  
The power of partnership was present on July 20, 2010,
when OAI co-hosted an exclusive event at The World Bank
with the Center for Nonprofit Advancement and Leadership
Greater Washington.
Entitled Nonprofit Survival of the Fittest: Crisis Management and the New Normal, over 80 of the nation’s capital’s leading nonprofit CEOs, Executive Directors and Board members gathered to hear Dr. Alice Rivlin of the Brookings Institution and Former Head of the White House Office of Management and Budget under the Clinton Administration, deliver a captivating and realistic keynote address on the state of our economy, its impact on the DC region and in particular, its ramifications on the nonprofit sector.
Her assessment of the future: “I expect the national
economy to improve over the next couple of years [and
Washington’s with it], but quite slowly and especially
with respect to jobs and unemployment. So [nonprofit
executives’] jobs are going to continue to be very hard
- and all of the good stuff that [nonprofits] are engaged
in will have to be done in the context of permanently
constrained resources. Nonprofits must work together
to use resources effectively. Those who don’t are not
going to be the fittest and frankly are unlikely to
survive.”
To see a replay of Dr. Rivlin’s keynote address, please CLICK HERE or call OAI at 202-338-6100.
While Dr. Rivlin’s prediction of the economic future
is still disconcerting, she made it clear that there
are particular areas in which nonprofits should be focused
on during tough economic times, which included fundraising,
board development, financial management and executive
leadership.
Focused on better management, alternative solutions and how to do more with less in all four of these areas, attendees were invited to join two of the four breakout sessions being offered that directly addressed these very topics.
Breakout sessions were led by experts in their respective
fields:
- Fundraising: Steve Orr of OAI and
John Wm. Thomas of John Wm. Thomas Consulting and
OAI Senior Consultant
- Board Development: Dick Walker
and John Bauser of OAI
- Financial Management: Michael Cantacuzene
of OAI, Glen O’Gilvie of the Center for Nonprofit
Advancement and Glenn Davidson of EquaTerra
- Executive Leadership: Tim Kime
of Leadership Greater Washington and Seneica Sykes
of
ssb enterprise, llc.
Partnership was displayed in all aspects the morning of July 20. All involved, from speakers to attendees, where given the opportunity to experience, first hand, the power of partnership at an event with so many different organizations and leaders committed to delivering the best resources possible to the nonprofit sector.
On behalf of OAI, the Center for Nonprofit Advancement and Leadership Greater Washington, we’d like to thank The World Bank for hosting such a special event, BB&T Bank for their generous sponsorship and all those who joined us for a successful, intriguing and intellectual morning with Dr. Rivlin.
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What's
New: It's Our 20th Birthday! |
|  It’s
our birthday! OAI is celebrating its 20th Anniversary and
there is much to celebrate (but please, hold the China!).
• 350+ clients served
• $500 million+ raised
• 20+ multi-million dollar campaigns completed
• 75+ strategic and development plans developed
• 10+ organizations fully outsourced and operationally managed
• 1000+ events produced
Remarkable transformations can happen over 20 years, and OAI has done just that. We’ve experienced enormous growth. We’ve grown from an event fundraising and production firm to a full-service outsourced nonprofit management consulting firm, offering a range of services in strategy and planning, fundraising and development, organizational management and operations, and of course, continued event fundraising and production.
Our staff expertise level has grown stronger every year and
the proof is in the pudding. Our senior staff has over 200
years of combined fundraising and corporate experience throughout
the country and the world, enabling OAI to deliver the very
best services and results for our clients.
While OAI celebrates the firm’s milestones over the last 20 years, we must also recognize the immense success and growth that our nonprofit clients have experienced. The partnerships and relationships they’ve developed with donors, friends and supporters, with our assistance and strategic guidance, has allowed them to fulfill their missions and exceed their own expectations. We can’t wait to see what the next 20 years have in store!
Stay tuned for upcoming anniversary announcements and celebrations!
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Meet
Our New and Returning Clients |
Meet All Our Clients |
YWCA of the National Capital Area
Development Planning
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Brooklyn-Queens Conservatory of Music
Senior Management Consulting
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Employee
Spotlight: Danielle Frottier |
Meet Our Entire Team |
What better way to kick off our 20th Anniversary Celebration
than by recognizing one of OAI’s most tenured team members,
Danielle Frottier. Danielle has been with the firm for 10
years, starting as an Associate Director and climbing the
ladder to Department Head of OAI Administration.
