Several decades ago, I worked at Native Seeds/SEARCH, a nonprofit based in Tucson, Arizona. Their mission: “Conserve and promote the arid-adapted crop diversity of the Southwest in support of sustainable farming and food security.” In addition to collecting, saving, and distributing seeds, the organization offers educational programs … [Read more...]
My three succession plans
In recent years, I’ve been leading workshops and webinars on leadership transition and succession planning. It's a significant aspect of my business. If you believe the maxim, “An expert is anyone who knows 5% more than most people,” then perhaps I qualify. I’ve read a little (and written a little) on this subject. I’ve talked with lots … [Read more...]
Four insights for more equitable nonprofit governance
Note: This guest post is from Renee Rubin Ross. A longer version is available at Community-Centric Fundraising. Thanks, Renee! Long ago, I worked as staff alongside a terrible board. The staff was thoughtful and strategic. We were deeply knowledgeable and connected to the community. But the board? Serving on this board was a symbol of … [Read more...]
Is your board ready for end-of-year fundraising?
Note: This post is from Train Your Board partner Laurel McCombs. Thanks, Laurel! As you may know, roughly a quarter of all giving happens in December. And, yes, I hear you, it’s only September, but starting your year-end planning now will allow you to be more strategic, more effective, and more confident in meeting your goals. This … [Read more...]
The trainer’s mantra: Knowledge, Skills, Attitude
Perhaps you’ve had this experience. You’re sitting in a workshop, webinar, or conference session. The presenter steps to the microphone, fires up the slide deck, and proceeds to bury you with information. Content, content, and even more content. Because there’s so much to know! This impulse comes from a positive place. The teacher has … [Read more...]
Doing board service differently: Couples sharing a board seat
Note: This guest post from Christal M. Cherry of The Board Pro is part of an ongoing series on rethinking nonprofit boards. Thanks, Christal! More than sixty-four million people in the US serve on nonprofit boards. They make life-changing decisions that impact all of us. Does the current board model yield the best results? As society … [Read more...]
What every board member needs to know, do, and avoid
Yes, this is the title of my latest book, now available from Civil Sector Press. However, it’s also the inspiration for a recent conversation with Tammy Zonker, one of North America’s great fundraisers and fundraising trainers. I joined Tammy on her podcast, The Intentional Fundraiser – and she asked the know/do/avoid questions. This … [Read more...]
The nuts and bolts of succession planning
Let’s start with some big questions… Does your organization aspire to solve a problem, declare victory, and go out of business? If so, what would victory look like – and when will it happen? Are you building a resilient nonprofit that can persist and thrive? How would you know? How do you measure resilience? When you step back, who … [Read more...]
Three tips for better hybrid meetings
Note: This guest post is from Anna Adachi-Mejia; an earlier version appeared in Medium. Thanks, Anna! Are you planning a combined in-person and videoconference meeting – in other words, a hybrid meeting? As a former faculty member who has facilitated and attended hundreds of hybrid meetings, I understand how this can feel like the worst … [Read more...]
Board ambassadors: 20 ways to improve their outreach and impact
A key role for any nonprofit board is ambassadorship: representing and promoting the organization throughout their networks and communities. In today’s post – adapted from a recent webinar hosted by the Sustainability Network and co-created by my colleague Harvey McKinnon – I’m pleased to offer twenty tools and techniques you can use … [Read more...]
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