MANAGING SYSTEMIC CHANGE: Baby Steps to a More Productive, More Effective Nonprofit

by Eddie Thompson | Oct 13, 2022 | Development Management

The world has changed radically in the last three years, and it’s showing few signs of returning to business-as-usual in the near future. Some of our traditional operating systems may never come back. To list only a few of the unexpected: 1) the economic impact of...

VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION:  Leveraging the Impact of Every Donation

by Eddie Thompson | Aug 8, 2022 | Development Management

Natalie Walker serves as East Coast Director of Communications for Apartment Life, a nonprofit located in all 50 states, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Before joining the Apartment Life team as a coordinator, Natalie worked at two other nonprofits, each with very...

LEADERSHIP CONTINUITY: Retaining Top Talent Amid the Great Resignation

by Eddie Thompson | May 16, 2022 | Development Management

There have been some monumental changes over the last two years, among the most significant is the labor shortage at all organizations (for-profit and nonprofit). It was first described by Anthony Klotz, Associate Professor of Management at Texas A&M University,...

HARD SELL: Making the Case for Large Investments with Unpredictable Results

by Eddie Thompson | Feb 21, 2022 | Development Management

How much time and money will it take to find effective cures for cancer, juvenile diabetes, or a dozen other seemingly incurable diseases? For organizations that address social needs, what will it take to rescue a single person from an opioid addiction, eliminate...

IMPOSSIBLE SHOT: Impact of Unrealistic Fundraising Targets Passed Down from Above

by Eddie Thompson | Aug 16, 2021 | Development Management, Donor Communications

I have a lot of conversations with nonprofit professionals at all levels—from foundation presidents to major gift officers to fundraisers in their first development jobs. Among the most frequent stress points I hear almost every business day are fundraising goals...

THE PHILANTHROPIC APPROACH: What Nonprofits Accomplish that Government Funding Never Can

by Eddie Thompson | Jun 7, 2021 | Development Management, Professional Development

Last month’s article was about donors’ decisions to invest their social capital (contributions to community and society) by means of estate gifts to charity rather than the government in the form of taxes. It’s not that all government-funded programs are hopelessly...