Blog

By Eric Burger Volunteer coordination is a tough job that involves strategy, patience, interpersonal skills and the ability to work under pressure. Effective volunteer coordination helps an organization run and operate smoothly. Many first-time volunteer coordinators find their time stretched thin between developing policies and procedures, generating role descriptions, recruiting volunteer prospects, focusing on retention and other everyday tasks….

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By Moshe Hecht and Ruth McCambridge Some time ago, NPQ covered the trend of for-profit professionals making what was at the time seen as a bizarre leap into the nonprofit world. At the time, NPQ’s reaction was muted-these transitions did not always turn out well. In fact, the assumption that underwrote many of the articles on this topic was…

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By Sejal Choksi-Chugh, J.D As a recovering lawyer, I wasn’t professionally trained in development when I became an executive director three years ago, yet my Board expected me to get to work fundraising…fast. When I began exploring the field, I quickly learned there are a lot of recognized best practices. One of the most tried and…

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by Erica Waasdrop This problem doesn’t just occur with monthly donors, but with all donors. That last step, finishing the donation is the key. But often, the donor clicks through. They’re ready to make a gift, but for some mysterious reason, they leave. They never finish the donation. What can you do? Should you just…

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Every employer wants to fill open jobs with qualified candidates fast. But recent employment and hiring trends data suggest that it’s only getting harder for companies to achieve that basic staffing objective. The DHI-DFH Mean Vacancy Duration Measure, which draws on “JOLTS” data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, rose to 31.1 working days…

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We’re taught single loop learning from the time we are in grade school, but there’s a better way. Double loop learning is the quickest and most efficient way to learn anything that you want to “stick.” So, you’ve done the work necessary to have an opinion, learned the mental models, and considered how you make decisions. But how…

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by Mary Jo Asmus There are times when you as a leader will need to have an open dialog with an individual, group or team. This might be so that you can get others’ input, thoughts or opinions. It isn’t about pushing your ideas on others, it’s about drawing theirs out. These kinds of dialogues are…

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by Lauren Steiner, President, Grants Plus What size grants do private and corporate foundations make to your organization? $25,000? $100,000? Much more? Most likely, grant funders are some of the most generous contributors to your organization. As such, it’s crucial to have a tailored strategy for every foundation funder, just as you should for every…

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by Cheri Torres Imagine trying to lead an organization or team without words or conversation. Impossible, right? Everything leaders do is mediated through conversation. So, what are you doing with your conversations? What if you had the keys to ensure your conversations would fuel productivity and engagement? Keys that would inspire creativity, motivate collaborative action,…

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by Justin Bariso Many years ago, my supervisor, Marc, called me into his office. Uh-oh. I was racking my brain. Had I done something wrong? Was I in trouble? I sat there, tense with anticipation. And then, it happened: Instead of rattling off a list of what I was doing wrong, Marc outlined a bunch…

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by Ruth McCambridge A familiar pattern of “creative” nonprofit accounting was referenced in an article in the Orlando Sun Sentinel which reported that a Florida organization called Food for the Poor has been ordered to cease and desist by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who is also looking to have the organization’s registration revoked for overreporting its revenue. Why would…

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by Valerie Bolden-Barrett Dive Brief: Employees at nonprofit organizations say they plan to continue in their careers despite not making as much money as their for-profit counterparts, according to a report from nonprofit Work for Good. The report found that 93% of nonprofit employees are engaged at work – a rate triple the national average. Other highlights in the…

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