Blog Archives

Most Boards of Directors term out their Board Chair every two years, and face the possibility of having someone in that important position who has absolutely no qualifications for that job.  Is this a way to run a successful organization? Executive Directors who face this prospect every couple of years have two dilemmas. How to [...]

I keep wondering why nonprofit leadership spends so much time and money putting on special events to raise money and so little time keeping engaged with those donors who already support them. I have written over and over how important a simple ‘thank you’ telephone call can be to a person who has recently made [...]

One of the greatest pleasures I get in consulting with nonprofits is the variety of people I meet and the range and quality of experiences I am exposed to. I know I’m making an impact in helping each client build more effective organizations, but at the same time I’m growing as a person. Each of [...]

In my role as consultant I often find myself facing the BIG THREE obstacles that keep Boards from moving ahead. These are three statements that I keep hearing from Board members that can really put a damper on a board meeting. 1. We’re in a recession so we can’t raise more money. 2. We are [...]

The best way to raise money is to cultivate relationships with potential donors. Money is an effect to patient effort and successful actions.

Fund raising events are valuable to a nonprofit organization, thus it is important to manage them in the most effective way. Outlined are some strategies one must implement to produce great results.

Board turnover makes it difficult for leadership to build strong relationships and delegate effectively. Laying down a standard method for communication, roles and responsibilities places all members on the same page.

One of the greatest casualties among non-profits is the burned-out CEO. Being the head of a nonprofit has always been a challenging job. The long hours, inadequate resources, and sometimes uncooperative or negative Board members can all take their toll on a person. Still, most people make nonprofits their careers because they know they are [...]

Can you imagine trying to start a new non-profit during a Recession? In recent months, I have been fortunate to be engaged by a number of new nonprofits who have just received their 501(C) 3 certification and want to get their new creation off to a good start. In these difficult financial times, when many [...]

Why do people give up their precious leisure time and their accumulated wealth to become engaged in philanthropic endeavors? There is a ton of literature on the subject, but I have a very practical and ground-floor view, which I would like to share. 1. To do what we can to make this a better world. [...]