VAWA provides funds to investigate and prosecute crimes against women. It also provides critical funding to organizations who work with victims. VAWA is yet another example of how women’s issues are being politicized.  

Not one Republican on the Senate Judiciary committee voted to reauthorize the bill (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/10/opinion/republicans-retreat-on-domestic-violence.html?_r=1).Previously VAWA was reauthorized by unanimous consent but not this time.  If VAWA is not reauth...

Yesterday I was interviewed by two different media outlets about Rihanna and Chris Brown. Rihanna and Chris Brown have been all over the news since they reconciled – and many are asking, what is Rihanna thinking? I am being asked "why would she even consider returning to a man who beat her so brutally?"

The reasons a woman returns to her abuser are numerous and complex. Studies show that a woman will return to her abuser 7 or 8 times before she can make the break for good. Many women retur...

On February 9th I talked about Ravelle (http://www.nancysstory.com/nancys-blog.php) who at age 74 still needs to work as she neglected to save for her retirement. As Ravelle says “I could be the poster girl for the fact that women — even smart ones — are very bad financial planners” (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/pf_article_111154.html).

 Tomorrow does not take care of itself – you do. So for all the Ravelle’s out there – get started today!

Get started by gathering all your st...

A Washington D.C. domestic violence agency lost its funding (http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-domestic-violence-agency-weave-to-close-leaving-clients-scrambling/2012/02/01/gIQA2kpflQ_story.html).According to the Washington Post the agency lost two government grants due to possible mismanagement of funds. My purpose in writing this post is not to pass judgment on the agency but to highlight that another domestic violence agency has closed.

The days of non-profits relying on grants is o...

Today Maurice Bretzfield (www.mauricebretzfield.com) internet and business strategist is a guest blogger and talks about how shelters can survive uncertain economic times.

Women’s shelters across our country are facing a crisis. The economic downturn has caused a perfect storm of increased demand for services and decreased funding. The decrease in contributions to the support of these shelters has been across the board – since 2008 shelters have seen that federal, state and local governm...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in their report titled “The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey” (http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pdf/NISVS_Report2010-a.pdf) stated “Sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence are major public health problems in the United States.” For many of us who work with victims of domestic violence that statement comes as no surprise. We know that it’s not just physical or mental/emotional disorders the...

I just read one of the best articles I've read in a long time regarding domestic violence. It's published by the Toledo Blade (http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2012/01/15/Domestic-violence-everyones-problem.html) and titled “Domestic Violence – Everyone’s Problem”. The article cites the CDC’s recent report about the prevalence of domestic violence in the U.S.

I have also talked about these stark statistics (http://www.thebusinessofme.com/the-business-of-me-blog/the-numbers-are-out...

According to the Mayo Clinic, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) “is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. Many people who go through traumatic events have difficulty adjusting and coping for a while. But with time and taking care of yourself, such traumatic reactions usually get better. In some cases, though, the symptoms can get worse or last f...

January is National Stalking Awareness Month.  Here are some statistics from http://stalkingawarenessmonth.org/ that will give you an idea how enormous the problem is.

According to the statistics (http://stalkingawarenessmonth.org/sites/default/files/Stalking%20Fact%20Sheet%202011_ENG%20press.pdf) 3.4million people over the age of 18 are stalked each year, 3 of 4 victims are stalked by someone they know, 30% of stalking victims are stalked by a current or former intimate partner – there a...

I have spent quite some time reviewing the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC’s) survey on Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence (http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pdf/NISVS_Report2010-a.pdf).While the report has very little to cheer about I did find one nugget of hope on page 58.

Page 58 has a section titled “Number of Perpetrators in Lifetime Reports of Violence by an Intimate Partner”. That small section talks about how many different partners victims have had who have abused ...

A recent article that appeared on the INDYchannel.com talks about the lack of long term affordable housing for women fleeing abusive relationships (http://www.theindychannel.com/news/30083298/detail.html).The article points out that “Fifteen years ago, city officials reported that Indianapolis needed 200 long-term transitional housing units. In a city of nearly 1 million people, Indianapolis has just 46 units.”  That was fifteen years ago and the situation is no better now.

Now women an...

There is no nice way of saying this –so I’ll just say it, the numbers are out and they suck! The recent Centers For Disease Control (CDC) report on Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence Survey found that more than one third or 42.4 million women have experienced rape, physical violence and stalking by an intimate partner sometime in their life –that means all women regardless of race, age or socioeconomic background.

As I say “If you want to see the face of domestic violence...

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recently issued an extensive report on Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Assault (http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pdf/NISVS_Report2010-a.pdf) which is based on research performed during 2010. The report devoted an entire section to the health conditions victims suffer as a result of abuse.

