The Bailey Leadership Initiative

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 →

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 →

A version of this article first appeared in the Corridor Business Journal. Enhancing the public standing and promoting understanding of the organization are fundamental board member responsibilities, but beyond inviting friends and colleagues to the organization’s activities, it... Read More →

This first appeared in the Corridor Business Journal. It seems that spring brings us an even greater number of nonprofit events—plant sales, 5Ks, galas, golf tournaments, and teas—with many including silent or live auctions as part of the event activities. Board members play a... Read More →

I’m so excited to have the opportunity to write a regular column for nonprofits in the Corridor Business Journal.  Here’s my latest column discussing effective boards, which includes some discussion on the importance of the board’s culture. We all know that... Read More →