Excited to share that I will be a featured speaker at the upcoming Survive and Thrive Nonprofit Online Summit. The Summit is an action-packed day featuring more than 6 speakers discussing strategies for your nonprofit to successfully survive and thrive in the COVID-19 crisis and beyond...all from the comfort of your home remote office.
I will be speaking on Understanding the CARES Act and Other Emergency Supports for Nonprofits. Join me!
I recently joined my friend and colleague Janeal Ford of Fordable Fundraising for a Facebook live discussion on Adventures in Fundraising: Board Leadership in Challenging Times. Give it a watch!
Do you want to improve the effectiveness and productivity of your team's next virtual Board meeting? Join me on April 30 at 1pm for a FREE webinar in partnership with Dennis C Miller entitled
Register below and join the discussion!
I recently joined host Sabrina Sciscente on her podcast Fundraising Superheroes. We had a great discussion about nonprofit leadership during times of crisis, including action planning, relationship building, and the importance of maintaining a healthy mentality. Give it a listen!
Highly effective Boards remain informed and engaged throughout the year. However, the need for Board leaders to be appropriately engaged and active is heightened during challenging times. This webinar explores the ways in which nonprofit Boards should respond in times of crisis, such as many are experiencing now with the COVID-19 outbreak.
I recently led a free webinar entitled “Board Leadership in Challenging Times.” I am making the video recording of the webinar available below. If you have questions or would like to discuss ways to deepen the engagement and performance of your Board, let’s connect!
Highly effective Boards remain informed and engaged throughout the year. However, the need for Board leaders to be appropriately engaged and active is heightened during challenging times. This webinar explores the ways in which nonprofit Boards should respond in times of crisis, such as many are experiencing now with the COVID-19 outbreak. Emphasis will be placed on the duties of Board members, and vital role in communications, financial management, staff safety, and governance during times of crisis.
This afternoon I spoke with local ABC affiliate WHAS11 News about the impact of COVID-19 on nonprofits and the potential benefits for nonprofits afforded by the CARES Act.
Nonprofit leaders, Board and staff members, and volunteers — you inspire me with your leadership and sacrifice each day. The survival of nonprofits is about far more than the ability of organizations to continue existing. It is about the survival of communities, the survival of the most vulnerable, the survival of compassion, and the survival of our values.
You are not alone. We are in this together. Below please find a new collection of resources for you this week on a variety of topics. I have also created a webinar on “Board Leadership in Challenging Times.” It provides a roadmap for your Board with actionable steps in the areas of risk management, financial assessment, business continuity and communication planning, and tips for fostering Board involvement in challenging times. If this information and webinar would be helpful for your Board, let’s connect and give your Board the tools and support to lead. I am available to serve as a thought partner, facilitator, or sounding board.
COVID-19: RESOURCES FOR NONPROFIT LEADERS: March 27, 2020
Leadership:
Two Principles for Leading Your Organization Through the COVID-19 Crisis
Source: Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief
Source: Harvard Business Review
Self Care:
Board Role/Governance:
PODCAST: Board Leadership in Challenging Times
Source: Nonprofit Vision with Gregory Nielsen
Human Resources:
My Advice On Working From Home – After 10 Years of Doing It Successfully
Source: Julia Campbell
Legislation and Advocacy:
Initial Analysis of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) (S. 748)
Source: National Council of Nonprofits
How Nonprofits Can Utilize the New Federal Laws Dealing with COVID-19
Source: Nonprofit Quarterly
Philanthropy:
Board leadership and engagement is vital in challenging times, and there are tangible steps Boards can and should take. Enjoyed leading a webinar today on Board Leadership in Challenging Times. We discussed risk management, financial assessment, business continuity and communication planning, and tips for fostering Board involvement in challenging times. If this information and webinar would be helpful for your Board, let’s connect and give your Board the tools and support to lead.
I recently had the privilege of joining Janeal Ford of Fordable Fundraising for a Facebook Live conversation on developing a Board orientation program for excellence. Take a listen as I talk with Janeal about tangible ways in which you and your Board can develop an orientation program that sets Board members and the Board team up for success.
