Do your values align with the culture and practices of your organization? Sharing a few thoughts today on developing core values to guide your team and embedding them in the culture and practices of the organization.
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!
The growth of giving circles represents an important trend to watch in philanthropy. I pay particular attention to their ability to bring diverse perspectives into the philanthropic arena.
As noted in the Inside Philanthropy article linked below, "A 2016 study stated the number of these circles had tripled since 2007, reaching about 1,500. It was estimated that the circles identified in the research had granted up to $1.29 billion."
Giving circles come in many shapes and sizes. However, in general they focus more frequently on grassroots issues and local organizations that are easier for their members to connect with directly. Getting to know the giving circles that exist in your community and their members can be an effective way to build relationships with emerging philanthropic leaders. Here are a few tips to engage with giving circles:
Speak with your local community foundation or other convener of philanthropists to learn about any giving circles that exist in your community.
Reach out to the leaders of your local giving circles and invite them to speak with you. Take the opportunity to learn about the uniqueness of their giving circle and its members.
Ask about any opportunities that exist to present information about your nonprofit to the giving circle or opportunities to invite members for a tour of your organization if appropriate
If your Board or staff team is interested in learning more about trends in philanthropy, including giving circles, let’s connect!
The ability to build an effective and cohesive Board/staff partnership is frequently the most significant predictor of success or struggle for an organization. This includes everything from how you define the expectations of the Board, the support you will provide them, and the manner in which you will recruit, orient, and evaluate them.
One question I am frequently asked is, “Should our nonprofit CEO also be a member of the Board?” On the one hand, this question recognizes the critical role of the CEO/Board partnership and the need for the CEO’s voice to be heard and valued in Board discussions. On the other hand, my encouragement is to think very carefully about the different roles of Board vs. staff in evaluating this question. Boards govern strategically and at a high level, while CEOs and Directors operationalize plans and lead the day-to-day functions of the organization. Mixing those two can present boundary challenges down the road. Additionally, the Board is charged with evaluating the CEO, which can be tricky if he or she is a member of the Board. My typical recommendation is to keep CEOs off the governing Board, or if you choose to offer them a seat, consider an ex officio role. For more on this important topic, BoardSource recently published a blog that I thought was quite good and you can find it HERE.
“Greg delivers his content with terrific clarity and ease, while providing sophisticated ideas and concepts. I left confident and excited.”
Gregory Nielsen is a sought after speaker committed to helping leaders and organizations translate vision into reality. Whether you are looking for a keynote speaker for your event or a conference session presenter, Gregory will inform, engage, and inspire your attendees. Click the button below to learn more and request information about Greg speaking at your event.
Developing a Board team that is engaged and effective in their fundraising role requires expectations, support/training, and accountability. Some excellent tips to help in developing your Board's fundraising effectiveness in this free e-book from Rachel Muir and Bloomerang.
Highly effective nonprofit Boards embrace strategic conversations around critical issues relevant to the mission of the organization. They recognize that the limited time the Board spends together as a team is valuable, and devote that time to discussion rather than simply a recitation of reports.
What has the attention of nonprofit Boards these days? Here are just a few critical issues that highly effective nonprofit Boards are discussing as a team:
Bloomerang recently released the 2018-2019 State of the Nonprofit Workplace Report. Among the key findings:
Salary was among the top 5 most important employee benefits, but employees ranked paid time off and paid family leave even higher.
Approximately 30% of respondents report working multiple jobs to make ends meet
Women earned less in salary than men across all categories, including based on years of experience and organization size
About 35% of nonprofit employees predicted they wouldn’t be working at their current organization 2 years from now.
According to a recent survey from Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), 25% of fundraisers report confronting ethical dilemmas at least 6 times per year.
"From a list of common ethical challenges, respondents also identified ethical issues on which they need more guidance and resources. Donor control and restrictions on how gifts can be used was identified by almost half (48%) of respondents as a critical issue, followed by conflicts of interest (41%) and “tainted” money from donors (40%)."
The National Philanthropic Trust released their annual Donor Advised Funds Report. Key findings include:
The number of Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) grew 55.2% in the past year. The actual number of DAFs in the United States is now 728,563. This total should surpass one million in 2020.
Grants made from DAFs increased 18.9%, making them philanthropy's fastest growing vehicle.
