The Organization Is Not the Mission: Moving Power

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A former COO of an international NGO reached out to me after reading my post on when to close a nonprofit (Should You Shutter Your Organization? ). That’s where her story begins—but it’s not where it ends. What she shared also reinforces something I’ve been seeing across organizations: when conflict surfaces, the most effective leaders don’t rely on process or distance—they show up. It’s the same theme I wrote about recently in Being Effective on a Board Requires Personal Connections. What We Built — And Why We Walked Away As told by a nonprofit leader somewhere in the US. I… Read more

Should You Shutter Your Organization?

Categories: Board Member Roles · Board, Board Chair, ED/CEO Roles · Good Board Practices · LeadershipTags: · 1 Comment

I spoke with an individual who spent decades doing innovative work in the nonprofit sector. They shared three stories – each about an organization that closed its doors. Each experience brought new insights. They noted that sometimes the lessons were tough, but all shed light on how boards and staff interact, who really holds power, and what it means to end things well. How an Organization Is Closed Provides Insight into Power As told by a nonprofit leader somewhere in the US. I’ve had an unusual career in that I’ve been part of three nonprofits that have closed down –… Read more

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

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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 As told by an HOA President somewhere in the US I was president of our HOA—Homeowners’ Association—and board elections were coming up. We had some financial challenges ahead, and I knew we needed someone with… Read more

Boards Need to Center the Mission

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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. As told by a board member somewhere in the USA. The Event That Never Happened I serve on the Foundation Board for a large national organization. This is the fundraising board—not the governing board—so… Read more

Navigating Uncertainty: Lead with Strategy and Compassion, Not Fear

Categories: Best Nonprofit Practices · Board Member Roles · Board, Board Chair, ED/CEO Roles · Good Board Practices · LeadershipTags: · Leave a comment

In this post, I focus on how nonprofits can remain resilient and impactful in uncertain times by addressing both sides of the financial equation: revenue and expenses. In my last post, I wrote about on Risk Management, in the one before on Financial Fraud, and the one before that on Managing Critical Business Accounts.  All these areas are important to ensure your organization can face challenges due to external factors such as the economy and internal ones due to staffing changes. Focus on Both Revenue and Expenses Nonprofits are being squeezed from both sides. Government and foundation funding are declining,… Read more