Amy Beros: Taking a moment
2020 has been a year like no other. No matter what your role is in your organization or who you are in this world, you have been impacted professionally and personally by COVID-19 and the events of 2020. This year has brought to light the massive inequities across our country—racial disparities; access to education, healthcare, and food; and the list overwhelmingly continues.
As we slide into the last few months of the calendar year, traditionally the busiest for our profession, how do we continue to push through and finish strong? How do we continue to lead our teams during this time when there is so much uncertainty ahead?
Many of you have likely seen this poem by Leslie Dwight on your social media sites:
So, how do we keep going?
The answer is simple: We have no other choice—our work is too important. Take a moment, even when it feels like you have no moments to give, to evaluate where you are, where you have been, and where you want to go:
How has 2020 impacted your work?
What lessons have you learned?
Has 2020 highlighted foundational deficiencies in your strategic plan?
What do you need to pivot in your strategic priorities to continue forward in this work?
How are you engaging with your communities?
As important as the work is, so are the people who are make it happen.
Now more than ever, your teams need you.
In a former role, a colleague told our CEO and Founder, “You care so much about the people in the communities we serve, you have forgotten there are also people here at this organization.” It was a simple statement said in anger, but it has stuck with me for nearly a decade. I would venture to say that most of us got into this work not for fame or fortune, but because we care so deeply for the mission of our organizations, the communities we work alongside, and knowing that our work has meaning.
What does your team need from you and the organization to continue to do this work?
As we head into our last few months of 2020, I encourage you all to take a moment with your team to honor what you have been through this year, share with each other why you chose this mission, listen to their concerns and challenges, and build a plan together to move forward. Take this moment to ground yourself in the work you are doing because 2020 isn’t cancelled and 2021 will be barreling in soon. This world needs you—are you ready?
About Amy Beros
Amy Beros is a dedicated leader in the philanthropic sector, having spent more than a decade developing and implementing strategic development plans to empower nonprofit organizations.
Passionate about advancing causes that are changing people’s lives, Amy currently serves as Managing Director, Strategic Capacity Development at Feeding America. Prior to her work with Feeding America, Amy was with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC. Beginning as the major gifts officer and capital campaign manager in 2014, Amy built the Food Bank’s first major gift program and led the capital campaign for a new facility. As VP of Development for the Food Bank, Amy led a team of thirty-two staff, with an annual revenue goal of $12M, oversaw four food bank branch operations, and management of more than 25,000 volunteers.
Prior to her work with the Food Bank, Amy led development efforts for Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and was the Director of Corporate Partnerships for Easter Seals UCP NC & VA. She began her career in sales and banking in Atlanta and Chicago.
A graduate of Clemson University, Amy went on to earn an MBA with a dual concentration in behavioral finance and operations management from DePaul University in Chicago. Amy currently resides outside or Raleigh, North Carolina with her husband and two young children.