Recent Posts

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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.

Latest Articles

Closing Down the Right Way

Blue Avocado shares steps for how a nonprofit organization can shut down its operations and ride into the sunset gracefully.

Nonprofit Retirement Part 2: How and Where to Save

Exploring different ways nonprofit employees can plan and save for retirement — and which ways are better suited than others.

Thinking the Unthinkable: Maybe We Should Shut Down

For nonprofits, it’s hard not to think that closing down is the ultimate disaster. But sometimes a lack of money or energy forces the issue.

Community Nonprofits: Katrina’s Unsung Heroes Still on the Job

After Hurricane Katrina, Mississippi community nonprofits used the region’s recovery as a stepping stone to lasting social change.

Nonprofit Retirement: Calculating retirement Needs & Exploring Choices

Part one in this three-part series on nonprofit retirement looks at calculating retirement needs and using that information to explore choices

Ask Rita: Zero Cell Phone Use While Driving Policy

Ask Rita provides policies nonprofit organizations should consider when adding a policy forbidding cell phone use while driving.

A Family and Medical Leave Act Checklist

A quick checklist for Family and Medical Leave Act requests as a way of making sure you’ve remembered all the key points.

Ask Rita: Can an Employee Come and Go Using Family or Medical Leave?

Ask Rita explores whether or not a nonprofit organization’s employee can come and go using Family or Medical Leave?

Gas Rates, Volunteers, and Justice

Many people don’t realize that on their personal tax returns volunteers can deduct mileage expenses incurred as part of volunteering.

Is It Time for an Audit?

Is an audit worth the expense for a nonprofit’s board of directors in these tough economic times?

Should the Board Hold Executive Sessions?

Executive sessions can help nonprofits have frank discussions about staff performance, and help the board develop a sense of itself.

More Than the Olympics: Sports, Nonprofits & Community

Don’t forget how nonprofits have helped create America’s awe-inspiring performers and communities at the Olympics.

Boards of All-Volunteer Organizations

All-volunteer organizations (AVOs) are a major social and economic force, but are seldom given credit for their work.

Three-Step Immigration (IRCA) Compliance for Employers

The best protection for employers seeking to comply with immigration laws is to keep accurate records showing your efforts at compliance.

Obama: the Nonprofit Sector’s Favorite Son?

Barack Obama began his career as an organizer and antipoverty advocate for a nonprofit. Michelle is a former nonprofit executive director.

Overtime Pay for Nonprofit Preschool Teacher?

Some employers think that paying an employee a salary or designating an employee a “teacher” exempts that employee from the overtime rules.

The Best Way to Raise Money? Choose a Revenue Strategy

What’s the best way to raise money for a nonprofit? Start by figuring out who are the best potential supporters of our work and why.

What Should Nonprofit Boards Know About Insurance Brokers?

With nonprofit insurance, a key part to getting the lowest costs and the best coverage is getting the right insurance broker.

In Search of Unicorns: Finding & Hiring Outside Grantwriters Part 2

How to find grantwriters, select them, how much to pay them and what kinds of payment arrangements to choose.

Unicorns Found: Meet Two Grantwriters

Grantwriters are elusive, seldom-seen miraculous creatures, possibly mythical. Here you have a chance to meet two of them.

The Unrecognized Value of Community Nonprofits, Hiring Grantwriters, Extended Warranties, MTV

There is a difference between community nonprofits on one hand, and universities and hospitals on the other, and it isn’t just size.

Word on the Street from the Council on Foundations Conference

A long-time grant seeker and nonprofit staff person offers his impressions of a Council on Foundations conference.

In Search of Unicorns: Finding & Hiring Grantwriters, Part 1

Almost everyone in community nonprofits thinks it would be great to have a grantwriter. It’s rare to find and work with this rare creature. Why?