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Celebration

Celebration

This time of year, many of us are celebrating the Winter Solstice, Hannukkah, Christmas, or Kwanzaa.  I spent some time contemplating the idea of celebration, even looking up the definition. One definition is to honor an occasion or holiday with ceremonies of remembrance and respect while refraining from ordinary business. Another is to mark an anniversary or special historical event with festivities or other departures from routine.  I noted that there is a common theme within these definitions of celebration: to do something different and better than what we do every day.

This is what I hope for all of us: that we take time to set aside our regular routines to enjoy this special time of year and recharge for 2020—the beginning of a new decade. My experience is that something important happens when we allow our brain to rest; we think bigger thoughts, we become more creative and even more hopeful.

I also contemplated all that I want to celebrate during this time of reflection.  I have a favorite saying, “celebrate that which you want to see more of.”   So, with that in mind, these are some of the things that I am celebrating at this time of year: 

COURAGE –the courage to take a stand—to set bold goals that will make a difference in the lives of people today and in generations to come–the courage to matter.

GRATITUDE—my deeply felt gratitude to everyone who helps drive the work of The Fedcap Group including board, staff, donors and those we serve. 

INSPIRATION—that spark, that exhilaration, that causes us to act with the goal of making a significant difference.   

PERSISTENCE— that firm course of action in of the face of difficulties or obstacles; even when those around us suggest that we give up.

FRIENDSHIP— that person who just seems to know what you need and when.

So, as we close out this decade, it is my hope that you take the time to celebrate—do something different than you do every day and contemplate and act on what really matters to you.

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FY19 Year-End Financial and Operating Results

FY19 Year-End Financial and Operating Results

On Thursday, December 19th, 2019, The Fedcap Group released its FY19 Year-End Financial and Operating results. This effort, conducted twice a year, provides key stakeholders with regular and timely disclosures about financial and operational performance, mission-related impact, and trends and challenges for The Fedcap Group and underscores our commitment to fiscal transparency.

Please click on the image below to download the presentation.

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The Fedcap Group Reports Year End Fiscal Year 2019 Operating and Financial Results

The Fedcap Group Reports Year End Fiscal Year 2019 Operating and Financial Results

The Fedcap Group Reports Fiscal Year 2019 Operating and Programmatic Results

  • Continued to expand the universe of individuals served by Fedcap Group brands
  • Broadened services in key areas of focus
  • Expanded international operations

NEW YORK, N.Y. (December 19, 2019) – The Fedcap Group, the parent company for a growing network of top-tier nonprofit agencies, today reported its financial and programmatic results for fiscal 2019 ended September 30, 2019. Committed to providing services that positively impact the lives of people with barriers to social and economic well-being, The Fedcap Group operates in four main practice areas:  Workforce Development, Education, Occupational Health and Economic Development.

Management Comment

“2019 was a period of significant progress for The Fedcap Group,” said Christine McMahon, Chief Executive Officer. “We continued to refine our work in our five key areas of focus:  Children ages 0-6, youth transitioning from foster care, individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, the previously incarcerated and those on public assistance.  We also enhanced our technological infrastructure through upgrades to our financial, HR, fund raising and business development platforms.

“The Fedcap Group’s branded agencies provided services to over 245,000 children, youth and adults in fiscal year 2019.   Specifically, we saw a significant increase in our work with children ages 0-6, combining with Bronx-based TOTS and opening two new child development centers in NYC—serving over 5,800 children ages 0-6 this year. 

“Another key highlight was the expansion of our business in the UK where we are branded as Fedcap Employment and Fedcap Scotland.  Through these companies, we served 10,250 individuals in 2019, well exceeding expectations.   The establishment and continued development of our international operations provides a platform for us to spread our tested model of service to individuals on public assistance and replicate the positive outcomes that we have achieved domestically.”

2019 Financial and Programmatic Metrics

Fiscal Year 2019 revenues were $301.9 million, an increase of 0.9% over the $299.3 million in revenues reported for Fiscal Year 2018. Over the last several years, The Fedcap Group has significantly diversified its revenue sources, bringing a broader array of services to at-risk populations.