The integral role of the Board in leading and partnering with the Executive and staff is heightened and magnified in times of crisis and uncertainty. As nonprofits around the country navigate new and rapidly changing realities, Board members must be active and engaged leaders. Boards should partner with the Executive to discuss:
Operational contingencies
Potential shifts in Board meetings
Policy changes to address the wellbeing of staff members and those served by the mission
Status of upcoming events
The article below from Gene Takagi of NEO Law Group highlights many of these issues and provides solid tips for Boards to consider. As we navigate these choppy waters together, we are available to serve as a thought partner, facilitator, or sounding board to discuss the unique needs of your organization.
What if your Board and staff members embraced their role as advocates and ambassadors for the mission? Imagine the enhanced awareness of your mission and impact!
Excited to announce the launch of a NEW Signature Program — Mission Ambassadors. This engaging and highly interactive workshop hones effective speaking techniques while empowering Board and staff members to develop their personal meaningful message and gain skills to serve as excited and effective ambassadors for your mission. Mission Ambassadors can be delivered in a variety of lengths and formats, and is highly customizable for your needs. Click below to discuss bringing Mission Ambassadors to your organization!
What if your Board members embraced their role as advocates and ambassadors for the mission? Enjoying a great day with the talented Board and Staff leaders of Evergreen Life Services leading a workshop on “Developing Board Ambassadors.”
Excited to share that I will be participating in 2 FREE web events this week!
On Tuesday, February 18 from 7 - 7:30 PM eastern time, I will be joining host Janeal Ford on “Adventures in Fundraising.” The topic will be Building a Board Orientation Program for Excellence. Learn strategies for developing an orientation program that places your Board members in the best position to succeed in advancing your mission. We will cover the roles of Board and staff in the process, questions and topics to address, and learn a vastly underutilized orientation strategy to elevate the performance and engagement of your Board members. You can participate on Facebook Live HERE.
On Thursday, February 20 from 2-3 PM eastern time, I will be leading a FREE live webinar for Bloomerang entitled “Demystifying Donor Advised Funds.” This workshop discusses donor advised funds, how they differ from private foundations, tips for engagement, critiques and potential reforms. This webinar will be recorded for future viewing. If you can't make it, go ahead and register anyway. You'll receive the recording a little later. Click below to register for this FREE webinar!
Join the conversation!
Excited to share that on February 20 from 2-3pm eastern time, I will be leading a FREE live webinar for Bloomerang entitled “Demystifying Donor Advised Funds.”
A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a giving vehicle established at a public charity. It allows donors to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction and then recommend grants from the fund over time. Today, they are philanthropy’s fastest growing vehicle, accounting for 3% of all giving. This workshop discusses donor advised funds, how they differ from private foundations, tips for engagement, critiques and potential reforms.
This webinar will be recorded for future viewing. If you can't make it, go ahead and register anyway. You'll receive the recording a little later. Click below to register for this FREE webinar!
Accountability lies at the heart of any healthy team, and is the hallmark of a healthy organization. Frequently, when organizations struggle, leaders will point to a lack of accountability as the source of the dysfunction, whether arising from the Board or staff. This article from Harvard Business Review does an excellent job of reframing issues of accountability and providing helpful strategies for you and your team.
A Board retreat can serve as an inspiring bridge from the present to the future for a nonprofit, providing an opportunity for the Board and staff team to reflect, reimagine, and prioritize. Honored to facilitate the Board retreat for Harbor House this weekend. The mission of Harbor House is empowering individuals with disabilities and their families to lead fulfilled and productive lives.
I launched Nielsen Training and Consulting with a mission to help nonprofit leaders translate their vision into reality. I take great pride in the fact that my clients’ success is changing the world for the better.
