Creating Our Future with Organizations by Design

I have a greater tolerance for change and risk than many of my colleagues. I'm often the among the first to try a new app or adopt a new strategy. Yet, even I tend to defer to the tried and true in communications.  But perhaps taking safe risks in nonprofit communications is about finding that balance between trying something new and ensuring it aligns with your organization's mission and values. In the world of nonprofit organizations, communication is key. It's how we engage with donors, volunteers, beneficiaries, and the community at large. However, in an era where standing out is increasingly challenging, it's important to explore innovative communication strategies that can set your nonprofit apart. In this blog post, we'll delve into the concept of taking safe risks in nonprofit communications and explore how to do it effectively. 1. Embrace a Culture of Innovation Before you can start taking safe risks in your communication strategies, it's essential to ...

TL:DR   Adapting nonprofit programs is a necessary step towards building better programs that create sustainable change in the communities we serve. By embracing failure as an opportunity for growth, fostering a culture of learning, seeking stakeholder feedback, and piloting new initiatives, nonprofits can continuously improve their programs and make a greater impact on society. Remember, it is through our failures that we can truly build something remarkable. "The secret of life is to fall seven times and to get up eight times." —   Paulo Coelho Running a nonprofit organization comes with its fair share of challenges and responsibilities. As nonprofits strive to make a positive impact on society, it is essential to continuously evaluate and modify programs to ensure effectiveness and relevance.  As an Interim Director, I often find that programs have been carried simply because "we've always done it that way." During my tenures, I give organizations the opportu...

  This blog post probably won't add anything new to the dialogue about justice in light of the extreme proliferation of hate acts in our country - but if this blog's purpose is to muse about growth, this isn't a topic I will avoid. I will state, up front, that I have centered white colleagues in this post. These are conversations that white folx need to have and lead amongst themselves.  I also don't anticipate that this writing even exposes the 'tip of the iceberg' on the important topics I broach in this post. I, in no way, mean for this post to be any where near definitive; but rather a beginning.  We have to start, and start again. Like many others, I am horrified by the violence perpetrated in Atlanta against the Asian community this past week. I am equally horrified by the Cherokee County Sheriff Department Captain's statement that the shooter was "having a really bad day." That statement, along with the heinous act itself, was anchored in w...

  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 ...

  Back in 2009, during an earlier economic challenging time, Barbara was part of a collaborative consulting practice, Common Bond LLC , which focused on best practices around Partnerships, Collaborations, and Mergers for nonprofit organizations. Given the current environment, we thought it might be worth revisiting a White Paper issued by Common Bond. Please share your thoughts. "Organizational partnerships are a powerful tool for increasing the effectiveness and impact of non-profit and public sector entities in New Jersey and beyond ... Organizational partnerships encourage a continuum of services and products; greater marketing capabilities; new business models and approaches; economies of scale; and access to new resources. Private and public sector funders can utilize innovative financing tools from challenge grants to recoverable grants/loans to purchase service agreements. The current economic and political environment offers an excellent time to expand partnership init...

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...