Revitalizing Purpose: Navigating Challenges and Embracing Excitement in Nonprofits for 2024

In our hectic lives, it's easy to lose sight of ourselves and the passion that initially led us to work and lead in nonprofits. This blog encourages a moment of reflection, a return to self-discovery, and an exploration of the roots that brought us into the world of museums and nonprofits.

Exploring Roots: When did your journey into the nonprofit sector begin?

Growing up, my parents took me to museums across LA County like the Norton Simon, the Huntington, LACMA, and The Getty (fun fact I recently got engaged after a visit to the Getty Villa).

My mother was finishing up her degree and happened to have an art history class. Typewriter on the dining table, she wrote on van Gogh and I looked on with delight. The paint strokes, the color, his story.

Did that little girl dress up as van Gogh for her elementary school famous figures presentation? Oh yeah.

Did she share, with 100% zeal, a few too many details from her library research? Absolutely.

My love of art, history, creative thinking, and museums was cemented.

Looking Ahead: What excites you about this year?

As I step into the new year, it's an opportunity to embrace the excitement that comes with the new. Melody Caban Consulting will be spearheading pioneering projects, leading innovative sessions, and welcoming new clients. Plus, there are always cutting-edge trends and changes to stay on top of in the worlds of retail, nonprofit work, and museums.

Navigating Challenges: What frustrates you?

Staff turn-over. 

Is cutting a role worth the bottom-line savings? Are you trying to get by with “quiet promoting”?  What other costs will your organization incur?

Staffing hasn’t fully recovered [Johns Hopkins University reported in 2021 that the job losses at nonprofit arts organizations were nearly 5 times more than the average of all nonprofits (-34.7% vs. -7.4%)] and now we have to adapt, listen, learn and lead to retain staff and attract new staff.

Inspiration: When was the last moment that left you inspired?

Amidst the challenges, some moments inspire us to persevere. For instance, reading about the impactful work of the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas (HWNT) through their local Latinas in Progress (LIP) program is a testament to the positive impact nonprofits can have on communities.