Network Exchange: Louisa Mfum-Mensah and Thembi Maiden of Urban Affairs Coalition on improving office culture

Have you checked out Network Exchange, the podcast from the National Network of Fiscal Sponsors? Whether you’re a seasoned professional, new to the field, or just curious about the work, this show is your go-to source for illuminating insights, best practices, and the latest trends in the dynamic realm of fiscal sponsorship.

To give you a sense of what we’re discussing on the podcast, here’s an excerpt from a recent conversation with Louisa Mfum-Mensah and Thembi Maiden from the Urban Affairs Coalition (UAC), a fiscal sponsor with 486 employees that has recently put a lot of effort into strengthening its workplace culture. That process inspired a panel at the 2023 National Gathering in New Orleans.

The MidAtlantic region hosted biannual events, last meeting in 2018 before reconvening in April 2023 and April 2024. The recent Philadelphia gathering saw 40 attendees from Baltimore, DC, New York, and Philadelphia, focusing on intros, successes, and challenges. Breakout sessions covered finance, HR, fundraising, project management, and marketing. Attendees brainstormed for future gatherings, expressing interest in September meetups alongside the upcoming National Gathering in Atlanta. NNFS facilitated the event, handling registration and agenda coordination.

In this episode, host Lee Stabert chats with Louisa Mfum-Mensah and Thembi Maiden from Urban Affairs Coalition about creating a healthy and authentic environment within an organization. A fiscal sponsor with 486 employees, UAC recently put a lot of effort into strengthening its workplace culture. After feeling the positive impact of these changes, the UAC team couldn’t keep it to themselves: They used the 2023 National Gathering in New Orleans as an occasion to share best practices and keep the learning process going.

In conversations with leaders in the field of fiscal sponsorship, this is a sentiment that comes up again and again. Fiscal sponsors are behind-the-scenes actors who play a role in creating positive change across a slew of sectors.

The National Network of Fiscal Sponsor’s Annual Gathering 2023 is in the books! After several days in the Big Easy, a few things are clear: This is an engaged community, this is a dynamic field, and there is room for everyone at the table.