The Social Sector often uses basic tools, like hammers and nails to change the world. Instead, we need power tools. Our weekly blog, Social TrendSpotter provides you with the latest trends and ideas within the social sector. It merges current thinking with the edge of innovation to inspire, to motivate and to take action so we can all ultimately create a better sector. Social TrendSpotter includes original analysis, but also highlights the latest sector-wide thinking into a user-friendly resource where social sector professionals and students alike can draw inspiration, share ideas and develop new thinking on best practices.
We love when the best “Social TrendSpotters” – you – share your experiences, observations and suggestions with us. Share your ideas here, and follow us on Facebook (@socialimpactarchitects), LinkedIn (@social-impact-architects),Twitter (@socialtrendspot) or Instagram (@socialtrendspot) for our latest posts and other insights.
How Opportunity Assessments Can Help Nonprofits Size up New Opportunities
Because the social sector is in the business of changing the world, we often are inclined to see every need or idea as a call to action. The result of taking on too many opportunities comes in the form of mission creep, donor confusion or staff burnout. Research...
How Multiple Intelligences Can Improve Nonprofit Leadership
In 2002, I attended the Drucker Institute’s annual conference. Based on an impromptu speech I gave during one of the workshops, I was selected to meet with Peter Drucker himself. He was a legend, and I never expected to have a real audience with him. To my surprise,...
Nonprofit Boards Behaving Badly
In 2015, I had the honor of participating in the OpEd Project. The project encourages women and minorities to write more editorials and opinion pieces about subjects that are important to them. I collaborated on this piece with three Dallas-based nonprofit CEOs...
How to End Domestic Violence and Abuse
Domestic violence has been on the nation’s consciousness for the past five decades for good reason. More than one in three women (35.6%) and more than one in four men (28.5%) in the U.S. report having experienced rape, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate...
Ideas to Impact: How Social Entrepreneurs Think About Social Change
My favorite graduation gift is the bestselling book, The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho. I share it with anyone I can because it speaks to all of us who want to find our own destiny. As one of the mentors tells the protagonist, Santiago, “When you really want something to...
“Out-of-this-World” Fundraising Ideas
Millions of Americans will have a front row seat on Saturday to an “out of this world” experience – an annular solar eclipse (also known as a “ring of fire”). It will be 2046 before another one is visible in the contiguous United States. We hope everyone gets a chance...
How to Help Your Donors Create a Legacy With Planned Giving
The headlines are buzzing about “The Great Wealth Transfer.” It is estimated that more than $70 trillion will be passed down from Baby Boomers to their heirs – with $10-12 trillion estimated to be donated to charity through 2045. Amid high inflation, overall giving is...
Secrets from the Fortune 500 – Design Thinking Hacks for Nonprofits
Have you ever waited endlessly at the doctor’s office and wished that they had better customer service? Have you waited in a grocery line and bought an impulse purchase and then wondered why later? For better or worse, every company – but especially those in retail –...
Tips for Combating Leadership Fatigue in the Social Sector
I think I speak for all of us when I say that this year has gone by in a flash – how is it September already? This year has presented some unexpected challenges with the twists and turns of the economy, politics and extreme weather incidents. As dedicated social...