Blog
What's Your Giving Plan?
It’s that time of year! Halloween is here. Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa will all be here before you know it. Celebrations with family and friends will fill our homes, churches and synagogues, classrooms, and offices. And your mailb…
Read MoreHow Do You Rate as a Nonprofit Board Leader?
Leading a nonprofit organization requires clarity of vision, purpose, tenacity, and courage, motivated by a deep and abiding passion for the mission of an organization. The nonprofit sector is changing the landscape in this country and that requires committed leadership to solve the challeng…
Read MoreHow Strong Is Your Network?
Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend time with my friend Nicholé. We originally met when I assisted a colleague with a strategic planning effort for the organization Nicholé runs and, since then, have continued to connect on both personal and professional levels. As we caught u…
Read MoreTailgating: A Lesson in Strategic Planning
Over the weekend I had the privilege of tailgating at college football’s number one tailgate destination: The Grove at Ole Miss. If you know me, you know I take tailgating seriously, even when my team isn’t as committed to its part of the equation as I am to mine. But in Oxford,…
Read MoreBeing Intentional with Your Personal Goal Setting
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of participating in a panel discussion and leading a conversation for employees at Cree around personal brand and self-promotion. In preparing for this conversation, I thought about how personal planning is a lot like organizational planning. We need to a…
Read MoreDo your Philanthropic Gifts Match Your Code of Ethics and Values?
Nonprofit organizations spend a tremendous amount of time reviewing mission, vision, and values statements. Staff and boards set high standards and create written Codes of Ethics as policy documents that drive their behavior. These documents empower decision-making for determining what is ac…
Read MoreCreating and Driving Your Major Gift Pipeline – You’ve Got This!
Think back to when you moved to your current location. When you first moved in, maybe you met a few neighbors and then eventually began to meet more neighbors. And after a few years you know most of your neighbors (or at least what kind of car they drive, how many children they have, and who…
Read MoreThe Wall is Fake News!
Which do you prefer? iPhone or Android? Facebook or Twitter or Instagram or LinkedIn? Cable television or streaming apps? CNN or Fox news or MSNBC? Democrat or Republican or Independent? Eastern or Western NC barbeque? NC State or UNC or Duke or Wake Forest? For me, it…
Read MoreYour Vibe Attracts Your Tribe
Have you ever heard the saying “Your vibe attracts your tribe?” Have you ever noticed how people who typically see their glass half-empty seem to consistently have bad stuff happen to them? They are the ones who get a flat tire, are constantly sick and, once again, are ticketed …
Read More“So, Tell Me About Yourself”…How to Ensure You Move to the Next Step in the Interview Process
What would you say if asked, “So, tell me about yourself?” It’s certainly an open-ended question and one that could help or hurt you when trying to impress your potential next supervisor or board of directors. The job market is flush with talented professionals …
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