The Leadership Blog

We depend upon nonprofit organizations to be part of the community building equation. From addressing challenging issues like hunger and affordable housing to providing activities such as arts festivals and youth sports, we turn to the nonprofit sector to contribute to our quality of life. Therefore, it’s important that nonprofits participate in community policy discussions and decisions. Nonprofit organizations have the ability to give voice to those who might not otherwise be heard and... Read More →

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 necessity for most of our nonprofit organizations. Why do board members have to do fundraising? Ensuring adequate resources for the organization is a fundamental board responsibility and funding is one of those... 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 grow to a point at which they can hire staff. No matter their intentions for the future, the boards of all volunteer organizations face unique governance and management challenges. Boards for these types of... 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 clear direction and purpose, your organization may end up going in circles or simply moving in whatever direction the environment takes it. A plan gets everyone on the same page and focuses the organization’s... 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 and priorities. Whatever its purpose, a successful retreat requires careful planning, adept execution, and thorough follow-up. Careful Planning First, determine the purpose of the retreat. Does the board need to... 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 organizations, the end of the year means voting in a new group of board members and saying good-bye to those whose terms have ended. As your departing board members ride off into the sunset, think about how your... 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 members’ schedules may be even busier than usual? Make good use of members’ time and skills Board members are more likely to attend meetings that include significant decisions or discussions. Just consider the... 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 part of the core work of the organization. A culture of philanthropy focuses on engaging supporters and building authentic relationships with them. It’s not about the next big event, selling someone on the mission, or... 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 fundraising. Many boards are reluctant to provide leadership in this area because they fear they lack expertise or simply don’t know where to start. Here are a few basic questions boards can ask to better understand the... Read More →