Executive Issues

I was in a meeting recently with some managers when overhead came up. You would think we had just moved into the ring of a major boxing match. Goodness. Some managers were defensive. Others quietly retreated into their spreadsheets. Still, others moved into some language about “we’re doing the best we can to keep costs down.” So, I stepped into this swamp with the following question: “What do you think donors think about overhead?”...

Zachary DuBow was used to seeing MetroCards strewn all over the city’s subway stations—discarded by tourists or neglected by everyday commuters. He began to wonder how many of the cards contained little bits of leftover money. Probably not enough for a full fare, he thought, but what if he combined the value of all the…

Yesterday, Forbes released the 2015 edition of its annual "Largest U.S. Charities" report, which features the top 50 nonprofits by 2014 private donations (rather than government funding and other revenue sources) The full list is worth a look, but if you don't have time to poke around, don't worry. We did it for you! Here's a deeper look at the stats, trends and interesting tidbits on today's biggest charities...

Folks who work for nonprofit organizations are used to working with shoestring budgets. They understand that every dollar they spend must have a strong return on investment and that because they qualify for a special tax status, their financial documents are open for public inspections. It’s understandable that many conscientious nonprofit leaders hesitate to purchase…

Something about the Council of Senior Centers and Services of New York City Inc. just did not sound right anymore. For one, the council, a nonprofit organization, does not operate senior centers. It advocates against the abuse of older adults, helps them apply for rental and food assistance, and lobbies for affordable housing on their…

The Marine Corps League, organizing the annual "Toys for Tots" toy drive for families in need in the Reno/Sparks area, said local Wal-Mart stores have removed donation boxes from area locations. The group said it had donation boxes set up at area Wal-Mart locations, but has now learned that Wal-Mart has removed those boxes. A…

As the Girl Scouts, Turning Points for Children and countless other nonprofits have shown, crisis comes in ways that are impossible to imagine. It’s up to the organization to be proactive and transparent, to have a plan...

The Global Energy Balance Network (GEBN), a nonprofit organization funded by the Coca-Cola Co., said on its website late Monday that it will discontinue its operations. The announcement comes four months after it was revealed that the Atlanta, Georgia-based beverage maker was involved in the activities of the group. GEBN, which was formed with an…

“How do we double our program’s revenue?” is a question we hear a lot, and not just from the peer-to-peer fundraising directors, but also from the very senior level people in an organization. Personally, regardless of who is asking, I love this question because it supports a “go big or go home” mentality, and yet,…

A nonprofit founded to combat obesity says the $1.5 million it received from Coke has no influence on its work. But emails obtained by The Associated Press show the world’s largest beverage maker was instrumental in shaping the Global Energy Balance Network, which is led by a professor at the University of Colorado School of…