Executive Issues

Like many of us in the nonprofit industry, long ago, I had the misfortune to work as a development associate for a charity rife with dysfunction. For the sake of this article, let’s just refer to it as a nonprofit serving young people. I’m not in the business…

"Act the way you'd like to be and soon you'll be the way you'd like to act," Bob Dylan said. Frequently I hear mentors providing valuable coaching, challenging their mentees to dress, perform and behave like they had the job they aspire to have...

Is there some deep, dark secret lurking in the trenches of nonprofit fundraising, one that is nearly as bleak as the abysmal donor retention rates, one that holds organizations back from realizing their true potential? Yes. The bizarre lengths nonprofit organizations will go to in their endless pursuits of “free” is a bone-deep problem that afflicts organizations of all sizes...

The Centre for Sustainable Philanthropy at Plymouth University has changed its name after receiving a $1 million donation to expand its work. The center has become the Hartsook Centre for Sustainable Philanthropy after receiving the donation from the U.S.-based fundraising consultancy Hartsook. The center said in a statement that it planned to use the funds…

I’m angry. Recently, a major gift officer (MGO) reached out to us at Veritus desperate to understand her problem. "I feel like I’m doing everything wrong," she said. "I read your blog posts about major gifts and that feels right to me, but my boss is saying I have to ask people for money who I’ve never even met or know and, in many cases, have never given before....

The president of the governing body for Iowa's public universities often has used his $5 million pledge to the Hawkeye football program to build his image as a successful businessman and philanthropist. But years after his 2008 commitment was touted at a news conference as the largest gift to Iowa athletics, Bruce Rastetter has given…

Did you know there were an estimated 2,810 fundraisers for Congress held from 2013 to 2014? That’s just one of the eye-opening Sunlight Foundation statistics John Oliver cited on the April 3 episode of “Last Week Tonight” to paint a picture of how much time elected officials spend fundraising. Oliver dedicated the entire episode to the topic of congressional fundraising—and just how horrifying it is for everyone involved...

One of the biggest keys to success—or failure—when you join an organization or start working in a new position is the need to make a difference...

Two former Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) executives, who were fired after the media questioned the nonprofit's spending even though an internal investigation found no wrongdoing, have launched a blog...

Top performers and rising stars in your organization warrant special treatment, just as top donors do. They contribute more than others, and they raise the bar for everyone. Top donors capture the attention of other organizations, and competition for their philanthropic dollars intensifies. By raising more, top performers and rising stars capture the attention of…