Q: Danielle, tell us a little bit about your decade journey with OAI. Any specific client memories stand out?
A: I had a background in advertising and jumping into nonprofit consulting was an exciting transition in my career. I learned the ins and outs of development by working closely with Steve on Youth, I.N.C. I have really enjoyed seeing the organization grow and witnessing the impressive impact it has had on the New York nonprofit community. I also have very fond memories of the work I did with the American Friends of the Czech Republic, the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Foundation and Operation Smile.
Q: There is no doubt that you have seen this company grow. When you think about the growth the firm has experienced, are there specific services that you attribute the growth to?
A: When I first joined the company, there were 13 employees and we were primarily an event management firm. I have many memories of raising millions of dollars through exciting galas, receptions, walks and conferences for over 25 different organizations in my first few years at OAI. What our clients always appreciated was our intense focus on raising the money and achieving (if not surpassing) the fundraising goals. We have been able to successfully apply that approach to new services such as outsourced development and campaign management. The core culture of OAI has sustained itself over the years and I believe that is a key component to our continued success.
Q: As a senior management team member at OAI, what
do you enjoy most about working with OAI’s energetic, dedicated
and intelligent junior team members?
A: It is definitely one of my favorite parts
of the job! I never get tired of interacting and working with
OAI team members. There is never a “dull moment”
working at OAI – I often tell prospective employees
that if you find yourself bored here then something is seriously
wrong!
Q: Any particular 20th Anniversary celebrations
you are looking forward to?
A: I am excited about seeing old faces from
the past and reflecting on the amazing successes we have accomplished
over the last 20 years. It is sure to be a fun celebration
as OAI always throws a great party!
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DC
College Access Program and OAI Continue to Make Progress on the $40 M Campaign
OAI has been working with the DC College Access Program (DC-CAP) since early 2009 to complete a $40 million endowment fundraising campaign. As part of the outsourced development assignment, OAI manages DC-CAP’s Major Gift Campaign and has launched a series of donor cultivation events to grow corporate donor base. The DC-CAP team also continues to plan for events coming up in the Fall: the DC-CAP 8th Annual Michael Wilbon and James Brown Celebrity Golf Classic in September and the Annual Senior-Parent Financial Aid Luncheons in November. The Golf Classic is a fundraising event and will be held at The Golf Club at Lansdowne, Virginia on September 10, 2010. |
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Brooklyn-Queens Conservatory of Music Is Ramping Up Internal Efficiencies in Order to Better Serve the New York Musical Community
July 31, 2010
Founded in 1897, the Brooklyn-Queens Conservatory of Music has been serving the New York musical community for over a century by promoting individual and community growth through music. The Conservatory engaged OAI to assess their current operations and advise on financial and organizational best practices to continue making music accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels. OAI's report and recommendations were well received and the Conservatory will begin the fall semester with a strategy in place. |
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YWCA of the National Capital Area Completes Five-Year Strategic Plan
July 31, 2010
The YWCA of the National Capital Area recently collaborated with OAI to develop a five year Strategic Plan. After thorough examination and analysis of the organization's programs, finances, and fundraising abilities, among other areas, OAI drafted a Strategic Plan that will guide the organization in the right direction as they move forward in their mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. |
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The
Marriott Foundation Partners with OAI for the Eleventh
Straight Year
June 2, 2010
Celebrating its 19th Annual Marriott Bridges Gala , the Marriott Foundation partnered with OAI to manage and produce this noteworthy event. This event kicked off the celebration of the Bridges program’s 20th Anniversary and was the most successful fundraising year in the event’s history. Leveraging its new partnership with co-chair John McGarry of mcgarrybowen, the Marriott Foundation raised a total of $1,158,600. The Keynote Speech of this year’s event showcased Terry Bradshaw, whose inspirational words articulated the impact that Marriott’s generous supporters have had on the lives of the Bridges youth.
