hi” with a smile, it all makes a difference.

What happens when the staff hates the Executive Director but the Board loves the ED? Is this problem even solvable? Andy Schuricht and I had a fun time discussing this question that came in from one of our Nonprofit Everything podcast listeners.

We also shared some ideas about how to get your board engaged in fundraising and strategic planning, a problem so many nonprofit leaders face. Check out the newest podcast here, and be sure to rate us so we know how we’re doing!⬇😀
https://nonprofiteverything.com/engaging-your-board-in-fundraising/

Engaging Your Board In Fundraising The staff *hates* the ED but the Board *loves* the ED. Is this problem solvable? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts. Also this week, what's the best way to get your board engaged in important tasks like fundraising and strategic planning? Join us for another episode of Nonprofit Everything, and be s...

It feels like just yesterday when I asked clients and colleagues if they would be willing to do a video testimonial for me. I was uncomfortable asking because I didn’t want it to be awkward nor did I want to inconvenience them. Looking back, I am so glad I did! Many of them shared how happy they were to do it because I had helped them, and now they wanted to help me as I built my business and keynote speaking engagements.

What is one thing in your work world that you were reluctant to do and ended up being glad you did it anyway?

Excited to be the opening keynote for the Alliance for Nevada Nonprofits conference, Transformational Leadership: Building Capacity for Today & Tomorrow. Special thanks to the ANN Board for inviting me to kick off a full day of education, peer learning, and engagement for our local nonprofit professionals. Learn more about the conference here.

Whose corner are you in, and who is in your corner? Testimonials are one way to show your support or to ask for support from those who believe in you most. Don’t forget to use this tool to share some love and gratitude. Thanks to Lisa Habighorst, CEO of Spread The Word Nevada for the rave review ❤️!