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...]
Stronger together: Collaboration options for nonprofits
As you navigate this season of uncertainty, how are you behaving? Some folks become protective – of their families, their neighborhoods, their nonprofits. In moments like these, you might feel a strong urge to hunker down, preserve what you can, and ride out the storm. Others experience uncertainty as an opportunity for change. If … [Read more...]
Fundraising in uncertain times: Success stories
How are you navigating this moment? Are you fearful for your organization? Do you sense opportunities? Perhaps both... In today’s post, I’m offering you a pep talk based on data, long experience, and a couple of good stories. These days may feel bleak, but if you address your fear and engage your donors, you can raise a lot of money – … [Read more...]
Mastering virtual meetings
How many online meetings have you attended recently? How many were engaging, satisfying, and effectively facilitated? As I write this in mid-March 2020, we are just beginning to feel the impacts of the coronavirus across North America. As you gather less often with colleagues, more of your work life is probably moving … [Read more...]
Showing up imperfect, part 2: Power, privilege, and imperfection
A few months ago, I published a post called Showing Up Imperfect. Based on my experience leading a series of train-the-trainer workshops in Maine, I reflected on the value of humility, vulnerability, and imperfection. To summarize, there’s a big difference between being imperfect and being incompetent. Know your stuff and do your work … [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...]
Showing up imperfect
A consulting colleague has a successful business facilitating workshops on a variety of topics, serving a variety of clients. She’s supremely well-organized. She designs meticulous agendas, prepares materials days in advance, and rehearses her presentation. As the day of the job approaches, you don't want to mess with her, because … [Read more...]
Design yourself a better board
Imagine the following exercise. Gather your board members around a flip chart. Ask the following question: "If we could design the perfect board for our group, what skills, qualities, and representation would we want in prospective board members?" Skills, qualities, representation Skills include specific expertise to help the … [Read more...]
Hospice care for nonprofits, part 2: The board’s role
Because not every group is designed to last forever, I recently shared a post about end-of-life care for nonprofit organizations. Regardless of your role – staff, volunteer, consultant, or supporter – it’s helpful to understand organizational life cycles. Board members have a unique responsibility for life-and-death decisions. To my … [Read more...]
Hospice care for nonprofits: Diagnosis and treatment
How healthy is your organization? What’s your trajectory? Are you growing, shrinking, or treading water? What’s the energy level among staff and board? Is your mission still relevant and inspiring? More than a decade ago, I participated in volunteer training at our local hospice agency. As the Great Recession rolled through the … [Read more...]
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