When it comes to preventing a terrorist attack on your organization, there are two main factors to consider: the threat and your ability to ward it off. While the most obvious is to ensure your organization’s infrastructure is up to par, your efforts can extend beyond the walls of your building. Aside from keeping your staff and volunteers safe, you can also play a role in the recovery effort. You can do this by creating and maintaining a disaster response plan that is not only scalable to meet changing needs, but based on realistic objectives and funding sources.

The most important part of any emergency plan is having a clear understanding of your roles and responsibilities. Your board can help lead the charge by determining who is responsible for what, enforcing policy and procedures, and taking appropriate action. It is also helpful to keep your head above water by taking steps to mitigate the risk of disaster in the first place. For example, you could implement a system to record your staff’s location when it becomes necessary to evacuate or reroute routes.

Managing COIs is not a new concept. The goal of good COI management is to identify and leverage the best of the best among your employees. This doesn’t mean you have to eliminate every COI; the key is identifying and removing any that are a threat to your mission and organizational goals.

One of the simplest and most effective ways to do this is to use a good internal control. An internal control is a system designed to prevent the loss or misuse of your organization’s assets. Examples include a good expenditure review process and regular independent audits of your bank statements. There are many ways to implement internal controls, but there is no one-size-fits-all solution. However, implementing a handful of effective controls is likely to have a big payoff in terms of ensuring your assets are protected from the vagaries of human behavior.

If you’re considering a security measure that may require some additional training or technical expertise, you can seek out the help of a qualified security professional. They can advise you on the most effective ways to implement your plans and provide you with the tools you need to make your security efforts as effective as possible.

As you consider the appropriate measures to protect your organization, keep in mind that the statewide umbrella nonprofit organization in New Jersey, Center for Non-Profits, is ready to offer its support and help. In addition to providing cost-saving member services, the center provides advocacy, education, and technical assistance to help New Jersey’s nonprofits navigate the many changes that are taking place in the charitable sector. Moreover, the organization has released a report, New Jersey Non-Profits 2016: Trends and Outlook, that offers a state-by-state comparison of the statewide nonprofit community’s financial status and the number of grant-funded projects.

The Institutional Support Review Committee (ISRC) of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges is not exactly a household name. However, its illustrious members can be found at several prestigious institutions across the country. As one of its many duties, the organization is responsible for reviewing prospective member institutions based on their performance on several different metrics. This includes the nirvana known as the Candidate Reaffirmation Process, which is a rite of passage for many colleges and universities around the country.

The ISRC is a mammoth undertaking whose size and scope are unmatched. It’s one of the many components in a larger, institutionally sponsored, consortium of universities, philanthropic organizations, and government agencies. In a nutshell, the organization works with the nation’s largest institutions of higher learning to improve student success and bolster the nation’s educational infrastructure. For example, the organization helps fund faculty fellowships, professional development funds, and other programs that are designed to promote diversity in the curriculum and enhance student learning.

Among other things, the ISTRC is home to the campus’s Clinical Learning Environment Review (CLER) program, which is touted as the most rigorous in its class. The program is a well oiled machine, and its staff is readily available to answer questions. In fact, the STIRC boasts a full time staff of seven, plus a cadre of consultants and contractors. A complete listing of contact information can be found on the ISTRC website.

While the ISTRC is certainly the best of the bunch, the organization also has a slew of other high-flying programs and initiatives to promote higher education in general, and college readiness in particular. One such program is the IMPACT Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships for outstanding students from underrepresented backgrounds. Another is the Faculty Development Endowment, which awards faculty fellowships on a competitive basis. Finally, the IMMORTOSS Foundation awards a handful of grants for innovative and impactful projects, as well as other noteworthy programs. If you are interested in the STIRC’s other notable initiatives, check out its website, which can be found at the bottom of this page.