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Where does your board spend its time? Today I’m excited to share with you a concept from my upcoming book, The Intentional Board. In board meetings, time is spent on various items typically falling within 7 Horizons of Focus. How much time should be spent on each horizon? Check out the video to find out! (You […]
In any nonprofit organization, there are 5 functions that must be fulfilled if the organization is going to be considered effective. These functions are: Governance Leadership Management Micromanagement Execution The board’s role lies solely within the first function—Governance. Governance should be the focus and the purpose of board meetings. What kinds of things do boards […]
Early in my career, I came across a quote that radically altered how I viewed my job as a development officer. “The donors’ need to give is always greater than the charity’s need to receive.” The longer I live, the more convinced I am that the philosophy of that quote is true. Each of us […]
Guest post: Kathy Wright, COO for the Institute of Conversational Fundraising and Certified Professional Coach. Values are the principles we live by. They are what drive us or make us tick. They define who we are and what we hold dear. Perhaps you value truth, trust and freedom. Family may be a strong value, or […]
My son, Aaron, just published his new book, Teenagers are Awesome, and I am so excited to share this latest accomplishment with you! Aaron aimed this book at teens, sharing his personal experiences as a teenager and his many years of working with teens. His purpose is to help equip teenagers to apply Biblical […]
“I feel like we just aren’t on the same page.” This is a common complaint I hear from CEO’s about boards and even from some board members–referring to both staff and fellow members. You may have heard it yourself, or perhaps you’ve even said it after a particularly ineffective meeting. The first thing I ask […]
“I’ve got a great idea for a new event. No one else is doing one like it and I’m SURE it will raise a lot of money!” exclaimed an enthusiastic board member. “Let’s add a couple more mailings this year to ask for donations. We increased our budget so need more income to meet it” […]
Most of us look at a coming year with anticipation. We set resolutions, vow to drop bad habits or add good ones. We are optimistic about what can be in our lives. Some of that optimism comes from a reflection on what we achieved over the past year, some from a renewed focus on what we […]
Earlier this year, I served on a panel with other fundraising professionals, and this great question was posed to us: What are the top characteristics that make a good fundraiser? For me, the answer has three parts. FIRST: ‘an infinite capacity to not know what can’t be done.’ Too many people believe in what can’t […]
Guest Post by John Martin. John is a philanthropy practitioner (Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy®) with 25 years of nonprofit experience, including 19 years of fundraising & development leadership in higher education and an additional six years with a grant making charitable foundation. He teaches university courses in Fundraising & Grantwriting, Nonprofit Leadership, and Nonprofit Marketing. […]