I want to make a point about the significance of a culture of philanthropy. About treating our internal stakeholders as kindly as we treat our external ones. About being grateful to those who support us and work with us, donors and staff alike. About being able to fully enjoy and [...]
Let’s talk about conflict, baby! Let’s talk about you and me! Let’s talk about all the good things and the bad things that can be! Let’s talk about conflict! Why? Because if you’re a good nonprofit leader, or a good fundraiser, you’re going to have to say no. Because it’s [...]
I was talking with a new friend recently, who had stopped working at nonprofits years ago. When I asked her why, she said, when she and her friends worked at nonprofits, they would all say that they were “dragged through the street” by them. I asked what that meant. She [...]
Have you ever been blown away by an off-the-wall question from a donor or board member? You know, the one that makes you wonder if they even know what your organization does? I hear this often. On the flip-side, one of my favorite things about my business is that I [...]
Here’s the thing. A couple years ago I talked with a representative of an economic development program here in Portland. He focused on the big industries, Intel, Nike, Adidas. I asked him why they didn’t focus more on nonprofits. He said, “because they bring the median income of the region [...]
We’ve all been told at one point or another to “get a grip.” Well, an important tool to have in your nonprofit toolbox is a GRPI. In fact, you should have a bunch of GRPIs in there. GRPI is an acronym for “Goals, Roles, Processes and Interpersonal relationships” from organizational [...]
Let me tell you a little story. Once upon a time, there was a girl working at a domestic violence shelter. She sat in the corner, and hung out with her cool volunteer coordinator friend, whose desk was in a converted tiny closet. She was the sole fundraiser, but they [...]
What is Founder’s Syndrome? Nonprofit Founder's Syndrome is a common treatable disease. Frequently carried as a recessive gene by passionate, dedicated, dynamic and visionary entrepreneurial leaders. Commonly found paired with groundbreaking new ideas to solve social problems. Often associated with new fledgling organizations. If seen in an established organization, it [...]
If you're anything like me, you're probably thinking a lot about making lists, setting goals and getting “stuff” done. We do this at home and at work. Around the office - just like around the home - there are often thankless but important tasks that “keeps the trains leaving the [...]
It’s happened again. You’re only three weeks into your dream development director job when you discover that you’re expected to be some sort of miracle worker — with little to no support. You've learned that... you’re the fifth development director in three years the organization you're working for is running nine [...]
Shining a light on the future of your nonprofit, and how you can shape it, requires looking at big picture strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) from many perspectives. When was the last time you did a simple SWOT analysis? Charities tend to have a lot invested in doing what [...]
“By failing to prepare, you are planning to fail” -Benjamin Franklin Planning is an important aspect of any nonprofit staff member’s daily workflow. Without an effective plan in place, as Benjamin Franklin stated frankly, you’re preparing for failure. As you start considering larger campaigns and projects, planning for success becomes [...]