Mt. Laurel plays host to inaugural Southern New Jersey Non-For-Profit Conference

Recently, more than 180 leaders of non-profits from throughout South Jersey were looking to learn the art of thriving and becoming more than just apprentices in growing their organizations at the inaugural Southern New Jersey Not-For-Profit Conference. Investors Bank hosted the free conference, named “The Art of Thriving: Today and Tomorrow” at The Westin in Mt. Laurel.

“The goal of the Investors’ Conference was to provide non-profit professionals with not only a venue where they could network with each other, but also to offer tools and information to enhance their ability to identify and secure funding,” said Sandy Broughton, vice president and community development officer of Investors Bank.

Investors Bank and the Investors Foundation have given over $1 million in grant money to South Jersey not-for-profits in less than 18 months. Since Oct. 2013, the free Care2Share affinity program has served more than 150 nonprofits that have enrolled their operating accounts. Investors Bank makes quarterly donations to the non-profits based on the average balance maintained by their supporters in personal deposit accounts.

“Our bank is committed to growing in the South Jersey market,” said Kevin Cummings, president and CEO of Investors Bank. “In this area, we can serve and be a leader in the community and make a difference. Our employees live in the communities where they work and we encourage and support their commitment to volunteering. Investors believes it’s possible to be a successful bank and still do business by a set of values that aim for the greater good.”

Randal Pinkett, founder, chairman, and CEO of BCT Partners, a multimillion-dollar management, technology, and policy consulting firm based in Newark, was the keynote speaker of the well-received half-day conference. BCT works with many types of organizations, including nonprofits, in the areas of housing and community development, economic development, human services, government, healthcare, and education. Pinkett won the fourth season of NBC’s “The Apprentice” and served as an executive with Donald Trump at Trump Entertainment Resorts in Atlantic City. Currently, Pinkett sits on the board of directors of the New Jersey Public Policy Research Institute and the National Visionary Leadership Project, among others.

“I’m proud to be from New Jersey. The work that you’re doing is valuable and important, and sustains the lifeblood of New Jersey,” Pinkett said to conference-goers. “Surviving and thriving in any economy means heart, and requires tremendous discipline to focus on your organization.”

Pinkett urged attendees to focus on planning their organization’s growth, not sustainability, and to work “smarter, not harder.”

“To ensure growth, you have to ensure you’re covering all your bases,” he said. “You have to see, seek, and seize opportunity as a social entrepreneur and you’ll settle for nothing less. Think and be willing to do what is not expected and in doing so, you can master the art of thriving.”

Prior to Pinkett’s presentation, a funders’ panel, moderated by Victoria M. Bixel, president of Semple Bixel Associates, shared their insights about the current funding climate and provided tips about fundraising to attendees.