Top Recent Nonprofit Articles

Navigating the nonprofit world can be challenging. Blue Avocado offers expert guidance on a range of topics — from building strong boards to maximizing your fundraising impact. Explore our latest posts for practical tips, strategies, and solutions to common issues facing nonprofit organizations today.

Recent Nonprofit Articles

Against the Current

Against the Current: Mando Rayo

ByMando Rayo and Robert Egger April 21, 2020 Against the Current

Interview with Mando Rayo, discussing how truly serving communities requires representation on boards of directors.

Community and Culture,Marketing and Communications

Make the Move! Tips for Migrating Your In-Person Event Online

BySusan Tomlinson Schmidt, CNP April 21, 2020 Community and Culture,Marketing and Communications

Suddenly finding you need to transition to virtual events? Learn practical tips, resources, and best practices to make your event a success.

Woman stands at table with other people around it

HR and Employment Issues

Ask Rita: Interns Who Lose Their Academic Connections with Your Nonprofit—Are They Really Interns?

ByMike Bishop April 21, 2020 HR and Employment Issues

Minimize your nonprofit’s risk of violating employment law by being clear about what to do with interns who no longer have academic affiliation.

Fundraising

4 Tips for Sustaining and Managing Donors

ByLeigh Kessler March 10, 2020 Fundraising

Sustaining and managing donors is vital for better donor retention and improved fundraising ROI.

Muted Paisly pattern background with "Ask Rita" text in middle

HR and Employment Issues

Ask Rita: How Do We Stop Bullying Behavior?

ByMike Bishop March 10, 2020 HR and Employment Issues

Has your workplace become infected by bullying behavior? Here’s how to stop it and restore a culture of professionalism in your nonprofit.

Pen rests on top of a bar graph on a piece of paper

Finance,Fundraising

Donor-Centric Budgeting & Reporting: Top 6 Tips

ByJoyce MacDonald March 10, 2020 Finance,Fundraising

How can you better engage major donors? Learn how to repackage your budgeting and reporting to speak to what matters to your big supporters.

Where words Improve, Develop, Training, Motivate, Coaching, and Inspire intersect, the word mentor is circled.

Leadership and Management

The Pitfalls of Running a Mentoring Program

ByIan Fisk March 10, 2020 Leadership and Management

Thinking of starting a mentoring program in your nonprofit? Avoid these pitfalls so you can build a successful capacity building program.

HR and Employment Issues

Developing a Successful Intern Program

ByAudrey Del Prete March 10, 2020 HR and Employment Issues

Could your nonprofit benefit from hiring interns? Find out the plusses and pitfalls of an intern program & take our Blue Avocado quiz to see if you’re ready.

Illustration of multicolored outlines of people having conversations

Marketing and Communications

Moving Beyond Awareness

ByDerrick Feldmann March 10, 2020 Marketing and Communications

How do you become part of young American’s moments? Leverage these four ideas to increase awareness of your issue among millennials!

Leadership and Management

Embracing Unlikely Allies: Sleeping with the Enemy

ByLeah Garcés March 10, 2020 Leadership and Management

Need to negotiate with “enemies” to create change? Use these five negotiation tactics to create win-win and turn enemies into allies.

Fundraising

Is Your Fundraising in Compliance with State Laws?

ByBlue Avocado February 19, 2020 Fundraising

What are registration and disclosure requirements for nonprofit fundraising compliance? Leverage compliance for fundraising growth.

Finance

No Budget, No Mission: A Guide to Basic Nonprofit Budgeting

BySuja Amir February 19, 2020 Finance

How can nonprofit budgeting help nonprofits maximize the impact of their mission? Learn how to budget with a basic budget template.

Microphone against painted background, text reads Against the Current

Against the Current,Leadership and Management

Against the Current: Rachel Sumekh

ByRachel Sumekh and Robert Egger February 19, 2020 Against the Current,Leadership and Management

How are young nonprofit leaders inspiring change? Learn about Rachel Sumekh’s work, leadership, and approach to challenges in the nonprofit sector.

Finance

The Effect of the 2018 Tax Overall on Nonprofit Donations and the Rise of DAFs

ByGayle L. Nelson, Esq. February 19, 2020 Finance

Your annual appeal has been impacted by the 2018 tax code and donor-advised funds. Learn how and rebuild revenues and funding.

A sign being held up that says Your Vote Matters

Marketing and Communications

Election Year Messages Nonprofits Can Use

ByDerrick Feldmann January 14, 2020 Marketing and Communications

How can your nonprofit encourage Gen Z to get out and vote for the issues important to you in 2020? Messaging this group responds to.

Board Management,Environmental, Social, & Governance (ESG),Leadership and Management

Time to Fold: Keys to Gracefully Winding Down a Nonprofit

ByMatthew O’Grady January 14, 2020 Board Management,Environmental, Social, & Governance (ESG),Leadership and Management

How would you know if it was time to shut down your nonprofit? These lessons learned from closing the Cancer Prevention Institute of California might help.

Community and Culture

Nonprofit Tales From the US-Mexico Border

ByJanet Rechtman January 14, 2020 Community and Culture

How do nonprofits respond to the US-Mexico border crisis? Learn the takeaways in this account of how nonprofits are stepping up.

HR and Employment Issues

Ask Rita: Are My Independent Contractors Actually Employees?

ByMike Bishop January 14, 2020 HR and Employment Issues

A new test in many states increases your nonprofit’s risk if you are misclassifying contractors as employees. Do your contractors pass the “ABC” test?

a weathered caution symbol on orange background

Finance

Are We Heading Towards Another Nonprofit Insurance Crisis?

ByNahida Nisa January 14, 2020 Finance

To prevent a repeat of history, a new proposal aims to benefit tens of thousands of small and mid-sized nonprofits across the country.

Marketing and Communications

Marketing Automation for Nonprofits and Churches

ByKingsley Allen January 14, 2020 Marketing and Communications

Churches have successfully used updated, technology-enabled strategies to reach out to members; nonprofits can do the same with these helpful tips!

Environmental, Social, & Governance (ESG),Finance,Leadership and Management

Why Earned Income Isn’t All It’s Cracked Up To Be

ByTifany Boyles January 14, 2020 Environmental, Social, & Governance (ESG),Finance,Leadership and Management

Is your nonprofit chasing the shiny object of earned income instead of social impact? How to tell if social enterprise is right for you.

a man getting a bucket of water dumped on his head

Fundraising,Marketing and Communications

3 Tips & Tools for Better Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

ByAdam Weinger November 11, 2019 Fundraising,Marketing and Communications

Peer-to-peer fundraising is a collaborative effort and can be tricky to navigate. Consider these tips, and you’ll be on the way to successful P2P fundraising.