  • Economic Development is comprised of business services operations that directly employ the populations we serve. In 2019, we employed over 1,700 people in these businesses, the majority of whom have disabilities or other barriers. Within this activity, the largest unit is Total Facilities Management, which provides services at many iconic sites in the U.S. and at government and commercial office buildings. Other social enterprises include: Manufacturing, which provides outsourced assembly and production of electronic products for our military, delivered by a workforce comprised of people with disabilities; Business Solutions, which provides all aspects of back office support to government and commercial clients; and Catering, which is a growing part of our portfolio.
  • Workforce Development continues to represent the area in which The Fedcap Group serves the largest number of individuals through a broad range of services, including the Single Stop platform. In 2019 we provided functional capacity assessments, employment readiness training, vocational evaluations, wellness services, counseling and job placement and job retention services to an expanded universe of individuals facing significant barriers to employment.
  • Education and Occupational Health represent growing bodies of work in the areas of early childhood services provided through Easterseals and assisting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) enter the workforce. The expansion of our work with the 0-6 population allows us to design and deliver an array of evidence-based practices that promote long term economic and social well-being. The Fedcap Group is also at the forefront of helping individuals with I/DD learn new trades and enter the workforce at competitive wages—ending segregated employment in sheltered workshops.

FY 2019 operating expenses were $301.4 million, 88% of which represented direct program expenses. Fedcap reported an operating surplus of $484,413 for the year compared to  $1,422,599 in the same period last year.

In December 2018, Fedcap increased its working capital line of credit to $28 million.  We continue to evaluate the appropriate sizing of our line of credit in order to ensure that it can support our continued growth.

At September 30, 2019, cash and marketable securities were $19.1 million compared to $29.0 million at the same time last year.

Key Contract Wins in Fiscal 2019

In fiscal 2019, Fedcap was awarded and executed contracts valued at over $42 million, of which the vast majority represented new business. These included:

  • Fedcap Inc.: A $6.1 million contract to provide technology services to WeCare lll NYC.
  • Easterseals New York: The award of a Staten Island preschool, offering 3 PreK and pre-school services with $3.4 million annual budget.
  • Fedcap U.K. Inc: $12.9 million in annual contracts to Fedcap Employment U.K., Ltd. and Fedcap Employment Scotland, Ltd. to provide a diverse array of sustained employment support to 10,250 individuals with diverse barriers to employment and social inclusion.
  • Easterseals Central Texas—a $1.6 million contract awarded by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission ECI Services to provide early childhood intervention to children in and around Austin TX.

Summary and Outlook

“FY 2019 results have set the stage for another year of positive achievements at The Fedcap Group. After several years of back-to-back double-digit growth, this was a year of slightly increased revenue growth, as we absorbed the wind-down of the large WeCARE contracts, which was a significant contributor to fiscal 2018 revenues. Exclusive of that contract, revenues would have increased 17% year-on-year.  

“Looking ahead at our pipeline of award opportunities and of potential acquisitions, we are confident that our fiscal 2020 will be a year of substantial growth for Fedcap. We are leveraging complementary capabilities and qualifications across our organization to achieve positive outcomes for clients and to win strategically important contracts.  The Fedcap Group’s operations now span 22 states domestically and the United Kingdom, enabling us to serve populations in need across a broad geographic footprint.

“The Fedcap Group ended FY 2019 in a strong financial position, and we continue to operate with rigorous financial and risk management controls and procedures to ensure that we remain a sustainable organization with sufficient infrastructure and resources to effectively serve clients.

“Additionally, we continue to build out our capabilities and footprint by engaging with other like-minded service providers to explore opportunities together that have the potential to significantly strengthen our combined impact on key issues facing the populations we serve,” Ms. McMahon noted.

About The Fedcap Group

For 85 years, The Fedcap Group has developed scalable, innovative and potentially disruptive solutions to some of society’s most pressing needs. Serving over 245,000 people each year, The Fedcap Group provides educational services to every age group, vocational training in high-growth industries, behavioral health services, work readiness skill building and jobs—all targeted to helping people achieve long-term self-sufficiency. 

The Fedcap Group also invests its time and resources in broader system change—working in partnership with federal, state and local government to improve the way services are designed, funded and delivered.

Conference Call Details

Date: 12/19/19 at 11:00am EDT
Phone: 1-844-792-3735
Link to Webcast: www.fedcapgroup.org/results

Financials

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The Fedcap Group Reports First Half Fiscal Year 2019 Operating and Financial Results

The Fedcap Group Reports First Half Fiscal Year 2019 Operating and Financial Results

The Fedcap Group Reports First Half Fiscal Year 2019 Operating and Financial Results

  • Continued to expand the universe of individuals served by Fedcap brands
  • Achieved 10% revenue growth
  • Program expenses continued to account for 88% of total operating expenses
  • Broadened services in key areas of focus
  • Established and expanded international operation

NEW YORK, N.Y. (May 29, 2019) – The Fedcap Group, the parent company for a growing network of top tier nonprofit agencies, today reported its operating and financial results for the first half of fiscal 2019, ended March 31, 2019. Committed to providing services that positively impact the lives of people with barriers to social and economic well-being, The Fedcap Group operates in four main practice areas:  Workforce Development, Education, Occupational Health and Economic Development.

