DESC: A HISTORY OF OUR FIRST 28 YEARS
It's been 28 years since a coalition of automobile industry and nonprofit executives created an organization that would prove to be a powerful friend to nonprofit agencies in the Detroit area for the next quarter-century. The year was 1982; the organization, the Detroit Executive Service Corps.
THE EARLY YEARS (1982-1988)
At first, DESC scraped by with few volunteers, fewer clients, and bare essentials in office facilities and financial resources. But that gradually changed. Under the leadership of General Motors Vice President of Industry-Government Relations Robert F. Magill, recruitment of community leaders and the cultivation of a broad base of financial support blossomed.
By 1984, about 25 DESC volunteers were working with a dozen clients, although consulting services were limited by volunteer experience.
Kellogg Funding
A major boost came in 1987, when the Kellogg Foundation awarded DESC a three year grant of $270,000 - a vital vote of confidence during a critical period.
Key Staff Additions
With DESC's growing presence, Lois Matheson was hired as full-time executive director in 1983. Another significant staff addition came in 1987, when William F. Grier was contracted as DESC Director of Development.
OFF and RUNNING (1989-1995)
The early '90s saw the strengthening of basic DESC services, as well as gains in consulting and fundraising. Meanwhile, special recruitment efforts helped expand volunteer numbers.
DESC reached out to the educational community, where two-hour sessions known as Roundtable Dialogues were introduced in high schools in 1989. The concept grew in popularity, and in 1993, the program expanded to middle schools.
DESC COMES OF AGE (1996 - 2001)
The closing of the decade saw growth in all areas. Internal operations got an overhaul, resulting in improvements in management structure and procedures:
The Board of Directors was expanded to provide greater diversity of experience, more women and minorities, and more support in fundraising.
An advisory board was formed to provide another layer of community leaders as advisors and supporters.
A Five-Year Strategic Plan was implemented in 1997 to shape and sharpen the Corps' focus into the next decade.
A communications program was developed in 1998, resulting in an annual report, quarterly newsletters and a short promotional videotape.
Big Benefactor
In 1997, a major grant funded a change that continues to impact the Corps' success. Chrysler Corporation gave DESC $50,000 to expand operations, particularly through the employment of a high caliber executive director. The 1998 hiring of Deanna McGraw, with 17 years of nonprofit experience, was the result.
Consulting Flourishes
The number of agency-consultant relationships boomed. Typical projects now involved teams of DESC consultants. To improve the quality of volunteer training, DESC created a seven-part series of training workshops for Corps recruits.
Major Project Emerges
In 1999, DESC embarked on a major project. In partnership with New Detroit, Inc. and Wayne State University, a management assistance program was developed for small community-based organizations (CBOs) with annual budgets under $200,000. The Skillman Foundation financed the five-year project, which helped 100-plus nonprofit agencies upgrade their management skills.
Improving Leadership
The Principal Leadership Program was introduced in 1999, and augmented in 2001 with the Financial Knowledge and Skills for Principals program. In 2000, a program known as Leaders Circles was designed to build a network of sharing among nonprofit managers. More than 200 participants have since improved their networking skills.
BACK TO THE BASICS (2002-2007)
With a tightening economy and growth pains typical of any successful organization, the first years of the new millennium found DESC facing many challenges. In response, several initiatives were launched:
A new three-year Strategic Plan was developed in 2002 and implemented in 2003.
Key Strategic Issues - from lack of effective marketing to inadequate financial resources were identified, and action plans to address them were formulated.
Communication lines were enhanced with the development of an improved web site and a new video.
By 2003, the Corps' community-based organization (CBO) program had evolved into a collaboration known as SCOPE (Strengthening Community Organizations to Promote Effectiveness). Providing support services to organizations with budgets under $350,000, the program was funded by a five-year grant from The Skillman Foundation.
Major grant awarded
In 2004, a three-year initiative was launched to boost the academic performance of Detroit-area students by improving the leadership capacity of their principals. A collaboration of DESC, Detroit Public Schools, the Archdiocese of Detroit and the National Charter Schools Institute, New Visions for School Leaders was funded by a $500,000 grant from The Skillman Foundation.
Staff and Program Changes
Director of Resource Development Bill Grier retired in 2004. Lynne Nagy, a nonprofit fundraiser with more than 20 years' experience, was hired to fill his post.
Through a federally funded program known as the Compassionate Capital Initiative, DESC began working with New Detroit to assist faith- and community-based organizations in Detroit, Pontiac and Mount Clemens in 2005.
Also in 2005, DESC increased services provided by 30 percent - a result of growth in consulting projects.
Wrapping Up First 25 Years
A new Strategic Plan to guide Corps actions through 2011 was launched. In November 2007, DESC hosted the national Executive Service Corps Affiliate Network Conference - a first for Detroit.
Direction Redefined
Falling revenues and volunteer rates continued to impact DESC operations in 2006 and 2007. A review of the numbers led to the difficult decision to focus on the business/consulting aspect of Corps services. As a result, Roundtable Dialogues were phased out in 2007.
"We are now working with a sharper focus on what has always been our vision: to be the premier volunteer organization in the Detroit area in promoting the betterment of nonprofits," DESC President Deanna McGraw said.
A QUARTER-CENTURY OF LEADERSHIP
DESC CHAIRMEN
1982 - 1988: Robert F. Magill, retired Vice President of Industry & Government Relations, General Motors Corporation
1988 - 1992: William C. Adams, retired President, Federal-Mogul Corporation
1993 - 1995: Alan Henderson, retired Managing Partner, Deloitte & Touche
1996 - 2001: Richard I. Bortfeld, retired President of Automotive, Sheller-Globe Corporation
2001 - 2005: William J. Adams, retired Partner, Arthur Andersen
2005 - 2009: Myron A. Frasier, former Director of Network Technical Training for Ameritech
2009 - present: William J. Reminder, President & CEO, THI, Inc.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
1982 - 1983: Nate Borofsky, retired Research Director of the Legal Economics Group for General Motors Corporation
1983 - 1989: Lois Matheson
1989 - 1995: Edward Kastner, retired Vice President of Planning & Research, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Michigan
1995 - 1996: Thomas Hanna, former President of Automobile Manufacturers Association
1998 - 2010: Deanna McGraw, former DESC President and former Executive Director of Community Human Services
2010 - present: Cortney Cunningham, DESC Executive Director, former Director of Housing, Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries