Note: This guest post is from Karen Strong of Strong Outcomes, LLC. Thanks, Karen! As a white woman who has worked in conservation for more than two decades – and who longed, for years, to be taken seriously as a professional – I thought I could gain credibility by behaving like the people who had power. Through conversations with … [Read more...]
Racism, privilege, facilitation, training – and sharing the wealth
Are you paying attention? Two interlocking crises are playing out in real time, right in front of your eyes: The ongoing, unending murder of people of color – especially black people – by police. The COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately affects communities of color, due to inequality in housing, employment, … [Read more...]
Hiring in a just, equitable way
Note: This guest post is from Sonia Silbert, who works with 350Vermont and serves on the board of Training for Change. Thanks, Sonia! Job searches! The excitement. The hope. The rejections. The depressing silences... Job hunting can be demoralizing and demeaning for the applicants. Those doing the hiring are often too busy or … [Read more...]
Fuel your annual fund with a bequest challenge
Note: Andrea Kihlstedt is a good friend, trusted colleague, and co-founder of Train Your Board. This guest post is adapted from Capital Campaign Masters, where she shares lots of wisdom about capital campaigns. Check it out! Does planned giving always fall to the bottom of your to-do list? Yes, you know it’s important. But planned … [Read more...]
How to create a great promotional video
Note: This guest post is from Rachel Jellinek of Reflection Films, a skilled filmmaker and savvy marketer. Thanks, Rachel! When telling your organization’s story through video, pay attention to several key considerations. First and foremost, how would you answer these questions? What do you want people to know? What do you … [Read more...]
Dialing for dollars, reinvented
What do you get when you combine an old-school fundraising strategy – phone banking – with a new online platform like Zoom? People working together – while also working remotely! – to engage their donors and raise more money. Here’s a great example from Training for Change. Thanks to Zein Nakhoda (staff) and Sonia Silbert (board) … [Read more...]
Making and Managing Change: A Field Manual
The following is adapted, with my thanks, from the Institute for Conservation Leadership. Are you a consultant, facilitator, or trainer? Maybe you work as nonprofit staff, or you serve as a board member or volunteer. Perhaps you’re an activist, advocate, or community organizer. Regardless of your position, I’d like to offer … [Read more...]
How to Raise Money After a Natural Disaster
In December, the Thomas Fire burned 440 square miles of Southern California, making it the largest wildfire in state history. It destroyed more than one thousand structures: homes, businesses, schools, and several nonprofit facilities. A subsequent landslide – the technical term is “debris flow” – added to the destruction and … [Read more...]
It’s all about implementation
How many times have you participated in a really productive learning experience – a class, workshop, or webinar – and thought to yourself, “This is terrific stuff. I’m going back to work and I’ll start using it immediately.” And then you didn’t. Why not? Let us count the ways: lack of buy-in from peers, unexpected deadlines, … [Read more...]
Hiring a consultant? How to be an even more savvy consumer
Last month, I published a post about hiring consultants. This piece was passed around, re-posted, and featured on other blogs, including GuideStar. If you read it and shared it – thank you! Because there’s lots more to say (and learn) about this subject, here are five more tips you can use to build productive relationships with … [Read more...]