Management Comment

“The first half of fiscal 2019 was a period of significant progress for The Fedcap Group,” said Christine McMahon, Chief Executive Officer. “We succeeded in substantially expanding the universe of individuals served by the top-tier agencies that comprise the Group; we built out our services in key areas of focus and in new geographies; and we established and expanded our international footprint through acquisition and follow-on organic growth.

“The Fedcap Group’s branded agencies provided services to over 150,000 children, youth and adults in the first half of this fiscal year.  Additionally, we expanded our services in several critical areas. These included a considerable increase in our work with the criminal justice population, where we provided on-site and office-based employment and housing-related services to nearly 2700 individuals and we began to ramp-up new managed care contracts to provide services to at-risk populations in New York, New Hampshire and Texas through our relationships with large, for-profit insurers.

“A key highlight of the first half was our acquisition of Kennedy-Scott, a U.K.-based organization that provides employment services. With that combination completed, we were awarded additional contracts in the U.K., where we are re-branded now as Fedcap Employment and we won a contract to provide similar services in Scotland, where we are operating as Fedcap Scotland.  Through these three companies, we are projected to serve 7,400 individuals in the UK in FY 2019.    The establishment and continued development of our international operations follows The Fedcap Group’s successful completion of several international projects and represents an important platform from which to replicate the positive outcomes that we have achieved domestically.”

First Half 2019 Financial and Operating Metrics

First half fiscal year 2019 revenues were $145.3 million, an increase of 10% over the $132.2 million in revenues reported for first half FY18. Over the last several years, The Fedcap Group has significantly diversified its revenue sources over the last several years, bringing a broader array of services to at-risk populations.

  • Economic Development is comprised of business services operations that directly employ the populations we serve. In the first half of 2019, we employed over 1,700 people in these businesses, the majority of whom have disabilities or other barriers. Within this activity, the largest unit is Total Facilities Management, which provides services at many iconic sites in the U.S. and at government and commercial office buildings. Other social enterprises include: Manufacturing, which provides outsourced assembly and production of electronic products for our military, delivered by a workforce comprised of people with disabilities; Business Solutions, which provides all aspects of back office support to government and commercial clients; Catering, which is a growing part of our portfolio, Security Services, Staffing Solutions and Home Health Care, where over 350 Fedcap-trained and licensed professionals provide at-home care to those in need.
  • Workforce Development represents the area in which The Fedcap Group serves the largest number of individuals through a broad range of services, including the Single Stop platform. In the first half, we provided functional capacity assessments, employment readiness training, vocational evaluations, wellness services, counseling and job placement and job retention services to a diversified group of individuals, each facing significant barriers to employment.
  • Education and Occupational Health represent growing bodies of work in the areas of Substance Use Disorder and Recovery and expansion of early childhood services through Easterseals. We provide a broad array of programs in the areas of behavioral health, evaluation & specialized training, assistance for youth transitioning from foster care, and vocational rehabilitation for individuals with disabilities.

First half 2019 operating expenses were $145.3 million, 88% of which represented direct program expenses. Fedcap reported an operating surplus of $190,340 for the first half compared to $62,706 in the same period last year.

In December 2018, Fedcap increased its working capital line of credit to $28 million, a level commensurate with organization’s growth.

At March 31, 2019, cash and marketable securities were $23.3 million compared to $24.7 million at the same time last year.

Key Contract Wins in the First Half of Fiscal 2019

  • Wildcat: A 3-year, $59.4 million contract through New York State Industries for the Disabled to maintain shelter facilities for NYC homeless single adults.
  • Easterseals New York: Awarded a Staten Island preschool, offering 3 PreK and pre-school services with $3.4 million annual budget.
  • Granite Pathways: a 4-year $15.6 million contract with New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services for residential adolescent treatment center to provide 24 x 7 services to combat the opioid crisis.
  • Fedcap U.K. Inc: $13.8 million in annual contracts to Fedcap Employment U.K., Ltd. and Fedcap Employment Scotland, Ltd. to provide a diverse array of sustained employment support to 10,000 individuals with diverse barriers to employment and social inclusion.

