Accountability

Beyond the Christmas decorations, gift-giving and parties, this is the time of year to sift through the mountain of requests for charitable donations, from groups that fight hunger and cancer to our alma mater and places of worship. So how can we gauge which groups are most deserving of our money? Princeton University philosophy professor…

It’s an overcast Sunday morning and most of Seattle is glued to the Seahawks game, but John Salvatier and Elizabeth Van Nostrand are waiting for members of the group they help run, Seattle Effective Altruists, to arrive at Salvatier’s house in the Central District. Van Nostrand explained that effective altruism “is extremely quantitative. ‘How much money…

“I don’t want to go to my board meeting.” Come on. You’ve said it, right? Oh please, be honest. You believe in your organization. You love the work. But preparing for a board meeting? Ugh. Board members–you hate them, too. Do you even bother to read the reports? You wanted to but (a) had no…

Branding is never easy, but nonprofit branding poses special challenges. Potential partners, team members, donors and advocates can have wildly varying expectations when it comes to defining a nonprofit organization's profile. On the one hand, thriftiness and efficiency are held in high-esteem; on the other, there is a natural hesitation for stakeholders to engage with…

What would you do if your organization received a sizable donation from an individual who, months later, was charged with a federal crime? Would you keep the donation or give it back? That’s the question facing Hunter College High School in the wake of Thursday’s arrest of Martin Shkreli, a 32-year-old multimillionaire pharmaceuticals executive who once attended the school...

People talk about being in the moment. It is a very important lesson for fundraising professionals. Be alert. Be where you are. Be engaged with the people around you. It is essential in our business to do the same with prospective donors...

Charity Navigator, one of the nation's two largest watchdog groups for charities, has removed the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation from its "watch list," lifting a cloud from the global philanthropy. The organization had placed the foundation on its watch list in April. The foundation contested the ranking at the time, and Charity Navigator…

Uh oh. Christmas is Friday. And you’ve still got some friends in the office you need gifts for. But what do you get the fundraiser who has it all? Relax, we’ve got your back. Here are a few last minute gifts you can pick up that any fundraiser will love: 1. Thank-You Card Stationery You…

Sue Desmond-Hellmann has worn many hats over the course of her career. She's the rare executive who's spent time in private practice, worked for two major U.S. pharmaceutical corporations, served as chancellor of a top university and now, helmed the world's largest private foundation. As CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation since last…

In the day-to-day grind of the life of a fundraiser, it can be almost too easy to lose your motivation, lose sight of what you want and even stop paying attention. How can you not only practice enthusiasm on a daily basis, but communicate it to others in your organization in an impactful way?...