Blog
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Investment Plans as a strategic planning tool
In many strategic planning processes, prioritization among competing potential ideas or strategies becomes the linchpin of the process. If organizational identity isn’t at stake (e.g. vision/mission), the organization doesn’t face…
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Ticket to Ride and nonprofit leadership
One of my pandemic “weaknesses†has been the amount of time I’ve spent playing Ticket to Ride – the online version. For those not familiar with the game, you can…
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The Ten Commandments of Fundraising
When I first became Executive Director of the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, one of my early conversations was with Sam Schuchat, who was my counterpart at the California LCV.…
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Naive optimism
I recently was speaking with Amanda Caffall, who helped start and currently leads the Commons Law Center, a relatively new nonprofit. The Center is clearly thriving, even with the challenges…
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Strategic Planning and the board-ED relationship
I recently wrote an article for Blue Avocado on the board-Executive Director relationship. When I talk to nonprofit leaders about strategic planning, they often voice some of the obvious benefits…
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Holding up the wall
As a nonprofit Executive Director, do you ever feel like if you walk away, things will crumble? I felt this occasionally as an Executive Director, particularly in my first few…
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Overcoming fear
For many of those responsible for securing major gifts for their organization, it’s one thing to know in theory what should take place when meeting with a donor. It’s another…
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The board and nonprofit branding
A friend serving on the board of a local nonprofit recently asked me: ” I have a question about the process of rebranding for a nonprofit. Is it your experience…
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Tips for Virtual Donor Meetings
Donor Meetings in a Pandemic Previously, I’ve blogged about Donor Stewardship Amidst a Pandemic. Of course, stewardship of donors only matters if you eventually solicit them. And the gold standard…
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The passion versus fear equation
When training boards (and sometimes staff) on fundraising, I often refer to the passion versus fear equation or line. Often, I’m asked to help a board get past their fear…