Summary and Outlook

“First half 2019 results have set the stage for another year of positive achievements at The Fedcap Group. New contract wins and recent acquisitions are expected to offset most of the revenue impact of the completion of a large contract that was a significant contributor to growth in fiscal 2018. The scale we have gained following several years of back-to-back, double-digit revenue growth has provided us resources to invest in program development to support the continued growth that we see on the horizon.

“The Fedcap Group ended the first half of fiscal 2019 in a strong financial position, and we continue to operate with rigorous financial and risk management controls and procedures to ensure that we remain a sustainable organization with sufficient infrastructure and resources to effectively serve clients.

“We are leveraging complementary capabilities and qualifications across our organization to achieve positive outcomes for clients and to win strategically important contracts.  The Fedcap Group’s operations now span 22 states domestically and the United Kingdom, enabling us to serve populations in need across a broad geographic footprint. Additionally, we continue to engage with other like-minded service providers to explore opportunities together that have the potential to significantly strengthen our combined impact on key issues facing the populations we serve,” Ms. McMahon noted.

About The Fedcap Group

For 85 years, The Fedcap Group has developed scalable, innovative and potentially disruptive solutions to some of society’s most pressing needs. Serving over 300,000 people each year, The Fedcap Group provides educational services to every age group, vocational training in high-growth industries, behavioral health services, work readiness skill building and jobs—all targeted to helping people achieve long-term self-sufficiency.

The Fedcap Group also invests its time and resources in broader system change—working in partnership with federal, state and local government to improve the way services are designed, funded and delivered.

Financials

Fedcap Rehabilitation Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

Consolidated Statement of Activities and Changes in Net Assets

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What I am Thinking About as 2020 Approaches

What I am Thinking About as 2020 Approaches

2020 is going to be an interesting and challenging year. Continued cyberattacks, technological advances, tax implications on philanthropy, political uncertainty and census results will all impact us every day.

Cybersecurity

“More than half of nonprofit boards cited cybersecurity as a major concern,” according to Nonprofit Standard, the blog of the BDO nonprofit and education practice. The Fedcap Group is seriously concerned, and we continue to explore and invest in new ways to manage the risks of cyberattacks. We have spent significant time with leaders discussing cybersecurity; we have trained our staff and worked to create a culture where everyone understands it is their responsibility to manage these risks.

When a security breach or cyberattack occurs, we require an immediate response by our IT personnel. The longer it takes to address the threat, the more damage may be done. Studies show that 56% of IT managers take more than 60 minutes to get information about an ongoing cyberattack. But a lot of damage can be done in an hour. Speed is of the essence for effective risk containment. The average cost of a cyberattack now exceeds $1.1 million and 37% of the companies attacked see a diminution of their reputation following the attack. Preventing such an occurrence will remain a serious focus for The Fedcap Group in 2020.

Technology

Technology continues to enhance our ability to operate efficiently and effectively, and 64% of nonprofits are planning to invest in new tech this year. The Fedcap Group invested in upgrades to our Oracle System in 2019 with the launch of our new HRIS and financial systems and a significant upgrade in our Salesforce and Blackbaud platforms. In 2020 we will also see the expansion of our procurement functionality within Oracle. While I am pleased with the investment in these upgrades, it is critical to ensure that staff throughout the agency have an equal commitment to using the technology and increasingly move to data-informed decision making.

Census

According to United Philanthropy Forum blog, Philanthropy Can Help Address Challenges of the 2020 Census, “The nonprofit sector relies on accurate census data to assist in planning for programs and services for children, seniors, veterans, and other core populations, and identify community demographic trends that inform long-term plans and grants.” The census, however, faces serious challenges for public launch in April 2020: insufficient federal funding, scaled back preparations, and the fact that it will be online for the first time amid growing community reluctance to share information with government. The Forum has been working with a network of organizations to ensure a fair and accurate count. We, too, are hopeful that the census will accurately count everyone across our footprint as it is critical information in our long-term strategic planning.

Philanthropy

John Gilchrist, a blogger for networkforgood.com, said “It looks like the nonprofit sector did OK in the first year of the new tax legislation,” but adds that “donor retention remains a huge problem for the nonprofit sector.” He suggests it is critical for nonprofits to place a concerted emphasis on building monthly giving programs and improve their mobile presence because “25% of donors complete their donations on a mobile device.” He also advises that we “focus on relationships, not transactions!” This is a major focus of The Fedcap Group, and the executive directors across our agencies must continue to play a significant role in building important relationships with a growing number of donors who care about the work within their companies.

