Skip to content

Action

This describes the things Services in Action does.

Website Evaluation

Is your website working for you?

One of the more surprising activities Services in Action has taken on is website development.

It’s surprising because it was never an area we actively pursued. However, in helping people organize a program, realize an idea, or communicate a mission, a website is an essential component. So evaluating and (re)designing websites became a natural part of our work.

Many times, our website work hasn’t even been for a nonprofit, but for someone on a tight budget. Here are a few examples of our recent work

If this email has you thinking about your own website, or lack thereof, here are six questions to ask your website:

Read More »Website Evaluation

Meaningful Mothers Day

This month’s Book Club read is Eloquent Rage by Brittany Cooper. It’s an incredibly thought-provoking look at Cooper’s experience growing up as a Black women in the US. The book focuses on the intersectionality of being both Black and a woman.

Cooper describes the very specific “mundane magic” it takes to be a Black mother “making a way out of no way.”  She argues “the unfair part is that folks are far more concerned with policing how Black women carry the baggage than with reducing the load hoisted upon us in the first place.”

Read More »Meaningful Mothers Day

Supporting The Aged Family Uganda

We are turning our attention to The Aged Family Uganda, (www.tafu.org/) an NGO in Kampala, Uganda. TAFU provides support for elderly people at home and in hospital.

Elderly people in Uganda receive little attention. Yet their role, especially grandmothers, is an essential part of the growth and wellbeing of the country. As HIV/AIDs has left many children without parents, it is grandmothers who step in to the caregiving role. It is TAFU’s mission to care for elderly people, check in on them, and advocate for the them.

In the April 2020, little was known about the spread of COVID. When Nataria Namusisi, 82, in the Nakulabye Kimwany town in Luweero came down with the flu, her family was concerned how this would affect them. Right away, her granddaughter Rose was brought home from school to help care for Nataria. Rose’s mother informed a family member of the illness, this family member also happened to be the Chair of the COVID task force.

Read More »Supporting The Aged Family Uganda

Support for Nonprofits

Survey time!

The open ended, tell-us-what-you”re-thinking kind.

Much of the resources we create come from nonprofit professionals asking us for help. I love getting questions like what is the best project management software? Or I want to start a charity; how do I begin? Or e need someone to take a second look at our website/fundraising plan/communication piece. Could you do that?

If you can have one thing to make your job easier, either just for today or overall, what would it be? What do you need help with?

Read More »Support for Nonprofits

International Women’s Day

Monday, March 8th is International Women’s Day. This is a day to celebrate the achievements of women and girls, as well as a day to raise awareness of the work that still needs to be done.

Years back, I was asked why I bothered recognizing this day because “women here have it pretty good.”

Since when is “pretty good” the point in which we stop? Since when do we settle with “pretty good”? “Pretty good” isn’t good enough for me and I’m not going to stop working for equality at pretty good.

Read More »International Women’s Day

Top 5 Podcasts for Nonprofit Professionals

Over the past year as life has changed, many of us have responded by taking up new hobbies and routines. I for one, have discovered the incredible world of podcasts and audiobooks. Although I have always had a keen interest in listening to stories, this new hobby has really gained momentum. I listen all the time, mostly while doing other chores such as cooking. 

I listen to a lot of podcasts for nonprofit professionals and how to do good better. While not all podcasts are created equal, here is my list of top choices:

Read More »Top 5 Podcasts for Nonprofit Professionals

Audacity

Our Book Club is reading Audacious Endeavors throughout February. Author Somya Munjal provides the definition of audacious as:

  1. “showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks” and
  2. “showing an impudent lack of respect” (page 7).

Nonprofit professionals are called to be audacious by boldly pushing for change, higher standards, and being better. In doing this, it is easy to become disrespectful. I’m not talking about being disrespectful to the community we serve, but to others who perhaps get in our way, from other industries, policymakers, politicians, donors, …the list goes on.

Read More »Audacity

Playing Favourites with Vaccines

The nonprofit industry is made up of people who care passionately, putting people before profit.

Unlike government and other influential decision-makers who respond to the changing requests of the people they serve, the nonprofit industry upholds their organization’s mission unwaveringly.

This past week some headlines have read “Who can get the COVID vaccine in Florida? Hint: It helps if you have donated to a hospital” and “Playing favorites? Hospital boards, donors get COVID shots.”

Read More »Playing Favourites with Vaccines

Building an Incinerator

We’re turning our attention to AFSCO and a project they have been asked to support. 

The African Friends Service Community, (AFSCO) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving their community. AFSCO is lead by Bampalana Mohammed. He has devoted his life to helping others, especially orphaned and vulnerable children. His Facebook feed tells the story of a passionate and endlessly caring person, with a few breathtaking photos of the Nile.

Recently, a local school asked AFSCO for help. They need an incinerator.

Read More »Building an Incinerator