When people think about joining nonprofit boards, they often think in general terms: arts, education, healthcare, etc. In fact, the nonprofit sector has such a multitude of widely diverse and differentiated organizations. The key is ...READ»
One year ago, I wrote a post here on "Building Your Nonprofit Investment Portfolio: Leveraging Your Impact." In the post, I recommended how to decide where to make your personal contributions in order to make a difference on the ...READ»
In my work in training and preparing business executives and professionals for service on nonprofit boards of directors, I facilitate panel discussions. The panelists include corporate leaders who chair and serve on NGO boards, and ...READ»
My friend and colleague, Mark Kramer, just published an excellent new article on Catalytic Philanthropy. It's an extension of his work in helping foundations and philanthropists to improve their giving strategies. Kramer's work also ...READ»
This afternoon, my husband and I executed our wills. Since I had made my intentions clear in discussions in advance of today's meeting, and my husband (a law professor) and our attorney prepared the documents carefully, I glanced at ...READ»
So you've joined the board of a nonprofit where you care about the mission and the work, you think you can be useful, and you like some of the people you'll be working with--the ones you've met so far. What do you do next in order ...READ»
Being a nonprofit board member doesn't have to be limited to fiduciary oversight and fundraising. James Hagy, a board member of Family Focus, added something a bit, say...magical! Family Focus is a Chicago nonprofit that provides ...READ»
Nonprofit organizations have always struggled to raise money to serve important missions--regionally, nationally, and globally. New data from NYC and Washington, DC show just how close to the edge nonprofits have been living, even ...READ»
“Tough times lead to tough choices, but there is a tangible opportunity for nonprofits to emerge stronger and smarter,” according to The Bridgespan Group’s “Managing in Tough Times: May 2009 Nonprofit Leaders ...READ»
My perspective is based on my work helping businesses with their CSR/philanthropy strategies, training and placing business executives and professionals on nonprofit boards, and consulting to global, national, and regional boards ...READ»
I’m all for businesses engaging in corporate social responsibility, philanthropy, service, and any and all good for the world. But it was never smart to sell good deeds to businesses on the sole merits of being nice neighbors ...READ»
In “How, When, and Why Bad Apples Spoil the Barrel: Negative Group Members and Dysfunctional Groups,” the authors explain how bad apple behaviors are real and consume “inordinate amounts of time, psychological resources, and ...READ»
“They should want me for my expertise, not my checkbook,” is the perspective I hear from some people interested in serving on nonprofit boards. So what’s the real story here? What exactly do nonprofits need and want from ...READ»
The bad news we know: funding is tight.
The good news is that some funders are finally using their selectivity to drive nonprofit boards to become more effective. In fact, only nonprofit boards can truly ...READ»
In this week’s post, James Kristie, editor and associate publisher of Directors & Boards, resurrected a quote by Irving S. Olds, the Chairman of U.S. Steel, 1940 – 1952, describing for-profit boards as “parsley ...READ»
A new survey by the Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF), led by CEO Clara Miller, adds to the data showing that nonprofits are in financial distress.
According to the 986 nonprofits surveyed around the country, 73% indicate ...READ»
UpMo (for upward mobility), recently featured here, is an online service that promises to help you accelerate your career success. As a lifetime volunteer, and a matchmaker for business volunteers and nonprofit boards, ...READ»
“Definitely consider making the transition from the for-profit to the nonprofit sector. Your skills are transferable, and it definitely feels good to do good. But don't assume that it is exactly the same; social impact is a lot ...READ»
The running exchange between Stewart and Cramer over the role of the media as cheerleaders versus watchdogs gives something for nonprofit board members to think about.
On the one hand, as board members, they ...READ»
Your inbox overflows with appeals for contributions, invitations to galas, and volunteer projects. In addition, if you are a business executive or professional with strategic expertise and some financial success, there ...READ»
Last November, I listed 5 factors that board candidates consider in choosing a nonprofit board. In having trained and placed hundreds of business executives and professionals on nonprofit boards, and also having trained and mentored ...READ»
Nearly 20 years old, Teach For America (TFA) has prepared a force of 14,000 TFA alumni “to create massive and systemic changes to solve the inequities in education for students in low-income communities,” according ...READ»
“Why are people going to come here and not the other place,” was the question that haunted Michael F. Curtin, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of DC Central Kitchen when he used to run a restaurant. The same ...READ»
Out of the 1.2 million nonprofits nationally, how would you choose your Top Ten? Are you looking for the most high-impact, sustainable, or innovative? Which issues are most important to you – the environment, education, poverty, ...READ»
Jane Lang had a vision to rehab a decrepit site in Washington, D.C. that is now home to a diverse group of 13 nonprofit performing arts organizations that share offices as well as practice, performance, production, and lobby spaces. ...READ»
