Staffing & Human Resources

Earlier this year, my daughter and her classmates raised money for pediatric cancer (as they do every year) in a friendly game of teacher volleyball. Each teacher wore a T-shirt with a nickname on the back. My favorite was the principal’s, which said, “Mike Romanager.” The principal’s first name isn’t Mike, nor is his last…

Earlier this year, at the encouragement of President Barack Obama, the Department of Labor finalized the most significant update to the federal rules on overtime in decades. The new rules will more than double the salary threshold for guaranteed overtime pay, from about $23,000 to $47,476. Once the rules go into effect this December, millions…

Sen. Bernie Sanders wants to assure his supporters that his bid for president—and the ensuing shake up and movement within the Democratic party—was not for naught. On Wednesday, the Vermont senator announced the creation of Our Revolution, a 501(c)(4) political organization, The New York Times reported. But things haven’t exactly gotten off to a smooth start...

You will meet many colleagues in the nonprofit business. If you are extremely fortunate, you will maintain relationships with valued colleagues for a number of years. Besides just going to and from work each day, I encourage you to meet and engage with colleagues. When you do, your knowledge expands greatly...

What is your biggest fundraising challenge? For many fundraisers, the answer is “fundraising by committee.” In fact, when I asked my readers to share their greatest challenges in creating their organizations’ fundraising appeals, their answers were telling...

She was the director of the annual fund at a small Midwestern college. He was director of planned gifts. What should have have been a productive professional relationship soured into a bitter, on-the-job rivalry that eventually prompted the annual fund director to resign. The annual fund director—who asked that her name be withheld in order…

Your board meeting or fundraising committee meeting ends with a buzz. Everyone is excited about the direction things are heading at your nonprofit organization. People even agreed to take on tasks. With deadlines. Yet, a month or so later when you meet, you are disappointed—again. Calls weren’t made. Tickets weren’t sold. Doors weren’t opened. Reports weren’t reviewed. You aren’t even sure…

Severance pay should be considered whenever an employee is laid off, is terminated with or without cause, or resigns from employment. Termination can result from a variety of circumstances, some of which may involve contentious people or situations, and difficult issues. Thus, severance pay may be a good risk-management tool for avoiding potential 
litigation, adverse publicity and other claims against a nonprofit employer...

When it comes to fundraising, far too many nonprofit organizations are wedded to “magic bullet” thinking, mistakenly believing that a miracle solution will arrive and answer their prayers. The problem is, that method of thinking falls into the category of distractions, ultimately wasting your time and diverting your focus from what truly matters. And it is costing you...

We register for them. We speak at them. We go to their education sessions and receptions. But, are those industry conferences really worth it?...