According to the report poor health suffered by victims is a “biologic response to chronic stress associated with experiences of violence.” Illnesses like...

If you Google the term “domestic violence incidents spike during the holidays” you get over 170 Google news returns that talk about how domestic violence increases during the holidays.

The Chicago Tribune talks about the double whammy victims of domestic violence in Joplin had to endure. First they had the tornado which forced one woman who had left her abuser to return to him because her father’s home was destroyed (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-bc-us--joplintorn...

On August 9th I posted a blog about waiting lists at women’s shelters due to decreases in funding (http://www.thebusinessofme.com/the-business-of-me-blog/page/2). A recent story which appeared in The Columbus Dispatch tells the story of Tatiana and her daughter who had no choice to stay at a motel as the local shelter had no room for her (http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/11/27/lacking-shelter.html).  In preparation to leave Tatiana managed to save $500 but that soon dwindl...

Over the years I have come to know a number of incredible and dedicated folks who work long hours insuring that women and their children are safe from their abusers. They don’t do it for fame or fortune - they do it because it is the right thing to do. They do it because violence against women must stop - so to all those “at the front line of this fight” thank you for all you do to help end violence against women.

Happy Thanksgiving!                

Yesterday was Halloween and this year like the previous two years the most purchased costume for little girls was a Princess costume (http://www.nrf.com/modules.php?name=News&op=viewlive&sp_id=1200).  In fact there were over five million princess costumes sold this year (http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2011/10/28/slideshow-best-selling-halloween.html?s=image_gallery) over 800,000 million more than last year.

Most little girls want to be princesses. I know I did.

In fact I wanted...

Yesterday I was one of many who talked about that Topeka, Kansas was no longer going to prosecute misdemeanor domestic battery. News flash – Topeka, Kansas has reversed that decision and will continue prosecuting those cases. Seems Topeka changed their position due to the outrage they received from the entire country (http://abcnews.go.com/US/kansas-da-prosecute-domestic-violence/story?id=14720962).  

I am thrilled that Topeka has reversed their decision but let’s look at the reason beh...

I am so angry with all the yelling, posturing and politicking going on across the country. Nothing is getting done and I fear nothing will get done. The entire country is seething and none of our politicians care – in fact they are using the electorate as pawns for their own agendas.

OK, I got that off my chest now to the real business of what it on my mind. People will die! Note: Topeka, Kansas voted to eliminate the law against misdemeanor domestic battery. This means that Topeka, KS wi...

Well, October is here and there are rallies, ceremonies and other events to make the public aware of the impact of domestic violence. There are millions of women and children who endure domestic violence and for them the battle will extend well past October.  Let us not forget that somewhere in our country approximately 150 women are abused every hour. And you may know her. She may be the woman in the office next to you; she may be the woman on the coffee line with you every morning or standi...

I recently met with a savvy businesswoman who is an expert, in wealth management for high net worth individuals. During our conversation we talked about women and their views of money. This businesswoman said “Women, regardless of their net worth, fear they are going to be “bag ladies”.  In fact the biggest fear voiced by most of The Business of Me participants is the fear they will be destitute and spend their later years broke and miserable.

This fear of money affects all women rega...

According to an article in Business Wire (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/mary-kay-responds-to-national-increase-in-domestic-violence-with-campaign-to-give-hope-give-joy-and-give-dreams-2011-09-15) on average three women are murdered each day by their intimate partner.

The article goes on to say “Domestic violence shelters throughout the United States report the economy continues to significantly affect women -- with domestic violence increasing for the third straight year and government...

I had lunch yesterday with a fantastic woman. When we first met she told me that she was building a business helping others improve their overall health – but that is only part of her story. This wonderful woman is also a teacher in the public school system for twenty years, specifically working with inner city high school students.

As we talked she told me that she always had more than one job as she needed to supplement her teaching income.

I am appalled that teachers need to suppleme...

A recent report from the UN says that the US needs to re-examine its policies regarding protection of victims and punishment of perpetrators of domestic violence (http://www.asafeworldforwomen.org/domestic-violence/dv-usa/1115-us-breaching-human-rights-of-domestic-violence-victims.html).

The report cited a women who obtained a restraining order protecting her from her husband. It seems the woman made seven calls in seven hours to the police when her estranged husband kidnapped her three chil...

On July 29th the www.indystar.com ran a story about domestic violence shelters so overcrowded that the shelters have started waiting lists (http://www.indystar.com/article/20110730/LOCAL18/107300333/Demand-forces-some-women-s-shelters-start-waiting-lists?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CCommunities%7Cp).

I can’t even imagine a woman calling for help and a safe place for her and her children and being told they will put her name on a waiting list. Deplorable!

According to the article “A ...

