Allstate Engagement Challenge Winner Announced

The Allstate Foundation’s presenting sponsorship of the 2011 LANO Annual Conference, "Leadership Makes the Difference,” held August 25-27, provided Louisiana’s nonprofit sector an essential venue for collaboration and continuing education.

In addition to generous operational support, the Allstate Foundation sponsored a unique Engagement Challenge for nonprofit attendees, designed to encourage collaborations and best practices. Attendees were asked to name:

• A fellow attendee considered a valued resource with whom further engagement may be planned
• A lesson, fact, or technique learned at conference and applicable to your mission
• A favorite conference moment or session

The winner of this year’s challenge, receiving two complimentary tickets to the January 3rd Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, is Ann Barilleaux, Director of Development for the SWLA Alliance Foundation, a regional economic development nonprofit dedicated to improving economic conditions and standard of living in Southwest Louisiana.

Ann selected Tommeka Semien of the SWLA Literacy Council as her resource for further engagement. She cited international speaker Myron Rogers’s explanation of "Intended Consequences vs. Unintended Outcomes” as a key take-home lesson. Finally, Ann listed the keynote address, The Seven Deadly Sins of Governance by Christel Slaughter of SSA Consultants, as her favorite moment and the "highlight of my conference.”

Of the responses from other contestants, about half named foundation representatives or the revenue-sharing Louisiana Community Marketplace project (from LANO member HOPE Ministries) as future contacts, suggesting that fund development is top of mind for nonprofits. 

For lessons learned, about half of contestants cited ways in which "outcomes and impacts” will be key to their missions in the coming year. Favorite conference moments occurred for contestants both in and out of session rooms: Keynote speeches by Tim Delaney and Christel Slaughter were cited, as were the formal and informal opportunities to network with peers within the sector.

Thank you to the Allstate Foundation, for your strong support and dedication to Louisiana’s nonprofit community!