Past Articles

Ethics

How Could This Happen to our Nonprofit? – Fraud Protection

If you Google the phrase “nonprofit fraud prevention”, you will get thousands of articles and presentations, primarily from the accounting world, discussing the far too often occurrence of fraud or embezzlement in nonprofits of all sizes.  These articles are full of excellent suggestions on how to prevent fraud, embezzlement, or theft by valued employees, yet there [...]

Capital Campaigns

Are You Serious About Conflicts of Interest?

Is there any issue that creates more consternation for nonprofit boards or management, than the presentation of actual or potential conflicts of interest?  In this day and age, it is fair to assume that most nonprofits, and virtually all 501(c)(3) organizations, have adopted some sort of conflict of interest policy, either as part of the [...]

Capital Campaigns

What is Happening With Religious Fundraising?

Am I the only one confused? On the evening of March 21, 2011, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, reporting from the Association of Fundraising Professionals conference in Chicago, released an article about one of the sessions at the conference, “Religious Fund-Raising Faces a ‘Crisis,’ Says Speaker” http://philanthropy.com/blogs/prospecting/religious-fund-raising-faces-a-crisis-says-speaker/29254?sid=&utm_source=&utm_medium=en.. The article begins by quoting one of the panel [...]

Ethics

Holiday Cheer, Business Ethics and Employee Receipt of Gifts

Once again the holiday season, the time for giving and receiving gifts, is upon us.  Does your nonprofit have a clear policy limiting or prohibiting employees from accepting holiday gifts from vendors? 
For a nonprofit employee a holiday gift from one of the nonprofit’s vendors can be viewed as both appealing and harmless.  Surely acceptance of [...]

Capital Campaigns

It’s Not Rocket Science…Why Do We Need to Hire a Consultant?

As consultants working with nonprofit organizations on various aspects of nonprofit life including fundraising, strategic planning, marketing and leadership development, we are often asked why an organization should engage our services rather than just do it themselves.  My answer is that consultants bring experience, focus, perception, accountability, objectivity and style that make the realization of [...]

Leadership

Anyone Know Why We’re Meeting?

Congratulations! You’ve limited your meeting attendees to those who need to be there.
Now, how are you going to keep from wasting their time?
Your valuable volunteers are smart. They can come up with great ideas and engage in really substantive conversations that result in good policy. That only works though, if they’ve been given time to [...]

Leadership

Nonprofits Need Help, Not Just Directives

Telling nonprofits to collaborate or merge is easy. Implementing it is hard. Where will the help come from in order to make it happen?

Donors

Client Genealogy – Donor Genealogy

Donor Genealogy can help you focus your dollars and energy — and your board — where they will be most productive. This article gives an overview of how it works.