Imagine the dynamic conversations your Board could be having as they grapple with these or the countless other issues critical to translating your vision into reality. If your Board is ready to take the first step towards towards elevating its effectiveness or bringing these discussions to your Board room, let's connect!
Multi-generational philanthropy can pass down values, life lessons, and stories that inspire donors to give. Arlene Cogen Consulting, author of the Amazon #1 Bestseller, "Give to Live: Make a Charitable Gift You Never Imagined," shares tips to engage your donors and their professional advisors in attaining their philanthropic goals.
Thankful this week and every week for the partnership of our nonprofit clients, whose work inspires us and transforms communities around the country. Thank you for all you do. Enjoy our new video below!
A flourishing community is one in which nonprofits, philanthropic foundations, and corporations thoughtfully and authentically partner in service of a compelling vision. Honored to develop the curriculum and facilitate the Next Gen Board Leadership Academy this week in partnership with Welborn Baptist Foundation. It was so inspiring to see this cohort of talented and passionate community leaders inspire a vision of a flourishing community, equip themselves to be effective Board leaders, and engage with nonprofit service.
Honored to speak yesterday on Nonprofit Leadership and my leadership journey at University of Cincinnati. Thank you Dr. Megan Church Nally for the invitation!
If your group, organization, or conference is looking for a speaker, let’s connect!
The team at Bloomerang recently surveyed around 1,000 nonprofit employees to learn more about workplace culture, salary, benefits, and future plans. Among the key findings:
Salary was among the top 5 most important employee benefits, but employees ranked paid time off and paid family leave even higher.
Flexible work schedule ranked as the most important workplace quality
Approximately 30% of respondents report working multiple jobs to make ends meet
Women earned less in salary than men across all categories, including based on years of experience and organization size
About 35% of nonprofit employees predicted they wouldn’t be working at their current organization 2 years from now.
Do these findings match your experience? How is your nonprofit addressing?
Thank you to all who have bravely served and sacrificed. May we honor their service through the actions we take to build a more free and just country.
A Board retreat offers members an opportunity to elevate their gaze, evaluate their strategy, and plan courageously for the future. Honored to spend today facilitating a retreat for the talented and committed Board members of CASA of Lexington. Their vision is a community where every child lives and thrives in a safe, caring and permanent home. They are getting there one child at a time!
Nonprofits excel when Board and staff leaders regularly exchange ideas and information consistent with their roles. After facilitating a staff retreat for SeniorCare Experts a few weeks ago, I was honored to facilitate a Board retreat for the leaders of this amazing organization this weekend. So impressed by the vision of this outstanding group and excited for the future they are creating together to enable seniors to live healthy, comfortable and fulfilling lives at home.
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. These contributions may include cash, stock, real estate, or other assets. While DAFs were first created in the 1930s, they began to gain popularity in the 1990s and today are philanthropy’s fastest growing vehicle, accounting for 3% of all giving. Enjoyed leading a webinar yesterday for Goodwill Industries International — Demystifying Donor Advised Funds — in which I discuss donor advised funds, how they differ from private foundations, tips for engagement, critiques and potential reforms.
Highly effective nonprofits embrace discussions about ethical leadership with Board and staff members. According to a recent survey from Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), 25% of fundraisers report confronting ethical dilemmas at least 6 times per year.
"From a list of common ethical challenges, respondents also identified ethical issues on which they need more guidance and resources. Donor control and restrictions on how gifts can be used was identified by almost half (48 percent) of respondents as a critical issue, followed by conflicts of interest (41 percent) and “tainted” money from donors (40 percent)."
If your team would like more information or training on navigating ethical challenges in fundraising, please reach out and let's work together to craft a solution that provides your team with the tools and resources needed to excel.
Evergreen Life Services changes lives for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Honored to be in Dallas this week facilitating a Board and staff retreat for this amazing team!
The leaders of SeniorCare Experts are continually refining and reimagining strategies to enable seniors to live healthy, comfortable and fulfilling lives at home. Honored to facilitate their staff retreat and inspired by their commitment to the mission.
Did you know that when fundraising expectations are clearly articulated during recruitment, 52% of CEOs report their boards are actively engaged in the organization’s fundraising efforts?
Enjoyed discussing this and more while leading 2 workshops in Miami this week:
From “Survivor to “Amazing Race:” Board Champions
Engaged Board, Effective Fundraising.
