Executive Issues

One lasting and successful quality of a nonprofit leader—I believe any leader—is being genuine, transparent and having a strong moral compass. Being genuine means being authentic and real. What you see is what you get. This is a leader who doesn’t have a public persona, and then one that his or her staff and family must deal with...

One lasting and successful quality of a nonprofit leader—I believe any leader—is being genuine, transparent and having a strong moral compass. Being genuine means being authentic and real. What you see is what you get. This is a nonprofit leader who doesn’t have a public persona, and then one that his or her staff and family […]

What does it mean for a nonprofit board to “support” its executive director? A bevy of organization development consultants promote a principle, to which I also subscribe: Nonprofit boards have one employee, and that employee is the executive director/CEO...

In today’s competitive nonprofit market, it’s imperative for nonprofit leadership teams to determine short-term and long-term goals, systematically strategize their fundraising initiatives and manage their staff members as effectively and efficiently as possible...

In the process of creating a 12-month strategic plan, there is a lot of focus on: soliciting, preparing proposals, thanking the donor and reporting back the impact of that donor’s gift. But, what we have found can really make a difference in nonprofit impact are the small, personal touches that let the donor know you know them...

Studies show that nonprofit organization executives have an increased susceptibility to over-extend themselves, especially if their idea of a personal mission aligns with the mission of their organization. The irony? The leader feels like he or she is doing the right thing by giving too much of themselves for the organization, but is hurting the organization by burning themselves out prematurely...

Large-scale problems demand large-scale solutions. In order to dramatically improve outcomes for the constituents and communities they serve, nonprofits are increasingly expanding their thinking and vision to tackle problems they might have deemed beyond their reach five or 10 years ago...

A job listing recently came across my desk for the chief marketing officer at a major nonprofit who will remain nameless. My eye dropped to the requirements for the position: a bachelor’s degree—not even specifically in marketing or communications...

The ongoing quest for funding can often feel like navigating a psychological minefield of cultural complexities and politics. Indeed, there were times I felt completely in the dark during the first few years that I was trying to get our ocean nonprofit Beneath the Waves off the ground and evolve from a small, grassroots organization.…

Nonprofits are a positive part of many people’s lives, whether they are clients in need of services, donors giving to organizations or volunteers participating in the mission. While most of us have had favorable relationships with nonprofit organizations, unfortunately, many of us can also cite frustrations with them...