Columbus and Philanthropy — Part Two.
By many measures, Columbus is thriving. By many measures, the income disparity is, too.
Earlier this year, The Columbus Dispatch reported that while Ohio’s median household income increased slightly, it is still 10% lower than [Read more]
Columbus and Philanthropy — Part One.
When we think of Columbus philanthropy, we most often think of notable families like Wexner, Wolfe, and Lazarus, or major corporations such as Nationwide, Huntington, and AEP.
There is hardly a nonprofit in Central Ohio that [Read more]
National Philanthropy Day.
Every November, philanthropists, volunteers, and fundraising professionals around the country gather to celebrate National Philanthropy Day. In Central Ohio, the event is hosted the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, which is the perfect time to honor [Read more]
Gratitude and Giving.
I love a good story. Especially one that is centered around unexpected philanthropy.
It goes like this:
After a decade of neglect and damage, a 125-year old building, which was once a thriving gathering spot, was slated [Read more]
Succession Planning.
The two most feared words of any nonprofit board are: “search committee.”
Nonprofit boards are often loath to engage in a search because of the fear of the unknown and the risks associated with the transition [Read more]
Nonprofit Role in Advocacy.
This week marks Election Day around the country — from school boards and township trustees to mayors and governors. Each election cycle has a big impact on policy and funding as elected officials enact their [Read more]
What Makes Good Values Statements?
Your organization’s mission is why you do what you do.
Your vision is the change you intend to make on the people and places you serve.
Your values? They are the truths that you hold dear. The [Read more]
What Makes a Good Vision Statement?
All too often, vision statements are, “to be the best (fill in the blank) in the world.”
To build the best product… To offer the best customer service… To become the most recognized… And so on.
The [Read more]
What Makes a Good Mission Statement?
Question: What is 141 words (1,031 characters with spaces) that was recently updated and approved by the board?
Answer: A nonprofit organization mission statement.
While the number of words is clearly a problem, it’s also the never-ending [Read more]
Gender Equality Call to Action.
Melinda Gates is my hero.
She is not only investing her money in gender equality issues — she is raising the topic to the highest levels of debate. She is not only asking tough questions [Read more]
The Ethics of Fundraising.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) recognizes October as ethics awareness month. Each day this month, the team at AFP is blogging about the tenets that make up their Code of Ethical Standards, [Read more]
Five Questions to Drive Strategic Planning.
Strategic planning can be an insightful, generative, and clarifying process that propels an organization forward. Or, it can be an obligatory chore that is more formulaic than revelatory.
We want the former for you, not the [Read more]
Board Governance Part Three — Funding and Finances.
If you serve on a nonprofit board, can you answer this question?
What drives the organization’s economic engine?
Is it philanthropy? Events? Fees-for-service? Third-party reimbursements? Or maybe social enterprise?
While cash flow is critical in the operations of [Read more]
Board Governance Part Two — Meetings and Committees.
What percentage of your board meeting is spent discussing the past?
Do a majority of your board members speak in a meeting? Or is it mostly listening to a select few?
Are your board and committee meetings [Read more]
Board Governance Part One — Top Three Roles.
While a nonprofit governing board is critical to the health of the organization, the board’s role in the work of the organization is not always clear.
BoardSource, the country’s leading authority on nonprofit board governance, [Read more]