It seems it’s no longer “correct” to call rich people rich. We now have to call them what the right wing of our political system claims they are and that is “job creators”. To date many of us do not see what jobs the “job creators” have developed, but I can share one industry that these “job creators” have developed – prostitution!

That’s right prostitution and if you have not read the Huffington Post article about “sugar babies” then please read it http://www.huffi...

I have been reading Maurice Bretzfield’s blog “Shared Value Today” http://sharedvaluetoday.com/. His blog is a must read for non-profits and corporations who want to go beyond “charitable giving” and impact their bottom lines. Mr. Bretzfield’s recent post “Shared Value That Produces Corporate Profit” is on point and should be shared with your networks.

Shared Value That Produces Corporate Profit by Maurice Bretzfield (http://sharedvaluetoday.com/post/8256218043/shared-value-t...

The Woodlands Villager of Houston (http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/woodlands/news/article_6d5126b5-816e-5dba-92c8-523300255aec.html) posted an article about the financial struggles of the Montgomery County Women’s Center.

It seems the Montgomery County Women’s Center relies on federal grants and The United Way as its main funding sources – and those sources have reduced their funding by 50%.  According to Sarah Raleigh the executive director of Montgomery County Women’s Center “For...

Yesterday I talked about how the state of the economy is affecting non-profits. I also mentioned that there is “talk” about limiting the tax deductibility of charitable donations. Here is an article in yesterday’s “The Jewish Week” (http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/national/nonprofits_fear_tax_limit_charitable_deductions)that expands on this issue.

I don’t have a crystal ball – I don’t know where all this gloomy talk about deficits, double dip recession or cut-backs will en...

It’s been sometime since I blogged as I have relocated to NYC and it took me some time to get settled. 

In my last post I talked about the New Hampshire State funding cuts and in the short span of a month,  Minnesota has shutdown and the U.S. may default. WOW things have gotten really bad.

I don’t know if the U.S. will default. The atmosphere is so contentious in Washington D.C. so no matter what happens, I fear government grant levels will not be the same. We know that they are talki...

Many of you know that I said I would not be posting any blogs until my move is complete. However,   I saw this article today about New Hampshire State funding cuts which will force The New Hampshire Coalition against Domestic and Sexual Violence to cut services and had to post it http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2011/06/21/nh_domestic_violence_coalition_fears_loss_of_funds/.

I have said it before nonprofits need to find new streams of revenue or they may face cutti...

Last night I had dinner with some friends and part of our dinner conversation surrounded the news about a possible “double dip recession”. If you Google the term “double dip recession” you will get a slew of articles. Some of the writers are not concerned about it and some are saying a “double dip recession” is inevitable and it’s only a matter of time. Others are saying that we are already in a depression. All of my dinner companions were definitely concerned and some were down...

A report by Andrea Kovach a staff attorney at the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law points out that women have a better chance of staying out of abusive relationships once they acquire financial literacy skills. Ms. Kovach talks about a number of programs that help these women achieve financial independence and points out a number of success stories.

There is no doubt that financial independence is crucial to a woman’s safety and her ability to leave her abuser. For some women...

My previous six posts http://www.thebusinessofme.com/the-business-of-me-blog.php all talk about the struggles nonprofits have and the challenges they face in the light of the economy and downward spiral of charitable giving and increasingly rare government funding.

I talked a lot about how important it is for nonprofits to be more entrepreneurial if they are to survive. I even posted a “real life” story of a nonprofit in the South Bronx who has lost all its funding and is in dire jeopar...

My friend Dr. Sharon Ufberg has written an article (http://bit.ly/iVMC2G) about a wonderful organization in the South Bronx whose funding has dried up and is struggling to stay open. This is a real story about how the “New Normal”, that I have been blogging about, is affecting nonprofits. The question is whose next?

 Read my blog to find out what I have been saying about the “New Normal” and how it is affecting nonprofits. I even talk about some solutions.

This is a very serious...

On May 5th I wrote about “The New Normal” http://www.thebusinessofme.com/the-business-of-me-blog/the-“new-normal” and how nonprofits need to be more entrepreneurial if they are to make up the funding gap from lost donations and government funding. Today the New York Times ran an article titled “Squeezed Cities Ask Nonprofits for More Money” http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/12/us/12nonprofits.html?hp.

The article talks about how some cities are asking their large nonprofits who own...

In yesterday’s post http://www.thebusinessofme.com/the-business-of-me-blog.php I related a conversation I had with a director of a women’s shelter who was thinking of opening a gift shop so her organization could earn money.

Let’s take a look at what it takes to open a physical store:

Location: The store will need to be located where it will get sufficient traffic and attract customers requiring a lease commitment.

Inventory: The store will need to be stocked with inventory. Even if...

