Staffing & Human Resources

Firing Your Development Director? Join the Club
February 10, 2016 at 11:03 am

I remember when, decades ago, a community foundation in the Northeast decided to study the outcome of a grants initiative to build fundraising capacity at local nonprofits. Many of those grants were targeted to seed the funding of a development director under the assumption that the position would pay for itself many times over in subsequent…

Animal-Welfare Veteran David Gregory Joins Newport Creative
February 4, 2016 at 8:57 am

Newport Creative, Duxbury, Mass., today announced that David Gregory has joined its growing fundraising team as vice president of business and strategic development. Gregory was chief financial officer at Michigan Humane Society before joining Newport Creative. The move is a strategic part of the agency’s growth plan and commitment to the animal welfare market...

Livestrong Foundation CEO Resigns After Less Than a Year
January 22, 2016 at 9:49 am

The chief executive and president of Livestrong resigned Tuesday after less than a year on the job, another blow to the cancer foundation that has struggled with sharp declines in donations and revenue since founder Lance Armstrong's performance-enhancing drug-use scandal. Chandini Portteus said she wanted to focus on her family. She was brought in to…

The Chief Development Officer 'Turnaround Specialist'
January 20, 2016 at 12:14 pm

Struggling professional sports franchises are well-known for seeking out coaches who are “turnaround specialists.” These individuals have a track record of coming into an organization and implementing a system that results in some significant level of improvement, measured in wins.

Your Support Staff Is Essential to Success
January 8, 2016 at 10:57 am

On Feb. 16 of this year, I will be celebrating my 40th year in the field of philanthropy. I have played many roles and have had many titles in my career. I have spent a great deal of time in the front of the organizational shop, so to speak. What I am most proud of is the fact I also have spent a great deal of time in the back of the shop. In order to succeed in the highest levels of our profession, you need hands-on experience and knowledge of both the front and back of the office...

The 5 Best Companies for Employee Giving
January 6, 2016 at 10:56 am

Corporate philanthropy is immensely important, and employee-giving programs are just one of the many ways that companies express their cultures of corporate social responsibility. There are many different ways for a company to craft its employee-giving program, but there are some amazing programs out there that companies can learn from...

How to Be Your Nonprofit's No. 1 Fundraiser in 2016
January 6, 2016 at 9:31 am

The new year is upon us, and many of us have made a list of resolutions in an attempt to better ourselves in 2016. Some of these resolutions are personal, some are professional. Unfortunately, most of us are going to fail in our resolution attempts. An impressive 45 percent of Americans typically make a New…

Congressman Presses Red Cross CEO for Answers on Impact of Downsizing
December 31, 2015 at 10:39 am

A key congressman who sits on a committee that oversees the American Red Cross is pressing the group’s CEO for information about how layoffs and other cuts have affected its ability to respond to disasters. In a six-page letter sent Wednesday, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., cited ProPublica’s recent reporting on Red Cross CEO Gail McGovern,…

Video: Thinking of Leaving Your Development Job? Think Again …
December 30, 2015 at 9:31 am

Did you know that development directors who stay in jobs longer are able to raise significantly more money than if they were to hop from one organization to the next? It should come as no surprise. If fundraising truly is about relationships, development directors need to be at their organizations for enough years to develop…

Avoiding a Fundraising Crisis Takes Leadership
December 29, 2015 at 9:37 am

When fundraising isn’t going well, the budget is in jeopardy and a nonprofit needs a miracle, the conversations seem to start the same way. “Our organization needs to raise a lot of money, more than we’ve ever raised before, and as soon as possible. Can you help?” Over the years I’ve received far too many…