While many factors contribute to a nonprofit’s success, a well-connected, energetic, and engaged board of directors may be the most important. Every executive director wants a top performing board with the most influential community members and business representatives who have “C” in their title (Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and so on). A passionate [...]
Don’t you hate it when you have donors (or potential donors) who are not supporting your efforts to the extent you believe their passion would indicate? They’ve expressed support, maybe even enthusiasm, for your mission, and yet their financial gifts don’t reflect the same level of engagement. I faced this situation as the leader of [...]
Congratulations, you’ve just been appointed to one of the more prestigious non-profit boards in the community! You’re really excited since you have a passion for their mission and have heard nothing but great things about the organization. After the warm glow cools down just a little you realize the pressure is on – how are [...]
Most people are sharp enough to pick up on these life lessons without having to run absurdly long races, but I must be a little more thick-headed since that's what it took for me. Humility – We need to start with a ‘given’ – more than anything else long distances teach you humility. It doesn’t matter [...]
Every executive director I’ve known has at one time or another felt that his or her board could be doing more to raise money for the organization. It’s a frustrating situation – how do you tell your bosses that they’re not doing their job? Addressing the issue directly is fraught with danger. You can, however, hold [...]
A previous post discussed a Board’s expectations of their Interim CEO. But, as with most things in the independent sector, this is a two way street and the CEO should set certain expectations with the Board before engaging in an interim assignment. Not all successful CEOs (or Presidents or Executive Directors) are suited for an interim [...]
Interim CEOs (or Presidents or Executive Directors according to the organization’s naming convention), by their definition, serve during a period of transition for an organization. And if the outgoing leadership change is unplanned, it may also be a time of upheaval. Volunteer board members are suddenly thrust into more details around financial and programmatic management [...]
Published at: Funders are used to hearing different versions of the meaning of “partnership” from nonprofits wanting to work with them (aka receive funding). All too often the proposed “partnership” involves the funder supporting the initiatives or priorities the applicant brings forward with minimal input from the funder. On the other hand, the applicant sees that [...]
Funders hear all different versions of “partnership” from nonprofits wanting to work with them (aka receive funding). All too often the proposed “partnership” involves the funder supporting the initiatives or priorities the applicant brings forth with minimal (or not) input from the funder. On the other hand, the applicant sees that the funder 1) has [...]
So you’ve been asked to join a non-profit board – congratulations! Maybe. Volunteering in the non-profit sector can be tremendously rewarding if the organization has their act together and a strong reason to ask you to join the board. But if it’s not a good fit, it can be an eternally frustrating experience. I’ve had [...]
