As the new year rolls in, many nonprofits are embarking on a brand-new budget, with clean slates, fresh aspirations, and strategies poised for success. You may also find your organization with a new class of volunteers on your board of directors, fresh faces on committees and perhaps even new staff members on your team.
Topics: Leadership, Volunteer, Volunteer Leadership, Board Development, Volunteer Management, Nonprofit Leadership, Board Management, Board Leadership, finance
Topics: Leadership, Volunteer Leadership, Fundraising, Volunteer Management, Mentoring, Big L Leaders, Camp Fundraising, Storytelling, Nonprofit Leadership, Annual Fundraising, Fundraising Management, Leadership Transition, Church Fundraising, Fundraising Campaign, Communication, Capital Leadership
Topics: Leadership, Collaborations, Global Leadership Summit, Volunteer Leadership, Volunteer Management, Mentoring, Resolutions, Big L Leaders, Nonprofit Leadership, Leadership Transition, Communication, Capital Leadership, Church Leadership, Leadership Coaching, CEO Coaching
By Jim Mellor and Brian Keel
The board of directors is an essential component of nonprofit leadership. We seek boards that are engaged, embrace their roles and responsibilities, are committed to transparency, and value both short- and long-term planning.
Rules vary from state to state, but every board has significant legal and ethical duties that it cannot delegate to others including legal, management, program, and financial oversight. Beyond the board there may be committees that further assist the organization. Committees have representation from the Board but are also an opportunity to engage other community volunteers to serve, especially if these members have subject matter expertise.
Topics: Volunteer Leadership, Volunteer Management, Volunteer Communication, Nonprofit Leadership, Strategy, Nonprofit Staff, community
Happy New Year! As you settle back in after the holidays, let me suggest you take a few moments to consider the “three Rs” before getting sucked into the hustle and bustle of a new year.
Topics: Leadership, Volunteer Management, Nonprofit Leadership, Strategy, Planning, Nonprofit
As empty nesters, my wife and I have more time to volunteer in our community. We really enjoy our volunteer time together - almost as much as vacation.
Recently, we responded to two requests for help. One community organization responded to my wife’s email the very same day. She got an email addressed directly to her that included three quick questions along with several resources and a short video on volunteering. Later that afternoon, the volunteer coordinator followed up with a phone call to my wife and engaged her in a nice comfortable conversation. Impressive!
I responded to the other request with an email offering our services and asking for next steps. That was weeks ago. Still waiting. What does this have to do with development and fundraising?
Topics: Volunteer Appreciation, Volunteer Management, Volunteer Communication, Volunteer Recruitment, Volunteers
This January, the DBD Team is making resolutions to help us be better. Today Thom tells us why we need to resolve to trust our volunteers.
I love working with volunteers and, in the right circumstances, I love volunteering.
Topics: Resolution, Volunteer Management
At the 2017 Willow Creek Association Global Leadership Summit, the DBD team was once again inspired and challenged by incredible stories of leadership and vision. Each year it seems a story will dig into our hearts and not let go.
Topics: Volunteer Leadership, Board Development, Volunteer Management
When you are conducting an annual campaign, capital effort, or even an endowment program, publicity can be helpful. Positive “buzz” helps improve community understanding and support. But too often, we rely on buzz to do all the work. We assume that some good publicity will raise money for us.
Topics: Communications, Volunteer Management
Recently, Michele Goodrich and Peggy Vinson from our team interviewed Jen Kruel from the YMCA of Dodge County as part of the NAYDO 365 podcast series. With their permission, we’re posting it here as well because the conversation tells the story of a small organization climbing out of a paralyzing debt situation. How they did it, and how their community rallied around this Y, has lessons for any organization considering taking on debt… or working to get out of it.
While Jen’s remarks come from her recent experiences in a YMCA, any non-profit can be served by reframing how they think – and talk – about debt with donors, with the community and even to themselves.
Topics: Major Gifts, Volunteer Management, Annual Campaign, Annual Fundraising, Podcast, Ymca