State of the Nonprofits – Details, episodes & analysis

Over the last year, MSS has been working behind the scenes to create a multi-employer welfare association that would allow nonprofits in our region to come together for the purpose of accessing quality healthcare benefits for employees at more affordable rates. Your help is needed to continue the effort as we work toward building a meaningful association for nonprofit employees serving across our region. In this episode, host Autumn Vest is joined by Jeff Hughes, Vice President with Holmes Murphy introduce the West Texas Nonprofits Benefits Trust (WTXNBT) currently in development.  

In this episode:  

Learn more about the West Texas Nonprofits Benefits Trust at https://wtxnbt.org/  

On this site, you can submit your data to join the effort or Register for a Town Hall Meeting. 

You can also email info@wtxnbt.org to request a one-on-one meeting for your agency.  

If you would like to submit a show idea, contact Autumn at avest@midlandss.org.  

"State of the Nonprofits" is a program of MSS produced in partnership with the⁠ ⁠Recording Library of West Texas⁠⁠.      

In this episode of State of the Nonprofits, we dive into the creation and goals of the newly formed Midland Nonprofit Marketing Network (MNM). Hosted by MSS’s Executive Director, Autumn Vest, the conversation brings together founding members of MNM—Cali Trowbridge of SHARE, Rachel Austin of Bynum School, and MSS's own Leslie English. 

Together, they explore how and why this unique network was started, its goals for fostering peer support and collaboration among nonprofit marketing professionals, and its long-term potential for nonprofits. From first meetings and early challenges to ambitious future visions, this episode provides insight into the impact of peer networks on nonprofit success. 

Find out more about MNM and upcoming meetings, contact Leslie English at lenglish@midlandss.org.  

"State of the Nonprofits" is a program of MSS produced in partnership with the⁠ ⁠Recording Library of West Texas⁠⁠.      

State of the Nonprofits host and MSS Executive Director, Autumn Vest, welcomes Thaddeus Squire, Chief Commons Steward at Social Impact Commons in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Thaddues recently traveled to Midland to join us as the keynote speaker for the a luncheon celebrating the 10th Anniversary of MSS. One of his many areas of expertise lies in shared resources or commoning. This episode explores the power and impact of commoning.  

In this episode:   

Thaddeus has more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit management field, focusing on arts and cultural heritage. Following government relations work for the Philadelphia Museum of Art, he went on to found Peregrine Arts, a multi-arts producer, and Hidden City Philadelphia, among other curatorial projects. His significant work in nonprofit resource sharing began in 2010 as founder of CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia, the first comprehensive fiscal sponsor focusing on arts and heritage, which manages more than 120 independent organizations. Thaddeus’s creative practice is focused on systems design for nonprofit resource sharing, in particular practices based in commoning and commons management principles. His work is grounded in the fields of American Pragmatism, Common Pool Resource Economics, Cooperative Management, New Localism and the Applied Behavioral Sciences. Additionally, he has deep expertise in the history of philanthropy and the nonprofit sector, nonprofit management, fine and performing arts, heritage preservation, and museum sciences. Thaddeus holds degrees from Princeton University, the University of Leipzig (J. William Fulbright Fellowship), and the Mendelssohn Conservatory of Music & Theatre.  

Find out more about Social Impact Commons: https://www.socialimpactcommons.org/ 

MSS is proud to be a partner with ⁠Pioneer Natural Resources⁠. With Pioneer's partnership, we are working to create impact in our nonprofit community with programs like State of the Nonprofits, IT Services and more.        

"State of the Nonprofits" is a program of MSS produced in partnership with the⁠ Recording Library of West Texas⁠.       

Each season of State of the Nonprofits, we like to take an episode to focus on self-care and avoiding burnout. In this episode, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Area Director, Dustin Pearce, shares what works for him and how he came to develop a daily seven step routine to keep him focused and ready for whatever the day brings.

In this episode:

Find out more about Fellowship of Christian Athletes: https://www.permianbasinfca.org/

For more information on Brene Brown’s Dare to Lead List of Values, visit https://brenebrown.com/resources/dare-to-lead-list-of-values/.

MSS is proud to be a partner with ⁠Pioneer Natural Resources⁠. With Pioneer's partnership, we are working to create impact in our nonprofit community with programs like State of the Nonprofits, IT Services and more.     

