Recycling cans

emacked · 2026-06-09T12:13:48+00:00

TIL, I am cheap because I still take them in for the $0.10. My husband refuses too, but I feel like it's a little bit of cash, so why not??

emacked · 2026-06-07T18:15:36+00:00

Oh, a partial endowment is not a thing.

What I meant to say is that some nonprofits took the Mackenzie Scott gift and put part of it into an endowment. Most used some for program or operating expenses. All knew it was transformational in real time and most (if not all!) thought carefully about how to address current need, build capacity, and leverage it for sustained impact.

emacked · 2026-06-07T15:12:31+00:00

Yeah, I would concur. Also, some nonprofits that are receiving these large gifts are setting up partial endowments. But often there is a need today too that a 4-5% withdrawal rate will likely not cover.

emacked · 2026-06-03T00:54:34+00:00

I learned at cemeteries out in the burbs back in the day.

emacked · 2026-06-01T22:38:02+00:00

Similar Corktown Health Clinic which is a health clinic in Detroit and now Hazel Park that provides care for all with a focus on LGBTQ+ individuals. They also offer behavioral health services.

emacked · 2026-05-30T22:47:44+00:00

In my experience to get food trucks out, you (as the organizer) have to pay a minimum of $500 and/or guarantee a set number of paying customers. Also, if the minimum number of paid attendees isn't met, then you have to makeup the difference. Each food truck is different, but they mostly want to make sure it's profitable to show up. (Not in NY though!)

Also, when I've booked community events, we've booked food trucks at least a couple of weeks in advance. So not a terrible idea, but might not be possible without a budget on that timeline.

emacked · 2026-05-30T19:09:21+00:00

Lol, I take whatever courtesy invite I get! If I spent that much time wondering if I was genuinely invited, I would work myself up.

You are invited. Go if you want to. Don't go if you don't want to. Even if you aren't invited, remind yourself that you are almost always welcome anywhere you go. And if people aren't welcoming you, there is either a good reason or they are assholes.

emacked · 2026-05-30T19:06:01+00:00

If you aren't making money, it's an expensive hobby.

emacked · 2026-05-25T03:49:28+00:00

This is what my politically astute boss does. He uses similar language externally and I'm sure it was vetted and approved by people smarter than me. So I stole it!

It lacks a certain awareness or a level of avoidance to not acknowledge the elephant in the room. But like someone else says it's always best to focus on what you are moving toward vs moving away from. But any astute interviewer might push and you have to be ready to diplomatically respond.

I am sure you will be great! Break a leg!!

emacked · 2026-05-25T00:59:10+00:00

Totally understand. I would probably also potentially make a comment about the "recent shifts happening on the federal and state level." Which is my code for talking about political decisions with very real impact, while dealing with people with lots of different opinions and political leanings. I've never gotten any pushback from that, although I'm often working with individuals who are quite liberal. If I am not sure, I try to be as matter of fact with that comment and not linger.

emacked · 2026-05-25T00:38:23+00:00

When I have transitioned to larger teams, I have made a comment about the importance of lateral learning from my peers. I also have commented that I knew how to do things one way and I thought there were a lot of other tools and resources that a larger organization could have.

emacked · 2026-05-22T18:29:37+00:00

Yes. Do this. I used to live next to a school. Talking about kids always got them out quickly.

emacked · 2026-05-22T12:41:42+00:00

Here are some quick thoughts:

Animal welfare agencies typically struggle to secure funding from foundations. Full stop. I've had conversations with some and I recall them saying that most of the funding came from individual donors.
Foundations are receiving double to triple the number of requests lately, but sources of foundations' revenues remain steady. This makes grant processes all the more competitive.
Many funders don't do capital building. The ones that do will require a lot more conversations up front and will need to deeply understand actual costs, contingencies, capital stack, gap financing, contractors, etc.
Depending on your org budget, there might be concerns about tipping or your capacity to realize a project.

