Believe like a nonprofit. Behave like a business.

Posted , by Kaitlin Padden Robb, Consultant. Topic: Nonprofit Management.

Too many nonprofits are rewarded for how little they spend, rather than for what they get done. This is the double standard that author, activist and fundraiser Dan Pallotta called out during his recent visit to Hampton Roads. (I highly recommend watching his TED talk). His presentation about “The Overhead Myth” got our sector buzzing…… Read more »

Dispelling the Charity “Overhead Myth”

Posted , by Erin Phillips, Marketing Director and Consultant. Topic: Nonprofit Management.

A few weeks ago, three of the nation’s leading sources on charity information released a statement denouncing “overhead ratio” as the sole measure of an organization’s performance. A letter signed by the CEOs of GuideStar, Charity Alliance and BBB Wise Giving Alliance marked the beginning of what is called the “Overhead Myth” campaign, a crusade… Read more »

Four Tips on Strategic Planning

Posted , by Natalie McGaughey, Development Coordinator. Topic: Nonprofit Management.

I’m currently enrolled in Old Dominion University’s Public Administration program. This semester I’m taking a course on nonprofit management and reading a book by Michael Allison and Jude Kaye titled Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations. Allison and Kaye make four key points about effective strategic planning: 1. Focus on the most important issues during your… Read more »

Board Members as Askers, Ambassadors and Advocates

Posted , by Erin Phillips, Consultant and Marketing Director. Topic: Boards of Directors, Nonprofit Management.

In our 24-year history, The Curtis Group has spent significant time advising on how nonprofit management can work most successfully with their boards. We hear it a lot: one of the biggest challenges nonprofit executives face is getting their volunteer leadership to help raise money and a common complaint from board members is they aren’t… Read more »

The Giving Institute’s Eight Steps for Selecting Fundraising Counsel

Posted , by Erin Phillips, Marketing Director and Campaign Consultant. Topic: Fundraising, Nonprofit Management.

The Curtis Group has been a member of The Giving Institute for nearly five years. Established in 1935, The Giving Institute has been the thought leader membership organization for fundraising consultants and nonprofit services firms. One of the many resources they offer to nonprofit leaders is a list of the eight steps on how to… Read more »

Do you have a Succession Plan in Place?

Posted , by Lauren B. Fenn, Campaign Consultant. Topic: Nonprofit Management.

Most often people think succession plans are something corporations need to have, but nonprofits must also consider them. While the nonprofit sector employs approximately 61.2 million full and part-time employees in this country, it is an unfortunate reality that our industry has a somewhat high turnover rate. According to the 2010 Employment Trends Survey, a… Read more »

You Can Plan, but Can You Execute?

Posted , by Wendy McGrady, vice president. Topic: Nonprofit Management.

On July 19th and 20th Keith and I participated in the Giving Institute’s Summer Symposium this year held in Park City, Utah. The Giving Institute is a 40-member organization of consulting firms dedicated to education and the promotion of philanthropy and ethical fundraising. This annual gathering brings professionals together from across the country and provides an… Read more »

Giving USA Discussion at the Hudson Institute: Advice to Nonprofits and their Board Members

Posted , by Erin Phillips, Marketing Director and Campaign Consultant. Topic: Boards of Directors, Giving USA, Nonprofit Management.

On Friday the Hudson Institute’s Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal, in partnership with Illinois University’s Center on Philanthropy, hosted a discussion titled “Giving USA 2012: Who Gave, How Much, and to Whom in 2011?” The Curtis Group’s Vice President, Wendy McGrady, along with Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy Executive Director, Patrick M. Rooney; Nonprofit Quarterly’s… Read more »

Raising Money Like an Entrepreneur: “Selling” Advice to Nonprofits

Posted , by Erin Phillips, Marketing Director and Campaign Consultant. Topic: Fundraising, Nonprofit Management.

This week we came across an interesting article in our Twitter feed by Charles Moldow, a partner at a Venture Capital firm. Although the blog post from the website Tech Crunch is written for entrepreneurs seeking start up investments, there are clear parallels to be drawn for small nonprofits soliciting gifts from individuals. At the end… Read more »

Funders Agree: Nonprofits Must Operate Like a Business

Posted , by Wendy McGrady, Vice President. Topic: Funds and Funders, Nonprofit Management.

Today, for the fourth year in a row, Keith moderated VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads’ Annual Funders Forum. This event, which brings together funders from across Hampton Roads, always produces a variety of interesting takeaways. An underlying theme of the funders’ comments from this year’s forum was the importance of a nonprofit operating like a business. The… Read more »