Nonprofits were called upon to be the north star of change in the charitable universe and leaders should fix a point in time and space from which to chart their organizational course. The comment was made by Independent Sector President and CEO Diana Aviv during the organization’s annual conference, being held in San Francisco, Calif.

Aviv called on the more than 900 leaders assembled at the Union Square Hilton that managing data, investing in people and forging partnerships with other organizations will help to accomplish their goals.

“People are the only truly renewable resource,” said Aviv during her luncheon talk.

Independent Sector is on better financial footing than it was a year ago, with 88 new members bringing the total to 566 organizations. Officials did not immediately have the net gain year over year.

Aviv told those attending the 7:30 a.m. business meeting that the organization’s managers are focusing on three elements: public policy, developing its business and membership model and financial stability. The organization’s net assets improved from $23.7 million on Aug. 31, 2011 to $30.8 million on that date this year. Total assets were listed as $48.9 million with $18.1 million in liabilities, with $17.4 million of it the mortgage on its Washington, D.C. headquarters.

Operating revenue was $6.8 million, roughly $1 million below budget. Managers made adjustments and year-to-date expenses were reported at $5.7 million, $1.1 million below budget.

Board Chair Kelvin Taketa, president & chief executive officer of the Hawaii Community Foundation, said the board was pleased with the financial results.

Independent Sector members elected two new board members and re-elected four directors to the IS board. The new directors are Deborah Alvarez-Rodriguez, president and CEO of Goodwill of San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin County and Julie Floch, partner of EisnerAmper, LLP, in New York City.

“It is an honor to welcome these two new members to the IS Board of Directors,” said Taketa. “These impressive leaders will contribute to important conversations and decisions about issues facing the entire nonprofit and philanthropic sector. I’m looking forward to an outstanding year of service with these accomplished professionals.”

Four board members have also been re-elected: Taketa; Irene Hirano Inouye, president and CEO of The U.S.-Japan Council; Lorie Slutsky, president of The New York Community Trust, and Michael Piraino, CEO of National CASA Association.

The board also acknowledged the service members rotating off the board: Brian Gallagher, president and CEO of United Way Worldwide, and Rey Ramsey, president and CEO of TechNet, Newark, N.J.