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What to Do with Board Members Who Don’t Do Anything
In this Board Cafe column, we look at short-term and long-term strategies for the board members known as deadwood or worse: “He never comes to meetings or does anything. Why does he even stay on the board?” “She always says she’l …
Switching Careers at the Worst Possible Time
Edie Boatman left a for-profit career for fundraising just as the economy crashed. With irony and humor her First Person Nonprofit essay reflects on her sense of timing and what she’s learned so far. August of 2008: Just one month before th …
Focus on the Destination, Not the Route (Budget)!
It’s time to stop looking at budgets, argues Jeanne Bell in this provocative finance column, and pay attention instead to projections and financial goals: In this precarious era, annual budgets have become like new cars: they los …
Critical Path for the Board
What is the board supposed to be discussing, anyway? What is the board supposed to be doing, anyway? Rather than suggesting a strategic plan or a conventional list of discussion topics, in this issue we offer a powerful approach to determin …
Boards Should Only Have Three Committees!
Boards tend to be frustrated with their committees, but often don't know what to do about them. Use this article from consultant David La Piana to kick off a common-sense discussion and make the changes you know you should be making!Most nonprofit …
Survival Strategies for the Arts
John Killacky, artist and arts funder, not only knows that we need the arts now more than ever, but gives us ten survival strategies for arts organizations and one for audience members — and reminds us that all of us are audience members. The a …
Fundraising Confessions of a Former Camp Fire Girl
Carrie Avery is both a foundation president and a volunteer fundraiser. In this First Person Nonprofit article she looks at fundraising from both angles: Growing up in Southern California, I loved being a Camp Fire Girl: the beac …
Finance Fear Factor Ratios
At even the most solid nonprofit organizations some board members and executive directors are beginning to wonder and worry, "Are we okay? Should we be worried?" Watching the traditional indicators of financial health — like performance-to-b …
Tracking Volunteer Time to Boost Your Bottom Line: A Complete Accounting Guide
This article was updated on November 3, 2011. Tracking volunteer time: sounds like another chore? Actually it can help you meet match requirements, improve your financial statement presentations, and reduce liability. In this article, CPA De …
A Devil’s Advocate on the Board?
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if boards could foresee the obstacles ahead – in time to make the right decisions?Absent a few sprinkles of fairy dust, using the devil’s advocate technique might assist you in identifying such obstacles. A devil’s advocate ( …