"State of the Nonprofits" is a program of MSS produced in partnership with the⁠ Recording Library of West Texas⁠. 

Volunteer recruitment is one of the greatest challenges facing many nonprofits, but one agency is working to provide relief by recruiting a very specific community of volunteers. In this episdoe, MSS Executive Director and Host, Autumn Vest, is joined by Saul Herrera, Director of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) at Senior Life Midland.   

In this episode: 

Find out more about RSVP at Senior Life Midland at https://www.seniorlifemidland.org/senior-activities/.   

Connect with Saul Herrera.

MSS is proud to be a partner with ⁠Pioneer Natural Resources⁠. With Pioneer's partnership, we are working to create impact in our nonprofit community with programs like State of the Nonprofits, IT Services and more.      

 "State of the Nonprofits" is a program of MSS produced in partnership with the⁠ Recording Library of West Texas⁠.  

MSS is celebrating its 10th Anniversary in 2024! To celebrate, we're kicking off Season 3 of State of the Nonprofits with a look back at how MSS began and where the first 10 years have led the organization. Joining MSS Executive Director and Host, Autumn Vest, is Vicki Jay, former executive director and a founding member of the committee that formed Midland Shared Spaces.  

In this episode: 

Find out more about MSS and how you can join us in celebrating this milestone at https://midlandss.org/10-year-celebration.  

Where is Vicki Jay now? Find out more about the National Alliance for Children's Grief at https://nacg.org/.    

MSS is proud to be a partner with ⁠Pioneer Natural Resources⁠. With Pioneer's partnership, we are working to create impact in our nonprofit community with programs like State of the Nonprofits, IT Services and more.      

 "State of the Nonprofits" is a program of MSS produced in partnership with the⁠ Recording Library of West Texas⁠.     

In this episode, MSS Executive Director and Host, Autumn Vest, welcomes Tim Jebsen, executive director, and Hannah Allee, Marketing Director, for the Midland Community Theatre. Hear the MCT perspective on volunteering, collaborating and planning for the future. AND get excited for the 2024 opening musical - OH MY!

In this episode:

Midland Community Theatre, https://mctmidland.org/

MSS is proud to be a partner with Pioneer Natural Resources. With Pioneer's partnership, we are working to create impact in our nonprofit community with programs like State of the Nonprofits, IT Services and more.     

 "State of the Nonprofits" is a program of MSS produced in partnership with the Recording Library of West Texas.    

Maintaining employee morale is challenging when agencies are navigating leadership changes.  As new leaders step in, changes in style and direction can leave staff members feeling adrift and sometimes disgruntled. On this episode of State of the Nonprofits, host Autumn Vest visits with Dr. Elise Kail, a retired educator with vast experience in leading groups through change. Dr. Kail is now a consultant and owner of Kail Consulting, LLC.  

MSS is proud to be a partner with Pioneer Natural Resources. With Pioneer's partnership, we are working to create impact in our nonprofit community with programs like State of the Nonprofits, IT Services and more.     

 "State of the Nonprofits" is a program of MSS produced in partnership with the Recording Library of West Texas.    

With a new year just a few holiday-filled months away, many nonprofits are working to recruit board members to their causes. Recruiting young professionals can be difficult. Not only finding those individuals with the flexibility to serve, but also with the willingness to make a commitment. In this episode of State of the Nonprofits, MSS Board Member, Lauryn Hendrix, shares her experience in service and how her fellow board members participated in her growth.

MSS is proud to be a partner with Pioneer Natural Resources. With Pioneer's partnership, we are working to create impact in our nonprofit community with programs like State of the Nonprofits, IT Services and more.    

 "State of the Nonprofits" is a program of MSS produced in partnership with the Recording Library of West Texas.   

It's Cybersecurity Awareness month! Technology is a core aspect of the services that MSS provides, so of course we're dedicating this episode to our very own MSS IT Services Department and welcoming IT Director, Gary Hires, back to State of the Nonprofits. In this episode, you can expect a bit of Cyber Security 101. What nonprofits need to know and how you can be prepared for an attack.  

MSS is proud to be a partner with Pioneer Natural Resources. With Pioneer's partnership, we are working to create impact in our nonprofit community with programs like State of the Nonprofits, IT Services and more.    

"State of the Nonprofits" is a program of MSS produced in partnership with the Recording Library of West Texas.