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Funding Innovation: Top Tips
In the business world, innovation is seen as part of everyday business—it’s necessary for a company’s survival to stay ahead of the curve. In the social sector, innovation is just as important since nonprofits solve complex social problems, yet getting …
How We Built a Nonprofit from Our College Bedroom and What We Wish We Knew
A couple years ago during our sophomore year of college, we were sitting in our tiny bunk beds discussing the profound lack of access to educational tools for young, sick children after witnessing it all summer long in a pediatric clinic. We decided to …
The Best Way To Put Clients First Is To Let Them Lead!
Those of us who work at nonprofits are drawn to a particular mission and a desire to do good and give back. Most of us have navigated our careers thoughtfully and intentionally and have worked hard (perhaps even tirelessly). Yet often, despite our good …
You Can’t Fire Me, I’m a Volunteer!
If you’ve worked in volunteer management for any length of time, you’ve probably heard some version of this fear-inducing refrain. Your first encounter with it may be as a direct threat, a mild joke, or overheard when the volunteer speaking doesn’t kno …
Empowering Next Generation Leaders through Crowdfunding
Just about all nonprofits struggle with fundraising, and nowadays many are also concerned with enlisting the support and engagement of the next generation of donors: millennials. Well, what if I told you that you can solve both these challenges simulta …
Nonprofit Leadership Tips from the Basketball Court
As a former all-American and professional basketball player turned nonprofit leader, I see tons of similarities between life on the court and as an executive director of a small nonprofit. Everything I learned playing the game comes in surprisingly han …
Ask Rita: Employees Who Cross Jurisdictions: Which Law Applies?
Dear Rita: Our Northern California nonprofit provides job coaches to clients in the community. Our job coaches work in different cities during the course of a week and potentially in the same day. I know some of these cities have their own minimum wage …
Volunteer Management: How to Get it Right
How essential are volunteers to achieving your nonprofit’s mission? In our recent study, we learned that the lack of understanding about the essential nature of volunteers and the staff who lead them (called Volunteer Engagement Professionals–VEPs) un …
Succeeding When You’re Small: Lessons Learned from DonorsChoose.org
Although the Blue Avocado audience consists of community-based organizations, we can still learn from the experience of those who started a nonprofit out of their basement and grew to be nationally recognized leaders in the field. DonorsChoose.org is o …
What Millennials Really Want: Professional Development
I’m not sure about you, but professional development (PD) at my last job consisted of little more than a few forgettable webinars and a yearly training that supported my work, but not my career. While my work was challenging and fulfilling, there were …
