Blog
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Why volunteers before how volunteers
It’s an age-old question in virtually any social impact organization – how we do get volunteers? In my experience, if you start by answering that question, you’re getting off on…
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Raising money through strategic planning
Strategic planning can require significant resources — both time and money. Fortunately, going through the process can also be a means of raising additional resources. In my mind, there are…
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Should you hire for skill or spirit?
I’m not sure I’d use the term “spirit,” but I definitely think too many nonprofits hire based solely on who has the experience/skill and not enough attention is paid to…
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On the perils of chasing money
I recently had a conversation with an organizational Executive Director who was having their group round up its grassroots supporters to generate online votes to have the group selected to…
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Talking in values language
I recently was speaking to a board of a conservation organization and said that they were working to protect “environmental values.” And that we should lead with our values, not…
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How Organizations Learn
Just read a fascinating article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review on how organizations learn. It definitely has tremendous applicability to any effort to help an organization establish systems or…
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Why I do what I do
I’m about 20 months into my work as a consultant. As my day-to-day has become busier (thanks to my wonderful, fabulous clients!) I’ve started to think harder about what I’m…
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How often should your board meet?
I’ve had this question come up in conversation a few times in the last month. There is, of course, no pat answer. Here are some factors that would lead me…
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Read this. Now.
Came across the attached and thought it was so good that I’m encouraging anyone I know who cares about social change, particularly fundraising for social change, to read it. Now.…
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When do you hire a Development Director?
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the transition of organization from all-volunteer, to their first Executive Director, to the build out of additional staff. One of the recurring questions…