I think most of us are relieved to see 2020 finally come to an end. No one foresaw the chain of events that played out in 2020. The year started with so much promise but quickly turned to an unexpected movie-set nightmare. From the pain, sorrow and even fear we learned to pivot, change and […]

This December is different from all others. We have the familiar ritual looking ahead and embracing the anticipation of how the next year will play out. But COVID-19, the expanded attention on correcting social injustices, and other events of 2020 have introduced unprecedented new challenges into this end-of-year planning process. I have been thinking about […]

Nothing is more deflating than to hear a member of the board say, “You don’t understand, I’m just a volunteer.” Volunteers are afforded opportunities to make a lasting impact.  Through their passion and ingenuity, they can affect standards of excellence,  quality of life, and the success of people, businesses, and communities. Senator John McCain described […]

Question: I am the senior executive of a nonprofit organization that adopted a new strategic plan last year. With the many program changes and financial adjustments that my organization has had to make as result of the pandemic, our strategic plan now seems less relevant. Should we scrap last year’s strategic plan and start over […]

Committees seldom initiate their own plan of work. You won’t hear the committee chair ask at the first meeting, “What do you want to do this year?” Committees receive assignments and authority from the board of directors and bylaws. Their efforts should be framed by the organization’s mission and strategic plan. Policies indicate committees don’t […]