Posts in 'strategy'

You can do both simultaneously. Should you skip the strategy development part, it’s true that your short-term return might be higher. And yes, asking individuals around you and identifying the low-hanging fruit from institutional funding makes sense right now. Do it and graciously thank them for...

For the first time this year, I cast a ballot by dropping it off in advance at a voting station. It felt good and I enjoyed the prospect of avoiding a long line on Election Day. I encourage everyone to vote and to participate in the democratic process. But what about nonprofits? How can they get...

Last weekend, to unwind and recharge, we hiked along well marked but empty hunting trails to a cliffside summit called Tank Hollow near Jim Thorpe, PA to capture this view. Afterwards, we visited nearby Bear Creek Lake, held an impromptu beachside lunch, and then toured Beltzville State Park just a...

I believe that knowing our why is essential to living our dreams. Years ago I grew immensely attracted to the concept of building a legacy as a young emerging leader. What would I be able to create for the world, I asked myself? I found inspiration in organizations, particularly some that had vastly...

Since last March, organizations and businesses have uploaded more online video content than ever before. This means that some excellent, informative content can easily be lost within the myriad of options viewers now have at the ready, often at no cost. Programs and conferences, town hall meetings...

I worked with a nonprofit that had a limited budget for hiring full-time staff. But anecdotally, the organization's leadership was aware some community members were excited about the possibility of volunteering to serve their clients. We reviewed and revised our volunteer training manual, along with...

Keep your eye on science, history, and data: A. Hewlett Packard was among the many successful business launched during the Great Depression. B. Thomas Edison started GE during the Great Panic of 1893, when overall American business activity dropped 40% for 16 months. C. True, during the Great...

My answer is no. And Yes. In some ways I feel like I am swimming upstream when it comes to Giving Tuesday, which has been observed by a vast number of U.S. nonprofit organizations for the last decade or so. I am a minor fan. But also, not a fan. I guess you could say my relationship status with this...

Find a secret weapon to help get you unstuck When we were kids, and we found ourselves stuck at a railroad crossing, waiting as a passing train rolled by, we came up with a game of counting box cars. At an average of 55 feet, when you reach 100, the train length is about one mile long – and trains...

Before recruiting another board member, ask yourself these three questions: 1. In relation to your organization's strategy, what roles are needed now? 2. What specific skills would strengthen the overall board of directors? 3. Whose voices are missing from your leadership? Are your recruitment...