Summer is often associated with beaches, family vacations, hot sun and good fun. For those in the nonprofit sector summer is also the season for retreats. These are times set aside to focus on programming, strategy, growth, partnerships and – many times – fundraising. While we believe in keeping the “fun” in fundraising – and
One of the biggest changes within the life of a nonprofit is the change in leadership. In most cases this will be accompanied by a period of transition with an interim leader. The position is short-term and in most cases temporary. We have seen interims who serve as placeholders or caretakers. Others are innovators. Some
It’s a funny thing how we credit others with super powers and become intimidated based on what we think we know. Here’s our advice: don’t be intimidated. Learn what contributes to success and get to work, day-by-day, building a culture of success. We understand the reality that for most organizations there is always a nonprofit,
When people want to know more about your nonprofit, who do they talk to? Who serves as a reference? How can you help ensure your references speak knowledgeably and with specifics? Don’t take your references for granted. Take time to talk with those you ask to serve as a reference. Ask if it is okay to
We need more than a day to celebrate Father’s Day. It’s just gone too soon. It’s one Sunday and then we are back to the every day. Let’s expand Father’s Day by increasing its impact. We can do this by choosing to give to organizations that support boys, young men and fathers. Your gift would
Part two of a two part series Planned confusion can take you down. It’s like a fog. It envelopes everything, but you can’t pin it down. Nothing is moving forward, but everyone says “I’m on board.” If you don’t intervene you may find yourself – and your organization – strangled by exasperation and inertia. Here
Part one of a two part series Does your board, committee, or team meet over and over again without gaining any traction, let alone achieving anything that could be considered success or just completion? If you answer “yes” you may be suffering from planned confusion. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. And, what’s worse,
The most effective leaders we have met keep their long term vision in focus. They simultaneously take advantage of immediate opportunities, and build capacity for the long term. These individuals have an understanding of the environment they are operating within, and are always building relationships that bring their organization closer to realizing their future vision.
Pressure and stress can be the name of the game when it comes to nonprofit fundraising. That’s to be expected. But you don’t need to raise the stress level unnecessarily. Here is one way to decrease your stress. We recently had the opportunity to speak with a nonprofit leader who was concerned about how her
Every time we work with an organization, agency or college we experience a deep kindred feeling with the people gathered at the table. Whether presenting information, listening to concerns, or developing strategies we are also meeting new friends. We are witnessing diverse individuals put their beliefs into action, and we are inspired. Nonprofit board members
