Blog
Is fear holding you back?
Have you ever thought about how joining forces with another nonprofit could advance your mission and expand services faster? I’ve seen the benefits when the exploration of an alliance or merger is done well, and what happens when it isn’t.
Do you think training’s like candy?
To be effective, learning is best in small doses extended over time. It’s just how the human brain works. Yet education and training are too easily compartmentalized – like something you do on your “off” time. Worse yet, too many nonprofits consider training a treat, like candy, something extra. “If you’re good” you’ll be rewarded with an all-expense paid “training” (pseudo-vacation) to an exotic destination.
Develop a Culture of Learning
A nonprofit with a culture of continual learning provides a more effective environment for your team and your constituents. Here’s how to get started.
Happy Mothers’ Day!
This time of year I reflect on my mother—not just how much I loved her and miss her now, but how I am like her and how she influenced me as a role model. This is a big topic of course!
But I’ve realized that she was a key reason I’m working in the nonprofit sector. I was blessed with a mom who was passionate about social service. Her gentle giving soul was obvious to everyone but, she was savvy and smart too—not to be dismissed as “just a softy” as many women were in her day.
Mom was gone as I was just starting out on my nonprofit journey. But she is with me and has been all along the way.
How about you?
Ideas: Board Committees and Capacity
I’ve been thinking about capacity and how it relates to board, especially when you are dealing with setting up board work groups, committees etc. The question of what committees a board should have comes up a lot. I have some ideas about that question and more.
Passion Unleashes Creativity
Passion is one great force that unleashes creativity, because if you’re passionate about something, then you’re more willing to take risks. Yo-Yo Ma
Creativity can be elusive. It’s not something that you can summon at will. When it happens, it strikes like lightning. You get an inspiration or the right word or phrase or idea just pops into your head.
How’s Your Board Doing? 3 Assessment Mistakes to Avoid
Could your board be better? Probably so! The first step in improving your board is raising awareness about how the board is doing now and then compare that to what truly effective boards do. This can be accomplished by doing a good board assessment. But there are 3 mistakes you want to avoid.
Caught Up in the Dog Days of Summer?
We’ve all heard the expression “dog days of summer.” I associate the phrase with slowing down, summer heat, etc. And it’s no wonder! Studies show that work productivity in the summer drops by as much as 20%. That’s a lot.
8 Steps to a Successful Advisory Group for Your Nonprofit
I’ve been impressed with the creative ways nonprofit executives have made use of advisory groups. The benefits of forming an advisory group for your nonprofit are many. If not done thoughtfully, however, forming an advisory group can be a mistake. Here are 8 steps to effectively form an advisory group for your nonprofit.
What are your challenges recruiting board members?
In my work as a nonprofit consultant (and a former Executive Director), I’ve seen first-hand how challenging it can be to recruit new board members—especially the right ones you really hope to have engage with your nonprofit. An important first step is to empower board members and executives to overcome the barriers to recruiting that make it so hard.
But, do we know what those barriers are?
6 Steps You Must Know to Unleash the Potential of Your Nonprofit Board
Get It Now >>
Let’s Talk
If you would like to talk to Mary about unleashing the potential of your board, schedule a free consultation.