At the start of the pandemic, chances are your work life changed. If your role remained, you likely moved from working in the office to working from home. That was a big change for many people to adapt to working apart from each other. From the time we closed offices,...
Arnold Baker was worried. As board chair of the Davis County Food Bank, he perceived a gradual decline in the sense of connection trustees felt with the organization and between one another over the course of 2020. He suspected it had to do with the board’s move to...
This article will highlight how some of our local nonprofits are responding to the unknown new reality which will emerge from post-vaccine challenges. One thing is for sure, uncertainty will continue to weave through our every decision and prediction. Let’s begin by...
Through my work at Leading From Within over the years, I’vehad the good fortune to know many nonprofit leaders. They’re a special group of people that are uniquely called to make the world better than they found it. Many of them sacrifice a great deal in their...
BoardSource has published this excellent guide for board members to learn more about how to work with their legislators. One of the most rewarding things about serving as a nonprofit board member is the opportunity it affords to help create positive change. Board...
It appears that in just a few weeks many of our nonprofit staff and board members will have received the COVID-19 vaccine, ushering in a new set of challenges and changes. Here is an important piece of background information to consider. On Dec. 16, 2020, employers...
Most people have a list of their favorite charities that they donate to at year end. But the impact of the coronavirus on our nonprofits might shine a different light on your charitable giving. According to Philanthropy News Digest private donations increased 12...
Most nonprofits are scrambling for survival more than ever before. The pandemic restrictions have put the skids on their critical work in the community, raised havoc with their fundraising efforts and left many wondering if they will even be able to endure. Yet two...
According to the American Cancer Society breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers. Currently the average risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 13 percent. Each year, about...
October was first designated as National Domestic Violence Month in 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. It was initially begun as a Day of Unity to connect battered women’s advocates across the country. Domestic violence affects millions, both...
“The new five-year strategic plan is to stay afloat through 2020,” a local nonprofit leader was recently overheard saying. Many nonprofits agree with him. According to the American Alliance of Museums, more than half of all museums have less than six months of...
Be sure to read this excellent article from Blue Avocado about assessing the financial health of your nonprofit during COVID. by Suja Amir MPA on August 18, 2020 Covid-19 has created dramatic changes in the financial markets. Nonprofits such as private schools,...
You will find this article from Blue Avocado very helpful in your nonprofit's strategic planning, especially during COVID. by Joe Hnat on August 18, 2020 When I joined a nonprofit five years ago, I observed during our annual budgeting that we rarely launched new...
As nonprofits and businesses begin to plan to reopen their facilities, there are several aspects to consider. It’s important for leaders to understand where their people are mentally and prepare accordingly. Some will be enthusiastic about returning to the office,...
Each morning brings new stories of the critical role many nonprofits are playing in trying to address the impact of COVID-19. Nonprofit Quarterly has recognized how nonprofits under these extremely trying circumstances are quickly adapting their service systems to fit...
Are you the CEO or E.D. of your nonprofit—or even a middle manager? Do you think you are serving in a leadership role because of your mission—for the benefit of your organization—or for your own benefit? Patrick Lencioni says the answer may surprise you. I would...
Our last article highlighted William Bridges’ work with Transitions. He advised starting at the end rather than at the beginning so that we can let go of the old before we pick up the new. This period is followed by what he calls the neutral zone where “old and...
As we see signs of our community reopening and some COVID restrictions being relaxed, our natural tendency may be to hurry back to our pre-lockdown life. Yet, this virus has changed everything. Our organization’s sustainability will depend on our ability and...
The COVID-19 crisis is calling healthcare and mental healthcare providers, first responders, and other essential personnel to serve all of us with great sacrifice to themselves. We are humbled by their devotion to our well-being. We are honored to be in their...
Since May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, I will highlight some of the ways our extraordinary local nonprofits have pivoted their service model to adapt to the current crisis. You will be inspired by their creativity, resourcefulness, and commitment to...
Alana Walczak has been CEO of CALM since 2015. Prior to that, she spent over 20 years working with nonprofits to help at-risk women, children, and families. “When you’re doing your life’s work, it’s so powerful,” she reflects. CALM continues to be the only nonprofit...
At its 16th annual Celebration of Grants held on Wednesday, May 6, 2020, the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara awarded grants totaling $685,000 to nine local nonprofit agencies. The event marked the end of the 2019-2020 Women’s Fund grant cycle and honored its newest...
