Tracy Vanderneck

When evaluating a nonprofit organization’s financial and operational effectiveness, what should we consider? It is the age-old nonprofit conundrum: How do we show our nonprofit value on paper?

I think it is safe to assume we all want to be happy in our work and feel like our efforts are valued and appreciated by others. But it isn’t always easy for companies to find the intersection of structure and freedom that allow staff and volunteers to flourish...

I can picture a few skeptics out there thinking, “We have a strong major gifts program. I’m not going to dilute that with some new social fundraising fad.” That makes sense, to a point. If you have a robust and successful major gifts program established, do everything you can to keep it thriving!...

Your space is cramped. You have two desks jammed in a room the size of a janitorial closet. There is nowhere to meet clients or donors that presents a professional face of the organization. Someone just gifted your nonprofit a piece of property upon which you could build a brand-new facility with all the extras...

Why would the government shutdown cause a scramble for funds? Because social service nonprofit organizations that serve clients in categories such as domestic violence, mental health and persons with disabilities are the types of agencies most likely to have the federal government as their main source of funding...

Bill was one of the first people I met when I worked at a local American Red Cross chapter. Now, a decade later, I mention him often when I train nonprofit staff because he taught me an important lesson. Maybe he can help you be successful in your nonprofit career, too...

I hate to be sad or depressed. I know some people like a good cry; they feel it is cleansing, cathartic. I am not one of them. I’ve even been accused of wearing permanent rose-colored glasses because of the lengths to which I will go to avoid tearjerker movies or sob-inducing novels...

If nonprofit organizations have such tremendous responsibility and represent a large employment sector, doesn’t it make sense for them to operate in a way that enables them to recruit and retain the best talent available? I believe the missions they deliver are worth it...

Many small nonprofits start with a family forming the core of the board of directors; there may also be family members delivering the services. This can result in a significant conflict of interest and should be avoided.

Years ago, long before I worked in the nonprofit sector, I started my own nonprofit organization collecting and distributing school supplies to kids in need. I had no idea what I was doing; I just knew my nonprofit mission was to accomplish “something good.”...

Nonprofits need to be flexible, open to new ideas and willing to change when appropriate. Soliciting supporter input on a regular basis will help organizations stay relevant and in touch with their base...

As development professionals, it generally falls to us (the executive director and the person in charge of finance are often in the boat with us) to keep current on the fundraising regulations of countries and states in which our nonprofit organizations solicit funds to support our missions. It can be difficult to keep up and, sometimes, we may miss things; it happens...

Nonprofits are a positive part of many people’s lives, whether they are clients in need of services, donors giving to organizations or volunteers participating in the mission. While most of us have had favorable relationships with nonprofit organizations, unfortunately, many of us can also cite frustrations with them...

Teenagers are irresponsible. They are lazy and entitled and never look up from their smart devices. Wait, what about Jack Andraka, who identified an early detection mechanism for pancreatic cancer… while he was in high school? He not only invented it, he pitched the idea to 200 research professors to test it and earned workspace in a scientific lab...

Disaster philanthropy is in full swing. People are giving everything they can to help their fellow humans after hurricanes, earthquakes and fires. We’re seeing the best example of why nonprofit organizations exist—to be the conduit that makes it possible for people to help other people...