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Crawling Out of the Psychological Depths
Most of us have had moments of despair. Marilyn Neece very generously shares her story with us: It’s hard to say this out loud. I lost my edge. I went from sharp-minded and insightful consultant to a tired and nearly burnt out executive director …
Who’s the Boss? The Board or the Executive?
There is an abundance of advice for nonprofit boards and EDs that speaks to the advantages of “partnership” and “open communications.” But sometimes that advice just doesn’t feel like enough. Who’s the boss? The board or the executive director/C …
The Very Good but Seriously Flawed Executive Director
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? It’s uncomfortable to be a board member when you have s …
Following a Founder or Long-Timer Requires a Hard Head
When Blue Avocado asked for potential interviewees who had followed a founder or a long-time executive, we didn’t expect 58 people to respond. We interviewed 18 executive directors who followed founders, and another 10 who followed long-time execs. Las …
Why is Fundraising More About Leadership Than About Skills? editor notes #93
Fundraisers never lack for advice. One board member tells you that foundations should be giving you money, while another thinks we should talk to Bill Gates. The staff thinks you should raising money from corporations. And the friend you run into at th …
Ten Things Boards Do Right (Without Even Realizing It)
No matter what goes wrong in a nonprofit, somehow the board gets blamed. If the executive director embezzled money, people say, “Where was the board?” Why don’t they say: “Executives are always at the root of the problem. Why don’t we just stop having …
Bring Unicorns Back to Our World: The Problem with Outcomes
How many outcomes and logic models can fit on the head of a pin? Humor columnist Vu Le enlightens us: The concept of “outcomes” has been well-beaten into all of us nonprofit folks. So much so, in fact, that I start to apply this concept to all s …
The Sustainability Question: Why Is It So Annoying?
This morning, I woke up early and realized I was face-to-face with my son Viet, who has been sleeping in the same bed with his mom and me. Looking at our sweet little baby, who was still sleeping peacefully, one tiny hand under his soft and rosy cheek, …
Extreme Board Makeover
Despite the complaints of executive directors that their boards “need training,” often the most effective way to change a board is to change the people who are on it. And sometimes, a board itself realizes it needs to change faster and more dramaticall …
How to Keep the Board Under Your Thumb
When nonprofit executive directors say they want their boards to be more “engaged,” they often really mean they want the board to have a lively discussion followed by a vote to agree with the executive director. If you’re a CEO and want a weak, complia …