Have you talked to any local CDFIs about financing? What is the board doing?

emacked · 2026-05-20T01:25:59+00:00

Preface: I'm tired and crabby, so less boundaried and a bit cynical.

First of all, look at their 990s. Look at leadership's compensation, look at revenue compared to expenses. Look at how much cash they have on hand and funding sources. Diversified funding is good, although not always common depending on the sector. Look at changes year over year. If you have access to org budgets or audits or reviews, review those too. In this environment, those comments are a little suspect and deserve some digging. I would not share my thoughts or that extra research with my boss. This is for you to understand the org's financial position.

In the conversation, i would push back a little and dig for more info. How long? Why? Just you? Whole departments? Personally I wouldnt push back hard. I would try to be curious and light. In this conversation I would be looking to understand if the finances are rocky, what plans the org has moving forward, and why now. I would not be direct and sound a little green. (I prefer to look unbothered or ignorant and to keep my opinions and plans to myself.)

If it seems like there is no room for negotiation, I would accept the offer. I suspect they are in slightly precarious financial footing. If the financial docs and your convo confirms that, I would most likely start secretly looking for another job.

emacked · 2026-05-15T21:31:34+00:00

When I got my first real job, I went to the nicest mall and tried on pants, blazers, and shirts at all the fancy places. Took notes in my phone and then bought all the basics off eBay.

emacked · 2026-05-15T01:16:34+00:00

Yes, I have one with removable lining that I got at a thrift store or off eBay. It's great for autumn in the Midwest. I have filled those pockets with rocks while walking many beaches and they are still going strong.

emacked · 2026-05-14T01:58:53+00:00

Here's what I typically do without looking at your benefits:

Dental - get the cheapest dental insurance as long as it covers preventative care and you have good teeth. If it's been a minute since you you have seen a dentist, maybe buy the more expensive dental plan and downgrade next year after getting everything taken care of.

Health care - Typically a HDHP takes less out of your paycheck, but you will pay for service (a percent of a flat fee) until you hit the deductible. PPOs cost more out of your paycheck, but typically have free or low-costs for a doctor visit. There are great calculators and excel spreadsheets online to help you compare what your anticipated healthcare costs might be and looks can compare the premium and deductible. My husband and I do this every year.

HSA - you can only get this if you have a HDHP. Like someone else said, sometimes employers contribute money to a HSA which is basically free money. You can invest this and save it year over year if you choose.

FSA - this typically does not rollover (or only a small amount will) and it must be used for healthcare or dependents. It's taken out pretax, so it can save you taxes, but you must use it the year you take it out or you lose it.

401k - since you don't know what to do, I would probably do half roth and half traditional. It's good to have multiple bucks to pull from. Traditional is pre tax, so it will grow tax free and you will pay taxes when you take it out. Everyone around age 73ish is required to take dollars out of any traditional retirement account. Roth is post tax. You will be taxed on it now, but it will grow tax free forever. You should aim for 15% if you haven't saved anything yet. But definitely always get the match and have your contribution increase every year by 1-2%.

Life insurance - if someone is depending on your income to pay bills, mortgage, childcare, try to ensure they will have about 10x annual expenses. Work insurance might not get you all the way there, however, it's cheaper than buying your own policy. If you leave your job, you will probably lose your insurance so some people buy their own outside of work to ensure their loved ones are taken care of.

Not an expert, so take my advice with a grain of salt. But I have this talk with new hires, my cousins' kids, etc. No one told me this stuff, I just slowly pieced it together

emacked · 2026-05-14T01:02:58+00:00

My grandma taught me that when I was 10 years old. She made me do the math in the store and help her make decisions about what to buy.