Zira J. Smith Ed.D. Of the University of Illinois Extension gave a presentation titled “How Non-Profits Become Self-Sufficient”. One of the slides is titled “Innovation is not Entrepreneurial” and I agree with Ms. Smith. Innovation, according to Ms. Smith is not making brochures prettier, implementing new programs and reaching out to new audiences and still relying on the same old foundations, organizations, donors and government agencies for funding.

I was talking to a non-profit d...

If you Google the term “New Normal” you will get a list of articles that talk about how the current economic crisis has changed the way people are spending and saving in order to make ends meet. Now if you Google the term “New Normal Non Profits” you will get a slew of articles on how nonprofits are struggling to meet higher demand for services with less funding.  

I have been speaking to a number of women’s organizations recently about the “New Normal” and how it is affecting ...

According to a report by Mary Kay domestic violence is on the rise for the third straight year (http://www.marykay.com/content/company/2011survey.pdf) and the economy is taking a toll on both shelters and survivors.  The Mary Kay report confirms an earlier report by The National Network to End Domestic Violence. In a post I wrote on March 23rd I talked about the affect the economy is having on the services shelters provide http://www.thebusinessofme.com/the-business-of-me-blog/a-day-in-the-li...

I have said for a very long time that domestic violence is one of the major health issues facing women. I’ve shared statistics from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) showing that  the health-related costs of rape, physical assault, stalking, and homicide  by intimate partners  exceed $5.8 billion each year. Of this total, nearly $4.1 billion  are for direct medical  and  mental health care services.

According to Dr. Jennifer Wider a renowned women’s health expert domestic violence is...

Survivors of domestic violence are resilient. I have always believed this and so does Dr. Kim Anderson of the University of Missouri.

Dr. Anderson suggests that we work with survivors to help them recognize the strength and resilience they gained from their situations. In her words:

“I have learned that resiliency is not a scarce commodity in which some have it and some do not. Instead, there are many roads to surviving, persevering, and thriving if we are prepared to listen and learn f...

Yesterday I talked about what participants who attended The Business of Me had to say about what the program meant to them. Today I will share the comments from two organizations who have hosted The Business of Me.

"The Business of Me" was presented to members of our Professional Women's Group. Our clients found the seminar to be very helpful, informative, and encouraging. I was particularly impressed with Nancy's holistic approach to the subject manner and skillful interaction with the grou...

I have had the pleasure of working with survivors of domestic violence since 2003 and I can’t begin to tell you the joy I have received from working with and knowing these wonderful women. Many of them have told me what The Business of Me has meant to them and I would like to share some of their comments with you so that you can understand the impact of the program has had on these women.

“I have a more positive outlook on my future”

“I see I've accomplished some of my vision and I...

The U.S. Senate has passed a resolution designating April as Financial Literacy Month. Many accounting firms and other financial institutions are sponsoring a number of activities to educate the public about personal money management.

I know you have heard me say this again and again and I’ll say it again today -  financial literacy is crucial for women! As a group women are more financially illiterate than other groups. In a study conducted by Professor Annamaria Lusardi of Dartmouth Coll...

Last week I talked about the problems faced by corporations due to domestic violence. I also talked about a solution.

The solution I outlined was the creation of corporate/community partnerships whereby women’s shelters and corporations partner with each other to reach out to women in corporations to help them get out and stay out of abusive relationships. Today I am going to describe how The Business of Me does just that.

The Business of Me forms what becomes a tightly-knit group of wom...

This week my posts have concentrated on the problems corporations and communities face with domestic violence.  I talked about the enormous cost to society this social issue presents. Today I will talk about a solution that will help both communities and the corporations in those communities.

While so many companies are  already  making heroic efforts, there’s so much more that can be done.

I believe  that one solution is  to create  corporate–community partnerships  where both corpora...

Many companies  know that domestic violence  hurts their employees  and their communities. They’re aggressively  reaching out  to their female employees  in need.  A growing group of CEOs  is saying  that it's time  for Corporate America  to confront the issue  head-on  and I agree.

As a matter of fact on March 7th, more than 90  chief executives  met in New York City.

March 7^th  was International Corporate Philanthropy Day. One of the key topics discussed  at “The Board of Boards  CEO...

Each year the National Network to End Domestic Violence conducts a one-day survey of domestic violence services.

This is a snapshot of domestic violence services provided in the United States on just one day. I’d like to share some of the startling results with you.

On September 15, 2010 the survey showed that despite helping over 70,000 people on that day, domestic violence programs were unable to meet over 9,500 requests for services because of a lack of funding, staffing and resources...

Productivity losses  account for nearly  $1.8 billion  and victims  of severe domestic violence  lose nearly 8 million days of paid work yearly.

This represents  a huge cost  to industry. Co-workers of victims  are also aff...