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How to Be a Great Supervisor: Insights Learned from 20 Years of Managing
People are experiencing a level of stress never seen or imagined in the past. We call on employees more than ever to effectively balance their work life with increasing economic, health & safety, family, cultural, and political challenges. How can …
Can’t Raise Cash Through No VAULT of Your Own?
Do you lead a nonprofit that needs money? Do you look with envy on some other executive directors who haul dollars into their vaults in sacks or bitcoins? Maybe you’re like me—an outsider director. Outsider directors don’t know rich people who are tryi …
Demystifying the Insurance Buying Process – Live Q&A
Thursday, February 10, 2022 11 a.m. PT, 2 p.m. ET (60 minutes) What happens when a potential board member requests board coverage? Or the venue for your nonprofit’s annual fundraising dinner requires a certificate of insurance? Does the grant that your …
Ask Rita: My Employee Has Been “No Call, No Show” for Three Days—Why Isn’t This a Resignation?
Dear Rita, Our nonprofit has an employee who has been very reliable over the three years of their employment with us. Since this individual has an important role in the administrative functions of our operation, even absences planned well in advance ca …
Discussion Corner: Accounting Rules for Silent Auctions from Donated Articles?
Dear Blue Avocado, I have organized silent auctions for a nonprofit senior center for years. Donors used to drop off an item and receive a receipt from the center. The donor listed the donation and the value on this receipt, which they us …
Letter from the Editor: Blue Avocado Interviews
Dear reader: For a humble period of time, I’ve interacted with nonprofit executive directors, board members, and staff to share with nonprofits the practical wisdom acquired through working in the sector. Long-time subscribers migh …
The Worst Way to Share an Idea is to Say, “I Have an Idea.”
How nonprofit employees can help ideas be heard and embraced Bryan has an idea for something he thinks might help his nonprofit. His supervisor, Wanda, already has a lot on her plate at the moment. When Bryan says, “Here’s my idea,” it feels lik …
How Nonprofits Can Return to In-Person Board Meetings and Retreats as the Covid-19 Pandemic Winds Down
It’s Spring 2021 and your board retreat approaches. Half of your board members—and all of those over 65 or with chronic health conditions—have received a Covid-19 vaccine. In this near future, perhaps new Covid-19 cases have dropped below 60,000 …
