Note: This guest post is from board governance and fundraising consultant Christal M. Cherry of The Board Pro. Thanks, Christal! Let me say this plainly: Some of y’all don’t have a board problem, you have a belonging problem. We spend so much time trying to get the “right people” in the room. Smart people. Connected people. Diverse … [Read more...]
How we raised $1 million upside down
Note: This guest post is from Brian Lowe, an advisory committee member of the Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund and managing partner at Assembly Theory. Thanks, Brian! Nearly one year ago, we created the Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund. Our goal was to support and expand legal resources available to organizations that protect … [Read more...]
Steal these lines! Board edition
A few months back, I shared some of my favorite one-liners, jokes, re-frames, and hot takes from the many workshops and meetings I’ve facilitated. That post was a shout-out and a gift to my fellow trainers, facilitators, and group leaders. Like I said then: Steal these lines! Here’s another round of insights, zingers, and stories … [Read more...]
Culture, compassion, efficiency, and the space in between
Last year, I was hired by a nonprofit that serves their neighbors in times of need. They’re good at what they do, beloved by their community – and they needed help with their strategic plan. During our conversations, I learned that the employees who handle intake at their facility – greeting clients and connecting them with services – … [Read more...]
Steal these lines!
If you work with groups in any way – for example, if you train people to raise money, facilitate retreats, engage with nonprofit boards, etc. – this post is for you. After thirty years of consulting, facilitating, and training – and more than a decade of teaching others how to do these things – I’ve developed a library of insights, … [Read more...]
Welcoming new board members: Why a “Board Buddy” makes all the difference
Note: This post is from Train Your Board partner Bob Osborne. Thanks, Bob! Joining a nonprofit board can be exciting … and a little overwhelming. New trustees are stepping into a world of unfamiliar people, names, expectations, jargon, responsibilities, and organizational culture. Do you want to set them up for success? Give them a … [Read more...]
Closing the gift: A fundraising exercise
Note: This post is adapted from Train Your Board (and Everyone Else) to Raise Money by Andrea Kihlstedt and Andy Robinson. Most of what we call fundraising takes place before or after you receive the donation: prospecting, cultivation, recognition, donor engagement, and so on. You can do all those things supremely well and still miss an … [Read more...]
Who can I ask for a donation?
Note: This guest post is adapted from The Accidental Fundraiser: A Step -by-Step-Guide to Raising Money for Your Cause, Second Edition (2025) by Haley Bash and Stephanie Roth. Thanks Stephanie and Haley! A common belief among new fundraisers is that they don’t know anyone they can ask to support their cause. This is based on the … [Read more...]
It took a swarm to build a museum
Note: This guest post from Glenn Marangelo of the Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium. Thanks, Glenn! How long can you nurture a dream before it comes true? In our case, the answer is 14 years. After slowly building momentum and support, our dream was finally realized. In December 2023, we opened the Missoula Butterfly House and … [Read more...]
How to semi-retire: The sequel
More than four years ago, I shared How to Semi-Retire, which described my plan to gradually wind down my consulting, training, and facilitation business. To recap my semi-retirement strategy: avoid lengthy jobs (strategic plans, mergers, long-term consulting gigs) and focus on one-offs, such as workshops, webinars, retreats, and meeting … [Read more...]
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