Four hundred unopened emails waiting for me to read, respond, or delete. Every day I try to reduce the number through quick deletions and one-line responses. But it bothers me that I have so little time to read the important information coming to me from countless organizations. I’ve been on nonprofit email lists for many years. And I will admit that often after a brief skim, they quickly mo ...[Read More]
How to be a Fan and Encourage Important Work
Make Plans to Give Now and Again Later This Year
Most email I read now begins with, “I hope this email finds you and your family safe.” Early on, I was comforted by these statements. Today they feel repetitive. I realize the writer doesn’t have any idea how to start the email or the letter right now. All the rules they lived and worked by have disappeared. Dare I repeat the other statement made so often today, “our world has changed, and we must ...[Read More]
3 Insights From Leadership Forged in a Crisis
What will the great nonprofit leaders of today look like? What actions will they take that encourages us to look forward to a new future? Right now, all over this country, we are among nonprofit leaders being made – not born. To truly understand what to look for in leaders during times of crisis, sometimes we need to pause and look backward. Published in late 2017, the book, Forged in Crisis: The ...[Read More]
What This Moment Requires is Guts – Let’s Accept the Challenge!
Amid the most unusual and unexpected event of our lifetime, I find myself struggling for words. No story seems appropriate, no example relevant. I’m bombarded by hard, rough around the edges news, like the text I received a few minutes ago with a story from the local television station explaining that crisis calls to family violence shelters are up. I’m not surprised. I am deeply concerned at a le ...[Read More]
How to Ensure Your Kids Catch Heartfelt Generosity
Right now, our attention is on the small acts that reduce our chances of catching any kind of crud going around. It could be a cold, flu, or today’s new bug, the coronavirus. But I have a surprise, some things are worth catching. And when it’s right and it goes viral, it can spread like wildfire, changing lives everywhere. No social distancing required. In fact, you’ll want to surround yours ...[Read More]
When Nonprofits Need to Make Changes, So Can You
The conversation went something like this: “I’m sure you’ve heard they have a new Executive Director. What do you think is happening over there? Do you think they will survive?” The answer is yes, they will survive. In fact, my guess is they’ll still be going strong and delivering services, long after we’re gone. I’ve been working in and with nonprofits for nearly 40 years in the same community, a ...[Read More]