Strategic Planning

Seasons are an important reminder. As we transition through them, it’s a good time to pause, reflect and get away. Spring, as the season of rebirth and renewal, is an especially good time to get a fresh perspective on an opportunity or a challenge. With one-fourth of what I hope will be a stellar year for you behind us, take time now for some personal and professional reflection...

Storytelling is an integral part of sharing your nonprofit’s mission. What spurred passion in you to devote your time to serving this mission? Likely, helping a person in need or hearing an emotive story is what spurred your emotional connection to join or start the foundation...

Too often, folks look at tactics and forget about strategy and leadership in fundraising. This happens at any size organization when you don’t have a plan grounded in research, with sound strategy and clear, accountable goals...

For 30 years now, I have seen the incredible value of properly conducted campaign planning and feasibility studies. It is amazing what a leader who understands the concept and is trusting will share—and how then you can use that confidential insight to better the client organization and increase the success (both in dollars and in brevity) of a pending campaign...

Every successful nonprofit has stemmed from a great web of brilliant ideas; the tricky part is putting those ideas into action.

In the nonprofit world, we’re always on the search for new donors. We direct vast resources toward reaching the public to create fresh connections—and we should! Not only is it necessary, but it’s exciting to spread your organization’s message, especially so when when a potential donor shows interest...

Volunteer management best practices have changed as volunteer expectations and the reach of nonprofit organizations evolve. That said, the ultimate goal has always been, and will always be, to provide great experiences to volunteers and impact the community in an organized and efficient way...

Nearly every business strives to operate with low overhead. Because nonprofit organizations rely on donations and grant money, rather than traditional sales, it's even more critical for these companies to keep spending to a minimum. While it may seem challenging—perhaps even downright impossible—to balance your budget in a way that keeps your organization afloat, following a few…

Raising awareness is in the top five things every nonprofit organization wants. Or so they tell me. What they don’t know is how to not be the best kept secret in your community...

As we scroll through headlines and highlights triumphantly displayed on our social media feeds, it’s hard to feel that we who answer phones, enter gift records, clean office dishes and chip away at “To-Do” lists will ever arrive at greatness. Can you recall the feeling that, although your nonprofit has a meaningful mission, your workweek just feels like uneventful routines and ordinary tasks?...