Accountability

When I started my company 27 years ago, I had the idea that giving someone a gift would make that person do what I asked. If I dangled that carrot, the horse would go for it. Now I know that idea, when applied to humans, is just as insulting and wrong-minded as it sounds...

The new year is upon us, and many of us have made a list of resolutions in an attempt to better ourselves in 2016. Some of these resolutions are personal, some are professional. Unfortunately, most of us are going to fail in our resolution attempts. An impressive 45 percent of Americans typically make a New…

Philanthropy isn’t what it was 50 years ago. In fact, the sector isn’t even what it was last year. From the emergence of Silicon Valley philanthropy, to the growing influence of Millennials as social entrepreneurs, to new adventures in virtual reality—2015 took philanthropy on a ride that captured headlines and our imaginations. But this new…

While I am not much for making resolutions, this is a natural time to think about how I would like to be different one year from today. Whether you view New Year’s resolutions as necessary or overhyped, here are a few things you can pick and choose from as you think about the impact 2016 will have on your career as a fundraiser...

“Sometimes opportunity knocks, but most of the time it sneaks up and then quietly steals away,” wrote columnist Doug Larson. I’ve found this to be true in my life and in my career as a nonprofit leader. Thinking back on my mentors, I realize I have a confession: Each one quietly offered me more than I took advantage of...

After a decade of embracing new social networks as they rise in popularity, in recent weeks it became clear that it was time to reassess the value of being active on so many social networks and to prioritize the social networks that most benefit Nonprofit Tech for Good. Each social network has its own unique…

Beyond the Christmas decorations, gift-giving and parties, this is the time of year to sift through the mountain of requests for charitable donations, from groups that fight hunger and cancer to our alma mater and places of worship. So how can we gauge which groups are most deserving of our money? Princeton University philosophy professor…

It’s an overcast Sunday morning and most of Seattle is glued to the Seahawks game, but John Salvatier and Elizabeth Van Nostrand are waiting for members of the group they help run, Seattle Effective Altruists, to arrive at Salvatier’s house in the Central District. Van Nostrand explained that effective altruism “is extremely quantitative. ‘How much money…

“I don’t want to go to my board meeting.” Come on. You’ve said it, right? Oh please, be honest. You believe in your organization. You love the work. But preparing for a board meeting? Ugh. Board members–you hate them, too. Do you even bother to read the reports? You wanted to but (a) had no…

Branding is never easy, but nonprofit branding poses special challenges. Potential partners, team members, donors and advocates can have wildly varying expectations when it comes to defining a nonprofit organization's profile. On the one hand, thriftiness and efficiency are held in high-esteem; on the other, there is a natural hesitation for stakeholders to engage with…