Earlier this week, The Hampton Roads Community Foundation gathered past grantees of its Building Excellence program to share ideas and discuss development challenges. The gathering not only produced very interesting conversation but some great ideas that we thought we’d share. Board engagement was a reoccurring theme that presented itself over the course of the lunch…. Read more »
Posts Categorized: Nonprofit Management
Komen-Planned Parenthood: The Importance of a Crisis Communication Plan
An article that ran last week in the Chronicle of Philanthropy got us thinking about the recent controversy between Susan G. Komen and Planned Parenthood. No matter where you stand on the issue, there are valuable lessons to be learned for any nonprofit. The most obvious to us is the importance of a solid crisis… Read more »
Before the Campaign Planning Study There’s the Business Plan
Last week, as a result of our webinar on “What Makes an Effective Capital Campaign?” a question arose that we thought was worth addressing. One participant asked us to further explain the need for the business plan that we often recommend developing before moving into any type of campaign. The simple answer is this: a campaign… Read more »
How Should Nonprofits Operate?
Earlier this week The Wall Street Journal ran a series of interesting and informative articles online in the Philanthropy section that we felt inclined to comment on. One in particular, entitled “Should Philanthropies Operate Like Businesses?” was especially thought-provoking. The article poses the aforementioned question and sets up a debate between executives Charles Bronfman and… Read more »
Executive director survey cites importance of strong leadership
Back in May we wrote a post on leadership being “The Key to Successful Fundraising.” Last month, a survey of nonprofit executive directors entitled, “Daring to Lead,” honed in on the importance of strong nonprofit boards in not only supporting and sustaining executive directors but creating sustainable organizations. Weak board performance was cited among respondents… Read more »
What Makes Your Nonprofit Effective?
The Curtis Group enjoyed being a sponsor of and participating in VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads’ 2011 Funders Forum. The morning began with a panel of five, local foundation representatives responding to and sharing conversation over various questions. I enjoyed hearing the responses to this question: How do you determine what makes a nonprofit effective? The first panelist… Read more »
Know the Key to Building Capacity?
Last week Nonprofit Finance Fund issued a report about the successful results of NFF Capital Partners’ efforts to help nine charities around the nation raise philanthropic equity. Philanthropic equity, according to Nonprofit Finance Fund, is money a nonprofit uses to build its capacity to deliver services, as well as the business operations that will make… Read more »
Time to Fall Back, Re-group, and Work Your Plan
Back to school, back to work, back to the task at hand. A new season is upon us. I’m one of those people who loves fall because it’s another opportunity for a fresh start—maybe even a second chance (or last chance) at New Year’s resolutions. September always seems to be a good time to re-group,… Read more »
Diversify Funding to Survive State Shortfalls
“Charities Expect Money Worries into 2013 Due to States’ Shortfalls.” Maybe you saw that headline in the Aug. 12 edition of The Chronicle of Philanthropy. The article reports that many states expect their budget crises to continue well into 2012 and possibly 2013. At the same time, nonprofits that have depended heavily on government funding,… Read more »
Time for an Endowment?
Creating an endowment seems like a sound business practice to most nonprofit boards. But is it really the next logical step for your organization? “For many, amassing an endowment represents a ‘nirvana’ state, where fundraising (and related pain) ceases and programs are amply funded,” wrote Clara Miller, CEO of the Nonprofit Finance Fund, in a… Read more »
