Blog

I’ve always had a preference for the solution that isn’t off the rack - in other words, a solution that isn’t the conventional solution. That’s not to be confused with conventional wisdom – one of the staples of successful fundraising. Years of collective experience by successful fundraisers in the field have taught us that conventional…

I’ve had the conversation with clients many times about the work of the organization in terms of sufficient  - that is, that the mission and good work of the organization should in some way be sufficient to ensure its success. It’s an important step to take to acknowledge that merit and success are not the…

A high percentage of consultations and projects, in my experience, distill down to the balance of power and authority between a board and its executive.   This is a classic dilemma in any organization, and more common than it needs to be in nonprofit organizations.  Lack of clarity impedes mission fulfillment!  The best and most clarifying…

Ethics is formally defined as moral principles that govern individual or group behavior.  These principles are based on shared, or commonly held beliefs of right and wrong conduct.  A dilemma based on ethics is actually the choice between two morally sound, “good” solutions, but is often misunderstood as moral choice – that is, right vs.…

All mission-driven organizations have visions of a better world, as created through the work and advocacy of their own organizations – but too often, these visions are nonspecific, or globalized beyond reach [for example world peace].  A true vision statement is an invitation to view the near future as shaped by the organization or agency…