You probably already know that donors have a bill of rights. They were created almost 30 years ago by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Prudent, logical and fair, they cover everything from access to financial statements to assurances their gift will be used as intended. But what about fundraisers? Arenāt [...]
As a black man working in nonprofit education, I have heard and experienced a lot, particularly from the students that Iāve served. Working in the North Lawndale Neighborhood on the Westside of Chicago, I had a 4th grader, an amazingly smart girl, tell me that she didnāt want to work [...]
If you are like most people right now, you are stuck at home. Whether or not you have work, you are probably wondering when this is going to end. What the next stage will look like. Thinking about your past. Thinking about your present. Thinking about your future. What we [...]
Board performance is a critical ingredient in a nonprofit organizationās ability to achieve impact.Ā After 25 years in the nonprofit sector, I have learned that aĀ nonprofit boardĀ is only as strong as theĀ education and direction that they receive.Ā Without a strong board of directors, the executive director and staff are expected [...]
Recently at a conference, I sat on a panel of three women -- two white, one black -- and we ended up talking about how women treat each other badly at work. As the talk went on, it became apparent that a lot of white women in the audience were [...]
Whether your organizationās work life has been stay-at-home and online or essential workers taking temperatures with protective gear, or a mix of both, COVID-19 has brought change and thereās no end in sight to making adjustments as we gradually return.Ā Ā How should nonprofits manage their COVID-19 changes? How can they [...]
"The only constant is change." How clichĆ© and how true! Everyone and everything encounter change. Nonprofits experience this regularly with turnover on their Board of Directors, new executive leadership, collaborations and partnershipsā¦and during a global pandemic. While some changes come with plenty of planning and strategy, not every time offers [...]
I once had a boss who insisted employee morale didnāt matter. She even sent me articles from Harvard Business Review purporting to prove this (if you read them closely, they didnāt).Ā Her insistence on this was directly related to her management style.Ā Top down.Ā Holding information close to the vest.Ā [...]
Our Ask An Expert series features real questions answered by Claire Axelrad, J.D., CFRE, our very own Fundraising Coach, also known as Charity Clairity. Today's question comes from an executive director who is looking for advice on hiring their first development staff member. Dear Charity Clairity, Iām an executive director [...]
A donor-centric culture is the essence of a highly effective nonprofit organization, driving its operations and fundraising. Donor-centricity is more than an industry buzzword, itās a way of being, a way of operating. But what exactly is a donor-centric culture and how can your organization develop it? Simply stated, a [...]
Itās not personal, itās business. Itās not about you, itās about our goals. Itās not about getting along, itās about getting the job done. These are all interesting phrases Iāve heard thrown around in the living rooms of leaders...aka...the conference room. These are the phrases leaders like to use to [...]
Do you have a culture of philanthropy at your nonprofit? You either do or you donāt. Thereās no in-between. All it takes To destroy your nonprofit's reputation as a force of goodness in the world is: One rude receptionist. One program staffer who doesnāt return phone calls promptly. One harried [...]