Accountability

As an activist in the San Francisco Bay Area for nearly two decades, I worked on the front lines advocating for ideas that were considered "radical" at the time. I led organizations that organized and trained young people to fight for criminal-justice reform and gender justice, and I helped organize rallies and protests calling for…

After Todd King Sr.’s 13-year-old son Tyree was killed by a drunk driver last summer, friends, neighbors and strangers rallied to the family’s side, donating several thousand dollars for funeral expenses through a crowdfunding website. Then King, who lives in Springfield, Ohio, discovered that a neighbor had kept more than $1,000 of the $2,700 she…

For orchestras to play well, practice and experience is critical to maintaining a quality performance. How do orchestras relate to resource-development programs? As a nonprofit pro, you are the orchestra leader. In many cases, it is up to you to create, maintain and sustain a quality team that works in a holistic way...

Last month was not a good one for billionaires’ new vision of global philanthropy. Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, argued that he just wanted to provide bare bones Internet access, free of charge, to poor, unconnected communities in India. The problem was that the service, called Facebook Free Basics, would let users visit certain sites…

More and more organizations are screening all of their volunteers—not just those that work with children, the elderly or the disabled. That’s because they understand that failing to screen everyone means they are risking their organization’s assets, reputation and safety....

Many Wikipedia editors finally got what they wanted Thursday. After weeks of revolt on social media and Wikipedia mailing lists, Wikimedia Foundation Executive Director Lila Tretikov resigned amid concerns the foundation wasn’t being transparent with its community about plans to develop a search engine. Patricio Lorente, a member of the Wikimedia Board of Trustees, announced…

A recent study indicated that the average development director lasts just 19 months in his or her job. Having just passed the 19-month mark in my first development director job, it seemed like a good milestone to take stock of the factors that helped me find success and satisfaction. So, here are five things I’ve learned, firsthand, that are integral to being a successful development leader...

Immigration policies, gun control stances, pizza purchases, musical tastes—a can factor into a person’s decision of who to elect to the White House for the next four years. As nonprofit professionals, the candidates’ propensities for giving might also factor into your decisions. Or at least be something worth knowing...

The U.S. Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Ohio filed charges against Reggie Rucker, 68, of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, last week for wire fraud and making false statements to law enforcement, according to the complaint. He allegedly used charitable donations for his gambling debts and personal expenses—such as mortgage payments, food, travel, dry cleaning and entertainment—and lied to the FBI during questioning...

It is hard for me to believe, but on Feb. 16, 1976, I stepped into the nonprofit world. I guess you could say I have been around the sun several times. If I am to give advice from my four-decade nonprofit career, I would like to point out certain attributes you should have to survive and thrive in a variety of roles...