Recent Posts
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.
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Unicorns Found: Meet Two Grantwriters
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Word on the Street from the Council on Foundations Conference
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The Unrecognized Value of Community Nonprofits, Hiring Grantwriters, Extended Warranties, MTV
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In Search of Unicorns: Finding & Hiring Grantwriters, Part 1
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Nonprofit Budgets Have to Balance: False!
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Don’t Drive, Chew Gum and Use the Phone at the Same Time
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Meaningful Acts of Appreciation for Nonprofit Boards and Staff
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Nonprofits and the Media
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Pay Off My Student Loan or Pay Into a 401K?
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Why is it called Blue Avocado?
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Abolish Board Committees?
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Reasons to Have (& Not to Have) an Attorney on a Nonprofit Board
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Can We Require An Employee To Take Her Meds?
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Promises, Promises: Rural Advocates vs. Big Philanthropy
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Five Ways to Let Government Money Run You Over
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Good Management vs. Good Leadership
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What Do I Say to a Donor or Funder?
No executive director has all gifts, and many are brilliant. But what about the nonprofit CEO who is terrific in some ways but whose strengths are matched with some troubling flaws as well?
Nonprofits employees work a lot and often neglect their health. Humorist Vu Le describes yoga poses designed specifically for nonprofits.
Blue Avocado asked for potential interviewees who had followed a founder or a long-time executive. We didn’t expect 58 people to respond.
Blue Avocado contributor and CPA Dennis Walsh provides a handy compliance guide, and five sample forms to make sure your wording is right.
Planned giving professional Greg Lassonde gives us step-by-step instructions for soliciting bequests and planned gifts.
Too often, the focus on nonprofit executive transitions is about the departing executive. Here’s one such story.
There is a lot of buzz around “impact”, “outcomes” and “evidence-based practices”, but not enough about how nonprofits can achieve them.
Transgender and intersexual matters in HR. Work with your employees to make them feel welcome at work, regardless of gender identity.
Conventional fundraising advice is far more doable for the mainstream program than the one based in a community of color.
Boards and board members don’t get credit for some important work they do without even realizing they are doing it.
Cow board members donate hours at meetings and asking others to give milk debate whether or not they should give milk themselves. Moo.
Bylaws Cheat Sheet: If a copy of the by-laws is handy, it’s tedious to have to look over all the legalese for an answer to a simple question.
Major gifts aren’t the right strategy for every organization, but we can still appreciate how this fundraiser talks about her job.
How many outcomes and logic models can fit on the head of a pin? Humor columnist Vu Le enlightens us.
Nonprofit managers should know how to support a committee of volunteers: An Advisory Committee, a Board Finance Committee, or a coalition.
When an employee’s mental health behavior is negatively impacting your workplace, what can you do?
Nonprofit board members tell their tales of woe or whoa: Funny, sad, silly or gut wrenching stories.
A survey of 906 nonprofit finance professionals reveals some surprises about these crucial-but-often-overlooked staff.
The sustainability question at nonprofits: How will you sustain this program or project when funding from the So-and-So Foundation runs out?
Is it a good idea to have insurance for volunteers? I thought volunteers had immunity in both federal and state laws.
Workplace policies that describe prohibited conduct types help manage the distinction between a spurious complaints and bullying situations.
Advice to nonprofits on managing their ratings, and commentary on the impact of the raters as a whole.
Executive directors often say that their boards need training. The most effective way to change a board is to change the people on it.
In most states, it is legal to have board meetings by telephone if everyone can hear one another at the same time.