What are your major areas of focus for 2020?

https://www.bdo.com/blogs/nonprofit-standard/july-2019/top-10-trends-in-the-nonprofit-industry
https://www.networkforgood.com/nonprofitblog/taxes-impact-on-nonprofits/
https://givingcompass.org/article/philanthropy-can-help-address-challenges-of-the-2020-census/
https://www.thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/looking-to-2020/

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The Fedcap Group Unveils Wall Display Depicting 85 Year History of Making A Difference

The Fedcap Group Unveils Wall Display Depicting 85 Year History of Making A Difference

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The Fedcap Group recently unveiled a historical timeline of photos and images that tells the story of the agency from its founding in 1935 through the present day.

The striking installation, on a wall in the lobby of The Fedcap Group offices at 210 E. 43rd Street, was unveiled at a ceremony attended by board members, leadership and staff. Comprised of new and archival photos and newspaper articles, including raised images, the timeline brings to life The Fedcap Group‘s early days as a pioneering social enterprise and traces the transformative accomplishments of its middle years through the current era of expanded impact and global growth.

“The timeline is a powerful testament to the enduring legacy of The Fedcap Group in transforming lives and communities, helping individuals find economic well-being for themselves and their families,” said The Fedcap Group President and CEO Christine McMahon in remarks at the event.  “It honors our history and stands as a testimonial upon which future generations of The Fedcap Group can build upon.”

At over 20 feet in length, the collage is a depiction in words and images of the work and impact of The Fedcap Group over the past 85 years. All members of The Fedcap Group family, and colleagues, friends and partners are encouraged to visit our offices at 210 E 43rd Street to view this powerful testimonial to the Power of Possible!

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The Fedcap Group’s 2019 Celebration of The Power of Possible Gala

The Fedcap Group’s  2019 Celebration of The Power of Possible Gala took place on Monday, December 2nd. What an extraordinary evening!

Even with nasty weather, over 430 brave souls joined us to meet up with friends and colleagues in celebration of our mission and shared purpose.  A festive spirit permeated the grand hall at Cipriani 42nd Street, adorned with banners recognizing the individuals we serve.

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Making a Lasting Impact

Making a Lasting Impact

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As a nonprofit agency, we are committed to knowing that what we do matters and lasts.

Today, “the nonprofit sector is the third largest component of the American economy, beating out banking, construction, telecommunications, and accounting,” writes Heather McLean Grant in a Philanthropic News Digest article, “Force for Good: Six Practices of High impact Nonprofits.”

This reality provides the nonprofit sector with a tremendous platform to make a fundamental, lasting impact.

During our Gala this past week, The Fedcap Group put a stake in the ground in our commitment to making a lasting impact. We announced our Five Bold Goals that will drive our work for decades to come.

Our Five Bold Goals include:

      1. Every person living in foster care has the resources to go to college and graduate
      2. Individuals who leave prison/jail get a job, rejoin their communities and do not reoffend
      3. Adults with an intellectual disabilities who want a job are employed at a competitive wage
      4. People on public assistance obtain jobs and reduce dependency on government assistance
      5. Children ages 0-6 are prepared and inspired to complete their education, obtain employment and live full lives

We are focusing our research, resources and talent on achieving these goals. Succeeding will make a dramatic and lasting difference—leaving society in a much better place.

A recent video talk by Anne Wallestad, President and CEO of Board Source, resonated with the way I think about our work. In order to achieve lasting impact, we need to: 1. Start with purpose – why do we exist? 2. Define our values and live them. 3. Cultivate resilience and relevance through flexibility. 4. Build influence by demonstrating the power of possibility.

This requires that the leadership of our nonprofit companies be strategic. To achieve high impact, we must be continually moving and evolving – getting better, refining our focus and the quality of our practice. Authors Meehan and Jonka shine a spotlight on the importance of our role: “We are at the dawn of a new age, the “Impact Era” in which nonprofits will play an ever more pivotal role in supporting, safeguarding and sustaining American Civil Society.”

I believe we are up to the task of making a lasting impact.

What are your thoughts?

