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?
Nonprofits often struggle to connect with the next generation of donors. An Associate Board might be the answer to keep your nonprofit moving forward.
Welcoming Change, Not Just Dollars: What Every Grant Professional Wants Nonprofit Executives to Know
Nine areas of grant writing that are critical for nonprofit executives to understand if they are going to move from a merely transactional to transformational grant writing program.
Nonprofit leaders must be proactive in identifying risks, take steps to prevent them, and be prepared with a communications plan in the event of a crisis.
Regenerative thinking is an ideal approach to reorient our perspective from ‘What’s in it for me’ to asking ‘How can we all benefit?’
Entities that do the work of meeting human needs are called nonprofit organizations, but altruistic business enterprise might fit better.
Nonprofits have been leaders in building sustainability for generations. Nonprofits can be the catalysts for the systemic change in consciousness we so desperately need by advocating for a community-benefit approach in our economic system.
Many nonprofit leaders don’t know that lobbying is 100% legal for nonprofits. Here are four steps nonprofits can take now to get smarter about lobbying: accept the importance of lobbying, get the facts, meet with officials, and join a trade association.
Planned giving scares many who work in nonprofits. We think it’s too technical and takes too much time. Here are 10 easy steps to follow to get started with creating a planned giving program at your nonprofit.
Giving collectively (collective giving) helps nonprofits address community needs by giving unrestricted (& sometimes unsolicited) grants.
Key lessons from the pandemic that can help other nonprofit leaders proactively anticipate the next big jolt.
What happens if an employee who is filling in for another employee out on FMLA turns out to be better in the position? What are our options?
Everyone wants to innovate, but few of us have the time and energy. But what if there was a way to add value despite limited resources?
Practical ideas on how to get on board with DEIB for your nonprofit and stay committed to ongoing honest assessments and effective action.
The work you do now to plan for executive succession could mean the difference between whether your organization withers or thrives later.
Nonprofits that do not deliver on the terms of a grant contract are at risk of having to return the funding. Make sure you have a plan.
Can you fund your nonprofit organization without relying on grant writing? Nonprofit funding without grants may be simpler than you think.
If you are not creating and investing in the right system, you are putting your nonprofit’s long-term sustainability at risk.
Do what works best to advance the mission statement of your nonprofit. At the end of the day, the juice has to be worth the squeeze.
Nonprofits that access capital through instruments like social impact bonds, can help fund solutions to larger social problems.
The nominating process is vital to creating a healthy and stable nonprofit. Use these tips to help you nominate engaged, strong board members for your organization.
How resource-strapped nonprofits can set themselves apart from countless other companies trying to hire from the same applicant pool.
Nonprofit organizations are givers. Reframing self-care as self-defense can help us to prioritize our people and protect our organizations.
While no two nonprofits are exactly alike, there are some best practices that all organizations should use when building their annual operating budgets.
In the day-to-day firefighting of the nonprofit world, quantitative goals can lessen the chance for misunderstandings.