Creating Our Future with Organizations by Design

  “I will prioritize my physical and mental health  as I work to build a better world.” This statement is more than a mantra—it’s a vital reminder for every change maker who feels the weight of the world on their shoulders. We step into this work driven by a deep desire to create justice, equity, and opportunity for all. But often, in the rush to transform the world around us, we neglect the world within us. The truth is simple but often overlooked:  you cannot pour from an empty cup.  When your mind is clouded by exhaustion, your body drained of energy, and your spirit dimmed by neglect, your ability to create change is diminished. The best work comes from the best version of yourself, and that requires nurturing the very vessel through which your impact flows—you. Why Prioritizing Yourself Isn’t Selfish In the nonprofit and activist worlds, there’s a pervasive culture of martyrdom. Sacrificing sleep, skipping meals, and burning the midnight oil are often seen as ba...

  Are you focusing on your smaller donors? The rate of giving grew by double digits among donors gifting <$250. Those gifts add up and deserve your attention and thanks as much, if not more, than "major" donors' gifts. Ten years ago, in a piece I penned for Huff Post , I argued that "people with little or zero disposable income are still stereotyped as receivers of services-not supporters, donors or contributors. With a few notable exceptions, many organizations dole out the “major” label for an elite minority of their donors. It is time for us to rethink how we look at generosity, and how we engage with small donors." Fundraising Effectiveness' latest study demonstrates again that nonprofits gain when we see that the collective giving across lines of class can have a sizable impact when pooled together for change.  As I said in 2011, "Indeed, there’s no small change when we’re changing the world, together." Barbara Organizations by Design Full ...

An Interim Executive Director's most important job is to prepare an organization to work with the incoming permanent CEO/ED. A good interim executive deals with the day-today affairs of the organization, while at the same time building the platform for the permanent successor. Unlike an Acting Director, an Interim is a professional external to the organization, will not be a candidate for the permanent position, and does more than hold the organization in place. When an organization's Executive Director resigns, the board's first impulse is to find a replacement as quickly as possible. But that’s not always the wisest course of action. Interim Executive Directors keep an organization going when an executive leader leaves. Each organization is unique. They need someone at the helm who understands and is passionate about the mission, can navigate the many constraints on services; can relate to all the different personalities involved, and can do it all within the organization...