Every leader carries a personal vision of how the world could be better. Whether that vision focuses on public health, education, housing, or equity, the real challenge lies not in having a vision, but in turning it into a shared one.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of many nonprofits. They give their time, skills, and energy to help advance missions that matter—often without expecting anything in return. Yet while volunteers may not seek payment, they do need to feel valued. Recognizing their contributions in meaningful ways is one of the most important strategies any nonprofit can use to improve retention, motivation, and overall program success.
I recognize that some of the vocabulary I use in this post might sound objectionable to you. I welcome your thoughts on alternatives and better phrasings.
In nonprofit spaces, the word follower sometimes carries a negative connotation. People may associate it with passivity, a lack of initiative, or even weakness. Yet the truth is that followers are essential to every successful venture, organization, and community effort.
Leadership is one of the most studied and debated subjects in the nonprofit sector. How do some people naturally command respect while others struggle to inspire? In his book From Transactional to Transformational Leadership: Learning to Share the Vision, Bernard Bass outlines three foundational ways that people become leaders. His framework continues to shape how we think about leadership development today, especially in mission-driven organizations like nonprofits.
For a lot of nonprofits, fundraising is one of the most important (and stressful) parts of the job. It keeps programs running and lights on, but it will also take up an incredible amount of time and energy. This is why many organizations look for outside help from fundraising firms. The right partner can boost your impact. The wrong one can create more work for you. Or worse, they can damage your organization.
So before you hire fundraising help, here are a few things to think about when bringing in third-party fundraising support.
Every nonprofit organization operates with a budget (and if you don't, please get out of the business). But surprisingly, far fewer have a technology plan. Why do we treat financial planning as essential, yet overlook technology planning as optional? A thoughtful technology plan is critical. It guides decision-making, reduces risk, and helps forecast costs. Without one, nonprofits are left vulnerable to inefficiencies, emergencies, and even security threats.