We know, though, that success requires plans for sustainability, and nowhere is that more challenging for nonprofits than the area of leadership transition:
Nonprofit CEO turnover sits at an all-time high - with some estimates as high as 18-22% annually
According to BoardSource, only 27% of nonprofits have a written succession plan in place
These data points concern me, and with that in mind, Nielsen Training & Consulting can now offer resources crucial to your ability to sustain the community impact you have worked so hard to achieve. I am pleased to announce an affiliation with Dennis C. Miller & Associates. Dennis is a highly respected national leader, colleague, and trusted friend of mine whose firm specializes in executive leadership search projects representing a wide variety of nonprofit sectors, including behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities, children and family social services, foundations, business and professional trade associations, faith-based institutions and other community building organizations. The firm has a well-established search process designed to exceed clients’ expectations with high qualified candidates and a smooth transition process. Dennis’ extensive experience and reputation as a successful chief executive officer, board chair, foundation president and leadership coach in the nonprofit sector enables him to bring a unique perspective to his client’s executive search needs. Dennis is the author of A Guide to Recruiting Your Next CEO: The Executive Search Handbook for Nonprofit Boards and his search services include his signature interview matrices and evaluation tools, as well as TalassureMX leadership assessments. Through this affiliation with Dennis and his executive recruitment team, together we can address your leadership succession and executive recruitment needs. If you would like to discuss your organization’s leadership transition needs now or in planning for the future, let’s connect!
Have you ever attended a retreat or strategy session and left feeling empowered and inspired? Charting a course for the future of an organization can and should be informative, engaging, and inspirational. Honored to facilitate the strategic planning retreat this past weekend with the amazing Board and staff team of Kentucky to the World, led by visionary founder Shelly Zegart. This organization enhances Kentucky’s image by showcasing the talent, ingenuity, and excellence of people with strong Kentucky ties. Exciting times ahead!
If George Washington had been a nonprofit leader, what type of leader would he have been? This may seem like an odd question, but it is precisely the question that was running through my head as I recently listened to the podcast “Presidential,” produced by the Washington Post. In the episode focused on President Washington, the podcast host and her guests discussed the leadership and legacy of the nation’s first President. I was struck by the similarity of many of the themes discussed to nonprofit leadership. With President’s Day around the corner, I thought I’d highlight a few of these themes.
Flexible Leadership
Washington, who had so famously served as the Commander of the Continental Army, found himself facing a very different leadership challenge as the first President of the United States. The circumstances of the moment and the challenge required different leadership skills -- skills of listening, persuading, and even consoling. Like Washington, highly effective nonprofit leaders demonstrate situational awareness, and flex their leadership style to match the needs of the moment, while remaining true to their core values.
“What is the next stage of good?”
Having led the country through the Revolutionary War period, Washington understood that developing a compelling vision for the new United States was vital. A question he reportedly asked frequently was “What is the next stage of good?” I love this question! I hear nonprofit leaders discussing variations of this question with their Board and staff team at each retreat I facilitate and certainly during every strategic planning process. All good plans proceed from a group’s collective embracing of the “next stage of good” for the organization.
Authentic self awareness
When we envision President Washington, the image that frequently comes to mind is the face on Mount Rushmore. Commanding, determined, and confident. In reality, Washington frequently experienced self-doubt. He was uniquely comfortable speaking about these doubts publicly as he firmly believed people would see this as a strength of his character, not a weakness or flaw. Having served as a nonprofit executive and now in coaching nonprofit leaders, I know how common these doubts are, and how valuable authentic self awareness can be.
Know when to walk away.
For all that George Washington accomplished, perhaps his signature achievement was stepping away from the Presidency at the conclusion of his second term. Had Washington desired, he could have sought a third term and perhaps won. However, he recognized the symbolic and tangible importance of not establishing a monarchy, of walking away in service to a greater good. Similarly, the wise nonprofit leader recognizes the importance of a succession and transition plan, regardless of the stage of their career.
George Washington was certainly not a perfect leader, none of us are. However, he demonstrated many of the same skills and competencies I see reflected so frequently in nonprofit leaders. So, as we celebrate President’s Day next month, don’t be afraid to pause and be kind to yourself with a pat on the back for the leadership you provide to our communities each day!
