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Are your capital projects connected to your strategic priorities?

Let’s consider a new dining hall project at a resident camp. Is this project strategic, or simply reactive to growth in campers or the declining state of the building? This example drives home the importance of using a strategic framework to guide capital projects. Too often, nonprofits begin with a perceived need rather than a strategic imperative.

Capital planning and master planning for facilities flow from strategy… not the other way around.

I’ve been having conversations lately with several nonprofit leaders I trust. CEOs, Executive Directors, Development Directors who care deeply about their missions and take their responsibility seriously.

And even though their organizations look different, I keep hearing familiar observations and challenges.

Fundraising is moving. Fundraising is changing. And the question underneath it all is: How does our team change with it?

Congratulations!You have wrapped up annual giving for 2025. Whether you missed, met or exceeded your goal, it’s time to reset the clock and dive into 2026!Or is it?

Not so fast!

Over the last 12 months you invited hundreds of individuals, businesses and foundations into your amazing story of community need and critical impact.Through letters, posts, displays and conversation you educated everyone who would listen about your organization’s ability to solve problems and invited them to support your great work.

Well done. . .but you’re not done yet.

I genuinely thought this would be a five-minute fix.

One of the knobs on our gas stove broke, so I did what any reasonable person would do: I looked for and ordered a replacement. When it arrived, it wouldn’t fit. I checked the model number, confirmed it was correct, and assumed the problem was a manufacturing issue. So, I ordered another knob and returned the first one I ordered.

Same result.

A new cohort of donors is redefining what philanthropy looks like. The Great Wealth Transfer is elevating younger and more diverse voices into positions of philanthropic influence. Gen Z and Millennials expect the same seamless experience in their giving that they receive from their banking apps. From mobile-first interfaces to real-time transparency, digital connection is central to their trust and engagement.

January always invites reflection. New goals. New tools. New urgency.

At this point in the calendar year, most nonprofits have set their budgets and plans for the coming year. Now the reality sets in: how are you going to make it all happen? Here are some fresh ways to think about achieving your goals and, more importantly, bringing your mission into action for those you serve.

In our twenty years as a firm, we've seen changing economic conditions, changing laws and changing donor behavior. Today, there are even more changes at hand that will provide both challenges and opportunities for savvy nonprofits. 

I am an avid sports fan and late October through mid-November is the ultimate time of year for me to follow multiple sports very closely. When we think about leadership, our minds tend to go immediately to the notion of an individual who leads others, most often in a business setting. However, what I want to drill down on in this blog is an entirely different aspect of leadership: it is the notion of leading yourself. And sports offer many sterling examples of just that.

I've seen it time and again: nonprofits that aren't deeply connected to the communities they serve miss critical opportunities. Having recently facilitated a community leader forum for a strategic planning project and a community needs assessment, I'm always excited when community leaders are fully engaged and ready to help. I often hear them say, "Thank you for inviting me to participate today; I've learned so much about this organization," "I appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback on this important initiative for our community" and “This is exciting! How can I help?”