There’s no magic bullet in marketing your nonprofit. Whether you’re a brand-new nonprofit or a more established one, your challenges and opportunities are all the same. Only so many people will actively seek out information about your organization. So, you stand a much better chance if you properly market your nonprofit. You have to work at it; telling your brand story is the first place to start. Understanding how to do that well is one of the most vital things your nonprofit can do. The fact is that you can’t skimp on this step and think people will figure it out. That’s not how it works. S ..read more

Have you ever had a bad day at the office with your team? The answer is almost certainly yes if you spent a day in an office. It happens to the best of us. But what if you’re hitting roadblock after roadblock with your team? How can you get your team back on track? After all, learning how to engage employees is key to a successful nonprofit organization. The fact of the matter is that leadership is vital to success. And the fundamental knowledge of how to engage employees is essential. The truth is that people change, and dynamics change, especially when resolving conflict. In other words, as ..read more

New ideas can feel threatening. They force us to reconsider old ways of thinking and spark anxiety about what might change. Therefore, you must break down resistance and build trust in managing organizational change. You should also understand your nonprofit team’s perspective and articulate why this new way is better. Sure, it’s a delicate balance. Inevitably, it involves the reality you have to become a better listener. You have to encourage people to think differently while respecting their ideas. Moreover, you have to know when not to push further so as not to alienate critical stakeholde ..read more

Listening is not the same as hearing. Hearing is an involuntary process of reacting to noises around us. Listening, on the other hand, requires active participation and focus. You need to make an effort to listen, so you don’t miss any crucial details in a conversation. Unfortunately, many nonprofit leaders and managers like to talk, especially when discussing fundraising challenges. While that’s okay, it’s still essential to become a better listener. As a leader, listening is one of the most critical skills you need to develop. If you listen when someone speaks, you give them your attention ..read more

You built a strong brand and have a loyal following. You’re also a social media pro with a successful social media strategy and following. You’ve made the right connections and have a thriving nonprofit—at least that’s what you think. Did you ever think you could be making LinkedIn mistakes? Perhaps you’re reminded when a new team member starts discussing the metrics and that mysterious, elusive thing called a “brand.” It’s not something you can see, hear, or touch. Suddenly, what you thought was a good performance may not be the case. Your brand’s an intangible concept that has to do with yo ..read more

The best place to start when it comes to fundraising from major donors is to begin with your database. Nonprofit major donors, such as endowments, foundations, and corporations, are often more complicated than individual donors. In short, they’re more challenging to reach and often require more time, education, and resources. However, like all donors, they can make a significant financial impact, and you should include them in your fundraising strategies. Still, you have a great deal to offer individual major donors as a nonprofit. They can help you grow your organization and expand your miss ..read more

Conflict is an inevitable part of life. It comes up no matter who we are and what we do. Whether with our friends, family members, or colleagues, we’ll inevitably stumble upon disagreements. We can’t avoid conflict, although we may want to avoid conflict because it just seems too complicated. Still, often, we’re not sure how to work on resolving conflict. The chances are that your nonprofit team never received training in conflict resolution. Unfortunately, many people get trained concerning work duties, but organizations don’t often inform their teams about handling conflict. So, if you want ..read more

Serving on a nonprofit board is a rewarding experience. When you join a nonprofit board, you gain valuable skills, connections, and knowledge to improve your professional development while providing resources for the organization. However, it might not always be an easy decision for people considering this role. Therefore, if you find yourself in a situation of getting asked to serve on a nonprofit board, consider the following points before deciding. Benefits of serving on a nonprofit board Serving on a nonprofit board benefits those willing to commit to the role. When you serve on a board ..read more

Nonprofits come in all shapes and sizes—from small nonprofits with a few people on the board to large international organizations. In short, every nonprofit is different in its own way. These differences mean many different types of nonprofit boards exist. Still, the position of board chair is one of the most essential for any organization. A nonprofit board represents the bridge between a community and a nonprofit. Aside from the nonprofit leader, the chair is one of the most critical positions. This individual should have the respect and regard of the community. Further, they should command ..read more

Now that we kicked off another year, it’s time to get going on your fundraising. If you’re like many other nonprofits, you’re probably going through lists of fundraising ideas for nonprofits. While those lists are great because it’s good to raise funds in various ways, there’s one that’s different. It’s called a shoe drive fundraiser. Now, I’m going to be straight with you. I’m the CEO of the top shoe drive fundraising brands in the nation, including Funds2Orgs, Sneakers4Funds, and Shoes With Heart. But, before you stop there, let me share with you why this fundraiser is right for your nonpro ..read more