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Embracing Evolution

Embracing Evolution

There are very few good leaders who dive headlong into change without some caution, yet at the same time we know that in order to fulfill our mission, we must EVOLVE to make progress.  To meet our goals and succeed in achieving long term relevance, sustainability and impact, nonprofits need to continue to refine technology, human resources, communication strategies and approaches to donor engagement. 

At The Fedcap Group we are driving into the future with our eyes on the following high level goals:

      • Every company of The Fedcap Group achieves clearly defined corporate health indicators.
      • Every company of The Fedcap Group is supported to meet or exceed contractual, regulatory and compliance standards.
      • Every company of The Fedcap Group has assets that must be leveraged in order to amplify our ability to achieve significantly improved outcomes within our five major focus areas: youth in transition from foster care, children ages 0-6, adults with disabilities, the previously incarcerated and individuals on public assistance.
      • The Fedcap Group continues to develop and implement solutions that impact the design and delivery of government services—shifting the overall outcomes of the system.

In order to accomplish these major goals, we have spent a considerable amount of time ensuring company leaders are fully engaged and onboard and understand their role in achieving success.  We are investing in the staff of the organization through new efforts to listen and learn from their perspectives. We are upgrading our technology to provide staff with state-of-the-art tools required to effectively monitor program outcomes and finances. And we are engaging our community of donors in very specific ways around our future.  In other words…we are evolving.

In “Creating Change: A Brave Path Forward for Nonprofits,” Jessica Haynie and Vicki Pozzebon, reporting in North Carolina State University’s Philanthropy Journal, stresses the importance of creating forums where leaders are able to talk openly about the pressing questions and/or issues that are blocking them from moving forward. This kind of self-check is critical. We have spent a tremendous amount of time over the past several years clarifying expectations, laying out and refining our major areas of focus, building more effective communication strategies, and supporting leaders in their ability to effectively lead.  These conversations are not always easy, but they are imperative.

We have also engaged partners in very dynamic ways.  The bigger the goal, the more important the partnerships.

Paula Schneider president and CEO of Susan G. Komen, the leading breast cancer organization, suggests in a Forbes Nonprofit Council post, that nonprofits need to work together for real change. “As much as we’d like to think our nonprofit organizations are uniquely equipped to change the world, we can’t always do it on our own.” She believes “partnerships are an essential part of our existence. It takes everybody rowing in the same direction, tackling each project hand in hand and focusing more on reaching our common goals than on who gets credit for the effort.”

This has proven to be true for The Fedcap Group.  To make the kind of systemic changes needed to significantly improve outcomes for our target populations requires strategic partnerships—moving from fractured systems to integrated and seamless pathways to getting the right services at the right time.  

Evolution is not always easy—but it is imperative for organizations who want to make a difference.

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The Practice of Gratitude in the Workplace

The Practice of Gratitude in the Workplace

As individuals in the US are getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, I thought I might share some interesting perspectives on gratitude in the workplace.

According to Greater Good Magazine, the practice of gratitude has started to infiltrate workplaces, from new software companies to older institutions like Campbell Soup, whose former CEO wrote 30,000 thank you notes to his employees. Though research on gratitude has exploded over the past two decades, studies of gratitude at work are still somewhat limited. The results so far link it to more positive emotions, less stress and fewer health complaints, a greater sense of confidence in the mission.  It also can help us achieve our goals, fewer sick days, and higher satisfaction with our jobs and our coworkers.

Emerging research suggests that gratitude is revolutionary in the workplace, contributing to the kind of workplace environments where employees actually want to come to work and don’t feel like cogs in a machine.

Robert Emmons, author of The Little Book of Gratitude: Creating a Life of Happiness and Well-being by Giving Thanks, and a leading researcher on the subject states “Most of our waking hours are spent on the job, and gratitude, in all its forms, is a basic human requirement.”  Emmons highlights that gratitude takes people outside of themselves and to a place that is part of a larger, more intricate network of sustaining relationships that are mutually reciprocal. “In this sense, it, like other social emotions, gratitude functions to help regulate relationships, solidifying and strengthening them,” he says.

Researchers from the London School of Economics, in analysis of 51 companies, found that while financial incentives can backfire when it comes to motivating employees there is overwhelming evidence that gratitude and appreciation are highly effective motivators for staff.  They found that 80% of employees are willing to work harder for an appreciative boss.

Expressing gratitude is not difficult, but it does require a small bit of time and intentionality.  In this season of thankfulness, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the board members, staff, donors, funders and consumers of The Fedcap Group—for their unwavering commitment of time and talent to doing the right thing, in the right way to achieve the right results.  

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