Although it is rare to see kids in low-income urban neighborhoods carrying yoga mats and squash rackets, sightings like these are becoming more and more common, thanks to people like Marciene Mattleman who devote their lives to starting up nonprofit organizations to benefit underprivileged children.
Last night, at a workshop sponsored by the Robert A. Fox Leadership Program, Penn students heard Mattleman share her secrets of success for starting a nonprofit organization.
Mattleman has started five successful nonprofits in Philadelphia and is currently serving as the executive director of After School Activities Partnerships, which provides supervised after-school recreation programs for children in Philadelphia public schools.
Mattleman walked approximately 20 students through a step-by-step guide to starting a nonprofit organization, including how to set goals and objectives, how to come up with a meaningful name and logo, how to create a budget and how to fundraise.
But most importantly, Mattleman focused on the importance of commitment and enthusiasm for the cause.
"If you're not passionate about [your idea], don't start," she said. "You really need that [passion] to carry it through."
She entertained the audience with anecdotes from her personal experiences and spoke to Penn students about why she devotes her life to nonprofits.
"There is something so exciting about watching something come from nothing," she said. "You don't make a lot of money, but you get huge satisfaction."
She encouraged attendees to apply her tips for success by creating their own hypothetical nonprofit organization and developing a plan of action to gain support for the program.
But for Mattleman, a great idea is not enough to get a program started.
"You have to be tenacious," she said. "If you have a big idea, work like crazy to make the money come."
By the end of the workshop, students said they were well-equipped to create their own nonprofit.
"The workshop helped me gain a tangible skill that I can apply to the real world," College senior Shahab Shaghaghi said.
Other students said they came to gain a better perspective on how a nonprofit business actually works.
"I came because I am interested in learning about nonprofits from the business side," College sophomore Jacquelin King said. "I wanted to get a broader picture of nonprofits in Philadelphia."
Mattleman's experience in this area -- as founder of Philadelphia Futures and Philadelphia Reads -- is what made her an excellent candidate for the workshop, according to Fox Leadership Program Executive Director Joe Tierney.
"There wasn't anyone better we could think of to talk about starting a nonprofit," he said.