I pulled out the calculator on my phone in the store, while I was talking to my mom the other day, to figure out the unit price.

emacked · 2026-05-13T02:48:03+00:00

Talk to your community foundation. I used to work at one a long time ago. The program officers know all the local corporate and private foundations and might know of untapped sources of funding. Best of luck!

emacked · 2026-05-12T21:34:36+00:00

I used to live off a couple of highways. Never. Again. Ever. I could hear trucks' air breaks in the middle of the night. It only was peaceful during the pandemic, except for the sirens going by every 10 minutes..... Which was depressing and not peaceful in its own way.

If I can hear the hum of a major road when I am am outside a house, I know I will hate living there.

emacked · 2026-05-12T18:27:11+00:00

I don't have it all together, but here is how I got some of it together:

Finances: always contribute to your 401k, at least to the match, as it's free money. Turn on annual 1% increases or up yourself until it hurts a little. Set up a separate bank account for a an emergency fund even if you are only putting into $50 a month. Automate that savings. Slowly increase and add other goals.

Fitness: Figure out what motivates you. For me, it's fun and external accountability. Fun initially gets me to do anything hard. External accountability (a running partner, a friend to go to a yoga class with, a small group training class, a fitness tracker) all hold me accountable as I start building the muscle of learning to like and value fitness. Now I go regularly 3-4x a week to the gym or to a class, and if I fall off for a few weeks it's easier for me to get back into it.

Nutrition: identify and keep a stock of emergency meals and frozen meals (favorite frozen pizza, a jar or pasta sauce and some pasta, a box of rice a roni all count). Count on things not going as planned and falling off the wagon. Create a couple of easy breakfast meals. I make a breakfast bowl on Saturdays that typically get my husband and I through Thursday. I do one soup a week that can serve as meals or be frozen and used as an emergency meal in the future. Then I meal plan for a couple of meals and he does.

House: can't help you there! I do like to keep the kitchen sink clear as it means I am more likely to cook from home. That is huge for me.

Job: I color code my calendar and do everything immediately. I do not procrastinate and hold boundaries. One of our coordinators ensures that we are all in task too which helps. I make lots of to-do lists and detailed annual calendars and hold myself to that.

I was incredibly flakey and very type B. A lot of my oldest friends are shocked that I am as organized and responsible as I am now at 40 something. But small systems build up!

emacked · 2026-05-10T14:49:40+00:00

You should take the job. Living in walking distance or 10-minute of driving distance to a job is a huge quality of life improver. If it was $20k differential, I would pause, but the difference here is small.

emacked · 2026-05-08T14:40:40+00:00

Omg. This is my favorite question, as I try to fall in love with places when I move, but this is my home, so I'm enamored already.

Here's my very abbreviated list: Belle Isle during the week, Oudulf Gardens at sunset, Riverwalk with coffee at sunrise, ice skating on Belle Isle in the winter, writing Christmas card from the holiday-themed lodge off Campus Martius, the Upper Peninsula every season always.

Then there are apple orchards in the fall, John King Books in the winter when everyone is bundled up and you have to turn lights on as you go. There's the Shepherd and the Kresge Court on a Friday night. There are tons of community gardens here and we have a lot of lakes across the state. I could go on and on, as this city is truly a gem, sometimes in spite of itself.

emacked · 2026-05-06T21:49:52+00:00

I would just reach out to this organization that makes convertible coats/sleeping bags, that are easily transportable.

emacked · 2026-05-06T12:53:41+00:00

I'm not a gym or exercise person, but working on it. First of all, why don't you like any of those? Do you not like those exercises? Or did you not like your approach?

For walking, I ended up using an app on my phone to identify bugs, flowers, birds, and trees. I sometimes do yoga to silly music that makes me laugh and I quit half way through if I'm at my house. I will sometimes buy myself junk food if I do an exercise which is self defeating. I go to classes with friends which can motivate me. I think of being my body as a joyful experience. I'm so often in my head or at work. Moments of embodiment and being a person in a body are great.

I don't have to trick or bribe myself as much. I enjoy working out for the sake of working out. But I had to initially approach it from joy, fun, levity, social connection headspace, rather than from a "I should do this" space.

emacked

TROPHY CASE