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

a man holding a megaphone and a bouquet of conversation bubbles

Marketing and Communications

8 Easy Ways to Grab More Attention for Your Small Nonprofit

ByJack Soares May 14, 2024 Marketing and Communications

Getting what your nonprofit needs — funding, staff, and more — means showing how working with you can be a win-win.

a woman working on a laptop and talking on the phone on a sofa next to a boy looking at a tablet

HR and Employment Issues

Supporting Caregiver Employees in the Nonprofit Sector

ByMichelle K. Wolf May 7, 2024 HR and Employment Issues

With more workers than ever doubling as caregivers, nonprofits must find new, caring ways to support them in the workplace.

hands reaching in holding words who, what, when, where, why, how

Leadership and Management

How Curiosity and Creativity Can Foster Self-Aware Nonprofit Leaders

ByBeth Miller April 23, 2024 Leadership and Management

Tap into curiosity and creativity in nonprofit leadership and enhance your ability to be a clear and confident leader.

Finance

Nonprofit Grant Proposal Budget Calculations: A Road Map

ByMary Diegert April 16, 2024 Finance

Nonprofit grant proposal budgeting tips: Five common challenges and strategies for calculating grant proposal numbers.

a man holding his hands over a paper cutout of people

HR and Employment Issues

Increase Safety for Your Nonprofit’s Team

ByShannon Rose April 9, 2024 HR and Employment Issues

Take action to protect nonprofit employee safety and contribute to a community of acceptance and support where violence is not tolerated.

two people with a laptop and financial symbols

Finance

Your Nonprofit’s Budget: A Window to Finding Your Priorities

ByDr. Timothy J. Powers April 3, 2024 Finance

By careful examination of your nonprofit’s budget, you can gain insights into your organization’s true priorities.

a person sitting at a table with a laptop with hands clasped above their head.

Leadership and Management

How can nonprofit leaders avoid burnout?

BySteve McCoy-Thompson March 26, 2024 Leadership and Management

Leading a nonprofit can be an isolating and exhausting experience, so preventing burnout is key to an organization’s long-term success.

illustration of diverse group of people of color

Environmental, Social, & Governance (ESG)

Using Philanthropy to Address Racial Harm and Inequity

ByEd Braxton March 19, 2024 Environmental, Social, & Governance (ESG)

Learn how the United Way of Greater Los Angeles (UWGLA) is using racial justice to inform their grantmaking efforts, and how other philanthropic organizations can help work to undo the legacies of harm inflicted upon communities of color.

illustration of two people on a scale opposite a pile of coins

Fundraising

Nonprofit Fundraising: Are You Choosing the Right Grants?

ByCarolyn Owen March 12, 2024 Fundraising

Grants are an important source of funds for nonprofits, but some may come with strings attached that can create more headaches than positives for your organization. A strategic approach can help you be sure you’re applying for the grants that best meet your needs.

Leadership and Management

Preparing Your Nonprofit to Move Beyond the Founder

ByDevon Kearney March 5, 2024 Leadership and Management

Sometimes, the continued growth and success of a nonprofit means the founder must recognize when the time is right to step aside and trust others to guide the organization and its mission.

a man looking at a sign with future, present, past on it

Community and Culture

Can Nonprofits Look to the Past to Build the Future?

ByDon Nahhas February 20, 2024 Community and Culture

Nonprofits may be surprised to find that their communities have already implemented the kind of innovative, collaborative programming that their leadership — and funders — are looking for.

an illustration of a light bulb with a man popping out of it looking through binoculars

Community and Culture

How Lessons Learned From Fighting Food Insecurity Can Help Your Nonprofit

ByNatalie Flores February 13, 2024 Community and Culture

Simple acts can have a big impact on the community. Learn how one nonprofit discovered the tools to fight systemic issues were at their disposal all along — they just needed to learn how to use them.

a group of business professionals talk around a meeting table

Board Management

Five Lessons for Creating an Effective (and Accountable) Nonprofit Board

ByRichie Geisel February 6, 2024 Board Management

Help your board members avoid dysfunction and clearly understand their roles in supporting your nonprofit’s success.

illustration of people adding large coins to a pile of growing coins

Finance

Grant Management Series: Involving Your CFO throughout the Grant Application Process

ByMary Diegert January 30, 2024 Finance

Learn how your CFO can contribute to a successful grant application — and the administrative processes that follow.

business professionals talking around a table

Leadership and Management

Empowering Community Voices: The Strategic Advantage of Nonprofit Advisory Committees

ByShannon Rose January 23, 2024 Leadership and Management

An inclusive and engaged advisory committee has the potential to increase the quality, reach, and overall impact of your nonprofit’s work on a consistent basis.

a sad woman looking at a box of office belongings while coworkers look on

HR and Employment Issues

Ask Rita in HR: Should Murphy’s Law Be a Consideration in Making HR Decisions?

ByMike Bishop January 16, 2024 HR and Employment Issues

Some factors to keep in mind when you’re planning to discipline or terminate a nonprofit employee.

illustration of an organizational chart with people and the world at the center

Board Management

A Cautionary Tale: Overcoming Governance Nightmares in Nonprofit Organizations

ByAnonymous January 9, 2024 Board Management

Adopting solid organizational policies can help your nonprofit set expectations and avoid a laundry list of problems.

illustration of a diverse group of people

Community and Culture

The Big Chill: Why Nonprofits Should Care about Affirmative Action

ByJohnisha Levi January 2, 2024 Community and Culture

Exploring how nonprofits can remain committed to supporting the health, economic security, and well-being of historically marginalized communities — even after the end of affirmative action.

an illustration of a chalkboard with a hand holding chalk and some business words and symbols

Leadership and Management

Vision Before Strategy: A Nonprofit’s Guide to Defining Success

ByMarion Reinson December 26, 2023 Leadership and Management

Defining the desired outcome and what constitutes success in measurable terms helps stakeholders align their actions and priorities, ensuring that every effort is geared toward achieving this shared vision.

man with a bow standing in front of a target with a bunch of arrows that missed it

Environmental, Social, & Governance (ESG)

Beyond the Hype: Why ESG Frameworks Miss the Mark for Small Nonprofits

ByGreg Gerritt December 18, 2023 Environmental, Social, & Governance (ESG)

When we take a closer look at what Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks actually entail, it is often not worth the time and resources for most small nonprofits to go through such a process.

illustration of young professionals in a modern work environment

Leadership and Management

Charting a New Course for Youth Engagement

ByGail Rothman December 12, 2023 Leadership and Management

A blueprint for how using strategic inquiry can help your nonprofit better understand your community’s needs and provide key insights with the potential to help you innovate and better serve those who count on you.

a person standing outdoors looking at a sunset

Leadership and Management

Is Your Nonprofit’s Mission Obsolete — Or Just Ready for a New Direction?

ByMike Shaver December 4, 2023 Leadership and Management

Measuring the dual bottom lines of sustainability and impact can help you determine if the time has come for your nonprofit to conclude your mission — or pivot to a new one.