With the popularity of electronic calendars and group scheduling systems, the logistics of setting up meetings has become easier than ever.  As a result, meetings appear on individuals’ schedules without warning, and people often find themselves going directly from one...

In a recent survey, 37% of responding nonprofit leaders and board members reported that they were concerned that their mission was “less clear and compelling than it was in the past.”

If the individuals closest to the cause are uncertain, how can they hope to send clear...

How often does your leadership team or nonprofit board take time to look beyond the usual agenda items and focus on the big picture?   Holding a longer strategic planning meeting can create stronger focus and allow for in-depth processing of ideas to keep your team eng...

If you are like most nonprofits today, you have taken steps to implement at least one form of social media communication. Recent research by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Center for Marketing Research found that 98% of U.S. nonprofits use at least one socia...

When talking with nonprofit—or better yet, “for purpose”-- leaders about their fundraising activities, I am frequently reminded of a nugget I learned in a sales training course earlier in my career: “You have two ears and one mouth for a reason.” Simple, but true, this...

In his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the late Stephen Covey introduced the concept of “sharpening the saw.”  According to Covey, we often get so involved in “sawing”—the day-to-day activity of producing result —that we forget to take time to “sharpen t...

In talking with non-profits about strategies for success, the subject of Board participation and commitment frequently surfaces.  It seems many non-profits struggle with creating a Board that has the right combination of individuals to provide the expertise, experience...

In reading message boards and blogs, it seems lots of people confuse the terms logo and brand.  Your logo is the “mark” that is unique to your organization.  It is a graphic representation of your brand.  When done well, it is create an almost automatic response.  Red...