With gratitude at center stage Thanksgiving week, it seems timely to consider how mission-driven organizations express appreciation. Donors, volunteers and sometimes staff get letters, events, awards, and other forms of much-deserved recognition for their efforts and resources. But what…
What does it take to make nonprofit boards work better? First, you have to understand why board effectiveness matters. In this article we explore why effectiveness matters for nonprofit boards, and also where governance – as a field -- is…
What happens when a board chair tries to counter low attendance at board meetings with shorter meetings? Even lower attendance, as a well-intended colleague once discovered. Lack of time is not what causes board member absenteeism; volunteer leaders expect to invest time in the causes they champion — as long as that time seems well-spent. Effective…
Any athlete knows the model works. Coaches take stock of players’ abilities and work to improve them on an ongoing basis. Practice, assess, tweak, improve, practice, assess, tweak, improve. Peak performance isn’t left to chance. In any context. Yet…
The simple fact that Snopes exists tells us much about the world in which we live, work, and fundraise. A dominant fact-checking resource, Snopes was referenced under a recent Facebook post by a friend to debunk an online myth. A…
Modern governance is a relatively new term that was introduced by Diligent Corporation to update the view of governance by today’s standards. This contemporary term reflects shifts in expectations around accountability and transparency, as well as changes in technology, that…
Decisions, decisions -- they’re part of governance, leadership, and life. No matter how comfortable we are (or aren’t) in making them or how prepared we are (or aren’t) to make them wisely, we are faced with countless opportunities to decide…
Passion. It’s the favorite first ingredient in recipes for cooking up a great nonprofit board member. “Commitment to mission” or “passion for the cause” is included on almost every list of criteria for prospective board members. Amidst numerous other preferred…
As someone who did not chair any of the four nonprofit boards that I observed this summer, I have great respect and admiration for those who did. I also have compassion, curiosity and some suggestions for them as dedicated, determined…
Nonprofit executives often lament their boards’ limited engagement. Recognizing that volunteer board members will prioritize professional and personal obligations first, they accept whatever investment busy board members can make. When I heard a nonprofit leader recently acknowledge a disconnect between…
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