Are You Prepared for Your Next Interview?
October 6, 2017 at 11:09 am

If you are in the nonprofit career path or considering going into the nonprofit career path, there is one thing you should know: You will have many interviews during your work career. According to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median number of years that wage and salary workers have been with their current employer was 4.2 years in January 2016...

Cybersecurity Questions to Ask Your Vendor: Part 2
October 4, 2017 at 12:55 pm

Strapped for time and resources, nonprofits often need vendors to get things done. But just because you outsource projects, it doesn’t mean your data is safe from cybersecurity threats. In part one of this series, “Employ These Corporate Cyber Security Safeguards Now," we examined critical initiatives you can employ to help protect your constituent data internally...

Why It’s Important to Know the Numbers
October 4, 2017 at 12:52 pm

This week, I was having breakfast with an incredible leader. He owns three significant businesses in a metropolitan area and is one of the region’s most respected leaders, fully engaged in the civic affairs and direction. One of his affiliations is with a university. He was sharing with pride the caliber of the university’s current and past presidents and how, while with different leadership styles, they have taken the university to another level...

Does Your Board Open Fundraising-Related Doors for You?
September 29, 2017 at 11:26 am

I recently made a presentation to a group of fundraising professionals sponsored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. During the presentation, I asked the class many questions. Some of these questions dealt with aspects of using volunteers to seek time, talent and treasure on behalf of their institution...

Culture of Philanthropy: How Are You Building Nonprofit Goodwill?
September 28, 2017 at 10:44 am

If you want to be sustainable over the long haul, you must incorporate this dual-pronged goal into your values and planning. The values part is critical, because if you don’t have goodwill internally (in how you treat your colleagues) you’re unlikely to have goodwill externally (in how others perceive you)...

Be Clear and Consistent With Your Board
September 27, 2017 at 11:46 am

Take a few minutes, step back and think of ways you can improve the consistency and clarity for your board. You’ll see immediate and positive results!...

Employ These Corporate Cyber Security Safeguards Now: Part 1
September 26, 2017 at 11:02 am

Nonprofits aren’t immune. In fact, nonprofit organizations may be prime cyber-attack targets. Most collect and store sensitive data like emails, social security numbers, billing information and more. Despite this, nonprofits are often hesitant to make cybersecurity a priority due to the investment of time and resources...

Is Your Organization Doing What Is Best for the Donor… or the Organization?
September 25, 2017 at 11:28 am

It’s amazing to Richard and me how nonprofits—that do such great things with the programs and projects they have making the world a better place—have a total disregard for their major donors. One example of this was a story I heard from someone who quit her position as an major gift officer several years ago...

Is Transformational Philanthropy in Your Future?
September 22, 2017 at 12:07 pm

If you ever played baseball, you can relate to my experience. At first, I was thrilled to put on a uniform and play for a team. Then, I was excited to get a single, which is a one-base hit. As time passed, I was even more thrilled to get a double (two-base hit) and eventually a triple (three-base hit)...

Practice Saying ‘I’m Sorry’
September 21, 2017 at 12:06 pm

For nonprofits, apologizing is effective when it addresses two quite different situations. First, admit the mistakes you make in your programs. For example, the social service program that delivered mediocre outcomes or the performing arts performance that bombed...