I think you’ll enjoy this article from Smart Brief by Joel Garfinkle entitled, 9 actionable ways to lead with transparency in uncertain times. He points out that, according to Gallup, only 39% of U.S. employees strongly agree that their employer has communicated a...
I was surprised at a local nonprofit fundraising event recently. During the event, three people made a point of thanking me for my financial support. I only knew one of them, the Executive Director, the other two were a staff member and a volunteer. They all knew my...
Scenario planning can help your nonprofit prepare for a range of possible futures. First, by helping leadership understand what those futures may look like and grapple with hard questions about disruption and change. Next, by providing a framework for making small,...
As quarantines, shelter-in-place, and social distancing continue to dramatically change the community’s well-being, our nonprofits are struggling to find creative ways to preserve their services and work together for new solutions. Our last article told about the new...
Seven hundred attendees sat transfixed at the Westmont President’s Breakfast as they listened to the wisdom of Dr. Daniel Kahneman. Nobel Prize winner in Economics, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and bestselling author of Thinking, Fast and Slow, he...
Recently I have encountered several nonprofit boards meddling in their organization’s operations rather than using their energies for the real job of governance and building relationships with donors. Some of these boards don’t seem to realize they are neglecting...
This article republished from Leadership Now. By Jacob Morgan. January 15, 2020 Most people have been around a bad leader at some point. Someone who doesn’t communicate, sets impossible expectations, or is just difficult to be around. You’ve likely experienced the...
In his seminal book, Reinventing Strategy, Willie Pietersen says, “strategic planning is an oxymoron.” Strategy is one thing; planning quite another, claims Pietersen. He explains that strategy begins with divergent thinking, whereas planning is an exercise in...
Still trying to figure out what this Giving Tuesday is all about? Were you an early adopter of this seven year movement? Or have you recently jumped on this fast moving bandwagon? Whichever the case, you will want to be part of it so you don’t get left behind. The...
First, the bad news. Because of the economy, many nonprofit professionals (in addition to many other professionals) are looking for ways to earn extra money due to being laid off from their jobs or being placed on part-time status by their organizations. But the good...
As we prepare to celebrate Martin Luther King Day, his famous “I have a dream” speech rings in our ears. In 1963, as he stood at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial, his dream seemed impossible to many. And yet, he clearly believed in his goals. He spent the next five...
How long has it been since your nonprofit board held a retreat? Was it productive or a waste of time? Did it leave everyone reenergized or reeling from boredom? Planning is the key to success. A board retreat is an unparalleled opportunity for progress forward. It can...
Lyn, a disgruntled staff member of a local nonprofit called her friend, Sam, a board member of the same nonprofit to criticize a new organizational procedure. At another nonprofit, George, the COO, met with the board chair to complain he was being treated unfairly. At...
Why does it seem to be so hard for nonprofit boards to conduct an annual performance review for the chief executive? Why does everyone get so nervous about it? We all know how important it is, but there seem to be road blocks. The process can often be filled with...
As each year draws to a close, I encourage organizations look back over the past months and make a list of their accomplishments. Most nonprofits are so focused on projects lying ahead that they forget to reflect on their successes. Yet, acknowledging triumphs can...
Those familiar with the nonprofit sector often remind us of their critical services—for needs not met by government or business. Nonprofits stand in the gap. We have come to depend on their important work. Every day. And when disaster strikes this important work...
Have you ever analyzed your leadership style? Each person has an approach to leading that feels right. But is your natural way of leading producing the best results for you? After years of studying the history of leadership and the various leadership modalities, I...
Financial oversight is one of the most critical responsibilities of a nonprofit board of directors, yet many boards fall short of optimum performance in this area. Some aren’t sure where to start. Many don’t know how to gauge the financial health of their...
Some nonprofit executives are unsure how to go about evaluating their board. In fact, many feel downright uncomfortable about the idea. Executives fear it might seem a little arrogant and assuming for them to initiate an assessment of the board. After all, Executive...
A well-functioning board of directors is not only essential to meeting legal requirements but also critical in helping a nonprofit achieve its goals and mission. The effectiveness of a board’s performance depends on strategically identifying the skills, expertise, and...
Do you know if your nonprofit is required to conduct an audit? The California Attorney General has stipulated that charitable organizations with annual gross revenues of $2 million or more are subject to the audit requirement. But there are additional considerations....