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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Nonprofit Retirement: Calculating retirement Needs & Exploring Choices
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Ask Rita: Zero Cell Phone Use While Driving Policy
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A Family and Medical Leave Act Checklist
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Ask Rita: Can an Employee Come and Go Using Family or Medical Leave?
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Is It Time for an Audit?
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Gas Rates, Volunteers, and Justice
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Should the Board Hold Executive Sessions?
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More Than the Olympics: Sports, Nonprofits & Community
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Boards of All-Volunteer Organizations
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Three-Step Immigration (IRCA) Compliance for Employers
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Obama: the Nonprofit Sector’s Favorite Son?
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Overtime Pay for Nonprofit Preschool Teacher?
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The Best Way to Raise Money? Choose a Revenue Strategy
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What Should Nonprofit Boards Know About Insurance Brokers?
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In Search of Unicorns: Finding & Hiring Outside Grantwriters Part 2
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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?
How to remove a board member that consistently disrupts meetings or is otherwise destructive and demoralizing.
Nonprofit leaders share the biggest challenges they face finding quality volunteers and staff with the Blue Avocado community.
With proper planning, attention, and openness to change, an interim ED can overcome challenges that can derail a nonprofit’s best-laid plans.
Checks and balances can be difficult when your nonprofit isn’t big. Discover five internal controls for the very small nonprofit.
Nonprofit leaders and Blue Avocado readers answer the question, “What is the secret to successful grant writing?”
With some creative thinking, a nonprofit’s board member was able to forge a nonprofit partnership that advanced two causes that she cared deeply about.
A guide to effectively manage volunteers, from recruiting to appreciation. Keep volunteers engaged and your organization thriving.
As the planet faces a climate crisis, inequality emerges as a new threat coming to face the nonprofit sector.
Nonprofit leaders answer the question, “What are the key qualities and skills you look for in potential board members?”
A nonprofit strategic planning process that includes human factors that improves the chances of successfully implementing the plan.
Here is a wonderful, succinct guide that provides help for the 600,000 + treasurers of all-volunteer organizations (AVOs).
Fundraising Fuels Your Nonprofit’s Mission. We’ve distilled the best practices and innovative approaches to help you secure the funding you need.
Nonprofit leaders share their most successful fundraising strategies with other nonprofits.
Insider newsletters give your board members upbeat news in quick, regular bites — so your work will stay present to them between meetings.
Accounting Procedures Manual Template in Word. Download the Word document, and everything you need to fill in is in red.
What you need to know to meet your foundation’s tax requirements and the 990-PF.
Nonprofit leaders share examples to answer the question: How does your nonprofit measure success? Strong staff, data, satisfaction, and more.
Good communication about common objectives can prevent dissatisfaction and go a long way toward preventing board member resignations.
Donor challenges in giving money? Consider the donor’s point of view. Create a productive pathway from initial interest to the donation.
Nonprofit leaders reveal the biggest mistakes that new nonprofits make: Finding identity, losing focus, board issues, and more.
An executive director shares the story of a nonprofit’s first five years, and her process of building sustainable nonprofit collaborations.
Effective donor engagement strategies: Consider and articulate how supporting the mission benefits your donors too.
Developing and sustaining a motivated, productive, and highly engaged workforce means your employees must be measured on how they demonstrate the organization’s values.
Nonprofit leaders and Blue Avocado readers answer: “What is one tool or strategy you wish your nonprofit had implemented sooner?”