Hosting a Fundraiser? Share the Guest List A board chair shared two experiences around fundraising where unclear expectations led to frustration and lost connections for the organization. Because of these incidents, she asserts that while board members have a vital role to play in fundraising, the organization should own the relationships. And she maintains that if the host of an event will not share the guest list and contact information, it is not worth having the event.

Hosting a Fundraiser? Share the Guest List

A board chair shared two experiences around fundraising where unclear expectations led to frustration and lost connections for the organization. Because of these incidents, she asserts that while board members have a vital role to play in fundraising, the…

Be Clear About Roles, But Ask Questions and Respond Respectfully In this post, an experienced board member and ED reflects on a situation he encountered on his very first board as a young man. Back then, he admired the way a strong ED drew a firm line between board responsibilities and management responsibilities. That clarity made an impression. But with the benefit of experience—and a little wisdom that comes with age—he now recognizes the value of a gentler approach, both in the way board members ask questions and in the way a nonprofit leader responds.

Be Clear About Roles, But Ask Questions and Respond Respectfully

In this post, an experienced board member and ED reflects on a situation he encountered on his very first board as a young man. Back then, he admired the way a strong ED drew a firm line between board responsibilities and management…

Sometimes You Have to Do Something Unpopular – Because It Is the Right Thing to Do  A reader asked if he could share a story that was about his Homeowner’s Association. “It is not a nonprofit like most of the stories you share,” he told me. “But my story has a universal message – about doing something hard because it is the right thing to do.” I agree. So, I will share his story here. A Great Candidate, with a Catch…

Sometimes You Have to Do Something Unpopular – Because It Is the Right Thing to Do 

A reader asked if he could share a story that was about his Homeowner’s Association. “It is not a nonprofit like most of the stories you share,” he told me. “But my story has a universal message – about doing…

Boards Need to Center the Mission I spoke to a board member of a large organization that hosted a big event every few years. The event was cancelled during COVID. Board members had given extra restricted donations because of the event. When asked if they wanted the money back, the board member remembered why she joined the board in the first place. She and her fellow board members centered on the mission.

Boards Need to Center the Mission

I spoke to a board member of a large organization that hosted a big event every few years. The event was cancelled during COVID. Board members had given extra restricted donations because of the event. When asked if they wanted the money back, the board member…

Be Comfortable with Culture Before Joining a Board In this post, I share a story of a board member who was skeptical about joining a board because of its reputation as risk averse and mostly white male. But after she did some research and asked many questions, she realized the organization’s reputation was outdated. The story is a positive one. After joining, she discovers a thoughtful and well-functioning board.

Be Comfortable with Culture Before Joining a Board

In this post, I share a story of a board member who was skeptical about joining a board because of its reputation as risk averse and mostly white male. But after she did some research and asked many questions, she realized the organization’s…