Confessions of a Non Profit Director
Confessions of a Non Profit Director
Looking at a new year brings the same sensations that riding at the top of a roller coaster brings. Is the ride into 2020 going to be terrifying or exhilarating? I am sure that there will be many twists and turns as well as hills and valleys. So...I throw my hands up high and scream at the top of my lungs ready for the new adventure.
Hello, my name is Meg Vanderbilt and I am the founder of Bit of Hope Ranch and have served 14 years as the Ranch's non profit Director, I feel that it is time to reveal what really goes on behind the barn at Bit of Hope Ranch. It is way more than fur and flies and it is time that I share with you some of these mythbusters.
#1 Mythbuster: I get to pet and brush horses all day long. I wish this were true, but leading this ever growing business demands that most of my time is spent on solving problems. I have surrounded myself with great volunteers whose job is to look after the horses on a daily basis and keep me updated on their health, condition, etc. Most of my day is spent buried in office work, fundraising, writing grants, meeting with staff, training new volunteers and handling the management of a 50 acre farm. "Get it down with a little fun" is one of our core values and I model that by carving out some time to do something that I enjoy every day. Even if it is just getting to brush a horse!
#2 Mythbuster: The horses and kids that you help must be so grateful and consistently express their gratitude. Wrong. All of our herd eats 2x/day rain or shine so they are not concerned if I have to slosh out in the pouring rain to feed them...they just expect to be taken care of. Hurt people, hurt people. We are a place where kids and adults bring their wounds to us and sometimes the healing process is not pleasant. I have learned to look beyond their words to try to see the person underneath the mess. I ask God to show me the person that they will become and not the person they are now. We see the transformation in the animals that are rescued and I eagerly use that as a reminder for our clients.
#3 Mythbuster: You must have so many people that want to give you money because everyone loves kids and animals. Managing any nonprofit takes its toll on the leader. It can be very overwhelming some days because we rely on the kindness and generosity of people. They must hear our story and feel compelled to get involved. It can be frustrating and disappointing when fundraisers don't bring in the money that you'd hoped, or the mailer that was sent out did not bring any new donors. We may spend dozens of hours on a grant only to get denied. Why is it that bills always seem to come in a steady flow while donations are sporadic and unpredictable. Learning how to trust in God's provision is the only way that I have learned to ride out the ups and downs of fundraising. God has been faithful to supply us with the funds to operate this organization and we have faithfully managed those resources. Last year, we were even able to give some money away to other similar minded organizations in our "Seeds of Hope" campaign so that we could be a blessing to others. We look forward to what this year will also allow us to do outside of our gates.
#4 Mythbuster: You must have so many volunteers that love to help out. We do have some amazing volunteers that help us weekly or seasonally. The tough part is that they are "volunteers" and other priorities can override their commitment to the Ranch. Since we rely on people to carry out our programs it can be scary to look out at the day and wonder if anyone will show up to help that day. Each therapeutic riding client can need up to 3 volunteers for each hour. Sometimes, we have 125 kids that arrive on school buses for field trips. I know that the needs and clients are coming....but will the help be there too?
#5 Mythbuster: You must be living the dream. Sometimes its hard to know if its a dream or nightmare. It is a challenge to stay positive and fix that gate for the 4th time--or to pause from working and listen to a volunteer share how their day fell apart. The dream turns hazy when my to do list never seems to get done at the end of the day. The dream dims even more when it's time to make a life ending decision about an animal that has been entrusted to my care. When I feel that that the roller coaster ride has been too hard and too long, I hear of a story of how an abused child is now finding hope and healing with one of our horses and therapy teams. I see the mom's eyes tear up when she is grateful because her daughter that has despised herself so much that she has starved and cut herself is now learning to love herself by loving an animal. I see a grown woman weeping and hugging a horse's neck as she learns how to move past trauma and anxiety to step into freedom.
Embrace your local missions this year. Not everyone is called to lead a nonprofit There are many other ways to get involved. If you have something to give...then give it. If you have time, then volunteer. If you have words to share, then encourage someone today. One day we may not have the opportunity so enjoy the ride today!
Horse Helps Teen Draw a Line in the Sand
Words carry a lot of power. They can build up or they can crush. Josh was shackled by his father's condescending words and he started to believe that maybe he was not smart enough to do anything worthwhile in his life. After 15 years of hearing those repeated words, Josh started acting out in school and at home. He had no motivation to change and would spend hours alone locked in his room. He showed no interest in school, sports or even getting his driver's license. His mom knew that something had to change
Words carry a lot of power. They can build up or they can crush. Josh was shackled by his father's condescending words and he started to believe that maybe he was not smart enough to do anything worthwhile in his life. After 15 years of hearing those repeated words, Josh started acting out in school and at home. He had no motivation to change and would spend hours alone locked in his room. He showed no interest in school, sports or even getting his driver's license. His mom knew that something had to change
Knock Down the Walls of Trauma
Sarah, a forty year old and mother of three wrestled with her thoughts when she came to the Ranch last year. Sarah was still reeling from an emotional divorce when she also found out she had lost her full time job. She tried to combat her depression and anxiety with will power, but was failing miserably. Her PTSD diagnosis led her to try TF-EAP (trauma focused equine assisted psychotherapy) for her healing.
Bouncing High On the New Kangaroo Jumper
Check out the newest addition! The Kangaroo Jumper is a permanently installed attraction that is used for therapeutic and recreational activities. This 50′ long jump pillow holds up to 30 guests at a time and is perfect for all ages and all abilities. Contact us to add this to your party or special event.
A Horse’s Blindness Offers Insight
Luna’s Loss of Sight Gives In-Sight
Luna came to the Ranch last January full of promise for helping our Therapeutic Riders that have disabilities. She is a 12 year old haflinger/paint mare that was built strong enough for the larger riders. As a backyard horse, she trusted people and seemed confident enough for her job.
All new horses that come to the farm must undergo training and a series of test before they are allowed to work with our clients. As Luna’s training progressed, we found that she was getting more tense and nervous in her work. She would often hit me with her head or shoulder or just refuse to move when asked. We were in the round pen one day and I had just had a frustrating session with her. Nothing that I was doing seem to work and we both were ready to call it quits for the day. I yelled out loud to her, “why can you not see what I am trying to show you”? Not my finest moment. In the next moment God whispered in my ear , “maybe she cannot see you”.
Immediately, all of it made sense. A week later, the vet confirmed our suspicions. Luna was blind in her right eye. Once we understood her limitations, we were able to tailor her training to fit her needs.
Luna has entered our therapeutic riding program and carries riders from ages 8-65 years old. She thrives having a horse leader volunteer that she can confidently follow.
We also have found a unique benefit for enlisting her help for coaching and counseling. Clients can explore their own blind spots in relationships and with their own identity. Just as Luna looks for someone to lead her, clients also evaluate who is influencing them on their journey. What started off as a disability has turned into a powerful learning opportunity for those who want to “see”.
We Need You…Get Involved and Donate Today!
Luna eats 20 lbs of hay a day, requires regular hoof trims, annual shots, etc. It costs $200/month for the upkeep of her. We know that she is worth every penny! Donor dollars support all of the herds at the Ranch. Thank you for helping and sharing our story.