I’m frequently asked if nonprofit board members need to do fundraising.  My short answer is always, “yes,” which often elicits a look of horror or resignation from the person asking. Fundraising is challenging. Few people have a natural affinity for it, and yet, it is a... Read More →

Our seven county Creative Corridor is home to over three thousand registered nonprofit organizations. Most of these are small and rely upon volunteers, rather than paid staff, to manage the organizations. Some intend to remain all-volunteer organizations; others are seeking to... Read More →

Change is a constant. In our current environment, this may feel even more evident to you and your organization. While many take a ‘wait and see’ approach in times of great uncertainty, I encourage you to be more proactive. Have a Plan First, you need a strategic plan. Without a... Read More →

A retreat provides the opportunity to step away from the ‘meeting as usual’ approach to address larger organizational issues. This could mean developing a strategic plan, determining an annual work plan, or having a strategic discussion about the organization’s programming mix... Read More →

Relationships are hard. They take time, they require attention, and typically, they call for a little bit of patience and understanding. After that kind of investment in your relationships with board members, why throw it all away when a member leaves your board? For many... Read More →

Summer, beautiful summer. With vacations, family activities, and seasonal distractions, board meeting attendance may dip during summer months. This can be a challenge, since the work of most organizations doesn’t take a summer break. How can you encourage attendance when board... Read More →

Building a culture of philanthropy at your organization can help you get off the gerbil wheel of chasing the dollar and not feeling good about it. Successful nonprofit organizations understand that development—aka fundraising—is not a position or a project or a department—it’s... Read More →

Ensuring adequate resources for an organization is a board responsibility. This naturally involves board oversight of fundraising. Although many of the fundraising activities will be conducted by staff, the board must provide leadership and direction for the organization’s... Read More →

We’ve all heard Drucker’s quote dozens of times—“culture eats strategy for lunch.” This doesn’t mean that culture is more important than strategy, but is a cautionary note that for an organization to be effective, its leaders must be as attentive to developing a positive... Read More →

Serving as a board member takes your relationship with an organization to the next level. Whether you have worked with dozens of nonprofits or are contemplating service on your first board, vetting an organization before joining its board can make a difference in how well that... Read More →