Dear Members of the Harvard Club of Dallas,

When my daughter Elizabeth was going through Freshman Orientation at Harvard, I heard a message that has stayed with me ever since. To paraphrase: At Harvard, we teach our students not to strive to be the best in the world, but their best for the world.
 

In that spirit, I want to share about a recent event we were privileged to host with the Harvard Business School Club of Dallas: How to Help a Nonprofit Change the World. This inspiring discussion featured Van Sheets, a distinguished Harvard Business School graduate and a valued Director of the Harvard Club of Dallas. If you missed the event, you can see a recording of it by clcking here.
 

Van brings a wealth of experience from three overlapping careers: previously serving as CEO of midsize companies in petrochemicals, building automation, and retail, as well as a board member across several industries; now working to advance social equity as an advisor to dozens of nonprofits; and preparing for a third career in writing and visual design. His unique perspective, drawn from both the corporate and nonprofit worlds, made for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion.
 

Van shared several key insights during the event that can help us all make a more meaningful impact in the nonprofit world:

· Approach with humility: Reflect on how you can genuinely help a nonprofit rather than imposing assumptions.

· Understand impact is different from profit: Measuring a nonprofit’s success is not as straightforward as tracking profit; the true impact can be nuanced and challenging to quantify.

· Follow your heart, but be intentional: Choose causes that resonate with you, but also take the time to research and evaluate your options.

· Look beyond overhead costs: This metric doesn’t always reflect the true effectiveness of an organization.

· Build relationships through giving: Use your contributions as a way to connect with nonprofit leadership and engage in conversations about their mission and goals.

· Learn from experts: Reach out to those with experience in your areas of interest to better understand where your time, skills, and resources can have the greatest effect.

Van’s advice reminded us of the power of intentional giving and the importance of aligning our values with our actions.
 

Van's talk also inspired us to survey our community to better understand who is involved with which nonprofits. Our goal is to make the results available so that members can seek out others working in areas of mutual interest, fostering new connections and collaborations. If you’re a donor or volunteer, please take a moment to complete this quick survey to share your involvement and help strengthen our community of Harvard alumni making a difference.
 

Together, we can drive meaningful change in our local and global communities. Thank you for being part of this incredible network of difference-makers.
 

Warm regards,
David Roosevelt
President, Harvard Club of Dallas

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Acknowledgments:
A heartfelt thank-you to Rebecca Posten, our Vice President for Programs and a former President of the Club, for curating and summarizing the key takeaways from Van’s presentation. Another special thank-you to Chidu Sulur, our Vice President of Website/Internet and also a former President of the Club, for creating the survey to help us strengthen connections within our Harvard community.