2015 is quickly drawing to a close (is it just me, or did it go even faster this year?). We gave you tips on how to stay productive during the summer. But it’s super important to continue to give your creative mind a break even as the weather turns colder. I’m a big fan […]
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You curled your hair and put on your patent leather shoes. You even put on lipstick without your mom’s permission. You are ready for your first junior high dance. Will you ask Bobby to slow dance or stand near the wall with friends? Will you go near the chip bowl, or do you not […]
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About a year ago I did something that I hadn’t done before. I came back to work at an organization I had left at the end of 2007 — The Center for Community Solutions. I was fortunate enough to return as the President and Executive Director. During my previous time at CCS, I had […]
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Taking time to laugh is a survival skill for nonprofiteers, so the wry and oh-so-true observations of Vu Le in his Nonprofit with Balls site are a welcome source of ideas and giggles. It’s not easy to ignore the name of his blog, a moniker that gets a lot of attention for his own […]
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I have gone through my life believing that something is pulling me along – that the things that happen to me aren’t just random events, but are all stitched together, one thing leading to the other thing. This past weekend was a fine example of that. While waiting for a friend who was running late […]
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When people hear the word “improvisation,” some say: “I watched Whose Line is it Anyway on T.V. and thought it was funny!” “I think professional actors do that at Second City in Chicago, like Amy Poehler did.” “Who in their right mind would do that?” What is this ”improvisation” that causes an array of […]
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We are still 19 months away from the 2016 presidential elections, but Republican and Democratic candidates are already jockeying for position in the hotly contested Primary season. With millions of dollars in funding, presidential campaign websites are great studies in online fundraising and marketing. Nonprofits and for profits alike can learn an enormous amount just […]
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When planning an event, there are always struggles with who and what to combine for a perfect “winning” event. There is a precarious balance to finding presenters and entertainment who are both relevant and cohesive, while providing content that is varied enough to intrigue an audience. And on top of all that, you’ve got to […]
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As you probably know from having spent any time on this site, we are big proponents of professional development. So, it was very exciting to have Claire Axelrad, J.D., CFRE, as our guest for a webinar entitled: “How to Interview Strong” or “How Interviewing is Like Asking for a Major Gift”. Since impressing an interviewer – and getting […]
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People are People, No Matter What A couple of weeks ago, I had three profound experiences I feel compelled to share. First, I read in The Washington Post about pending legislation in Kansas that would place restrictions on how recipients of cash assistance (welfare) spend their money. This includes prohibiting recipients from using their assistance […]
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