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Youth, I.N.C Launches Venture Forward Conference Hosted by Credit Suisse
May 20, 2010
Hosted by Credit Suisse, Youth, I.N.C. launched its first annual conference for youth-serving nonprofits on May 20, 2010. Venture Forward with Youth, I.N.C. was attended by 75 nonprofit leaders from 48 organizations serving close to 250,000 youth collectively. Keynote speaker Daniel Doctoroff, President of Bloomberg and Youth, I.N.C. Board member, talked about the need for the nonprofit and corporate sectors to leverage each other in order to have the greatest possible social impact. Nonprofit leaders left the conference with the access, knowledge and power to venture forward! |
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Carlos Rosario Educational Foundation's 2010 American Dream Gala and Auction raises over $365,000
May 18, 2010
The Carlos Rosario Educational Foundation collaborated with OAI to market, manage and produce its 2010 American Dream Gala and Auction. Carlos Rosario welcomed over 340 guests to celebrate the school’s forty year legacy of success. Longtime supporters such as Richard Marriott, Chairman of the Board of Host Hotels & Resorts; Benjamin Civiletti, former United States Attorney General and Senior Partner and Past Chair of Venable LLP; and D.C. Councilmember Jim Graham helped the foundation reach their fundraising goals. |
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Friends of the National Library of Medicine Honors Four for Outstanding Scientific and Professional Leadership
May 11, 2010
Friends of the National Library of Medicine hosted its Annual Awards Dinner at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, DC. The Dinner brought together more than 200 people to celebrate and honor Dr. Eugene Braunwald, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, Dr. Robert Gallo and Ms. Rita Smith for their outstanding scientific and professional leadership. Honorees were commended for their groundbreaking advancements made in public health and medicine while raising funds to support key National Library of Medicine programs. FNLM looks forward to hosting another Annual Awards Dinner next spring in celebration of the NLM's 175th anniversary.
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William E. Doar, Jr. (WEDJ) Educational Foundation Celebrates First Graduating Class and Hosts First Annual Gala: Graduating to New Heights
May 8, 2010
This year's Gala marked an important milestone for the WEDJ Public Charter School for the Performing Arts, as it celebrated its first graduating senior class. All proceeds from this year's Gala will underwrite production costs for WEDJ's twelve student shows held every year at the school, so its students continue to receive an education enriched by the arts. |
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Corporate Sponsors Pave the Way for Success: 18th Annual Arena Stage Spring Benefit for Community Engagement: Swingin' with Sophisticated Ladies
May 4, 2010
Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater partnered with OAI to procure corporate sponsors for this annual event at the Lincoln Theatre. With a fantastic production of Arena Stage's Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies, featuring the incomparable Maurice Hines and a one-night-only performance featuring prominent leaders from Capitol Hill, including D.C. Councilmember Jack Evans, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, and Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr., the evening was a great success and raised over $175,000 to benefit Arena Stage's various community and arts education programs. The event's silent auction raised over $30,000 in additional proceeds. Representative Norm D. Dicks was presented Arena Stage's Voice Award for his contributions to the national arts community. |
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Antietam Healthcare Foundation Launches Public Phase of the $16 Million Capital Campaign for Washington County Hospital
May 1, 2010
Antietam Healthcare Foundation entered the final, public phase of its $16 million capital campaign in May. With over $14.5 already million raised, the Campaign was officially announced at the annual Crystal Ball, where an additional $100,000 was raised in support of the new hospital. OAI is currently directing all remaining community campaign efforts. Working closing with campaign volunteers, the OAI team is dedicated to raising the final $1.5 million before the hospital opens in November. |
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Sitar Arts Center Commemorates 10th Anniversary at the Carnegie Institution
April 22, 2010
Hosting 270 attendees, this year's Anniversary Celebration featured performances by Sitar's students and honored individuals who have supported the Center in its ten-year history. The evening was a great success and raised much needed funds to support Sitar Arts Center's multidisciplinary arts programs for more than 700 students a year, 80 percent of whom come from low income households. |
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Upcoming
Fall Happenings |
View All Events |
Youth, I.N.C.
Trading Day for Kids
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New York, NY - October 14,
2010
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Orr Associates, Inc.
2nd Annual CEO Healthcare Forum
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Washington, DC - November 1, 2010
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Youth, I.N.C.
A Celebration to Benefit New York Kids
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New York, NY - November
15, 2010
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Year Up, National Capital Region
Inaugural Awards Gala
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Washington, DC - November 17, 2010
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