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.
5 Tips for Corporate Sponsorship in the Face of COVID-19
Nonprofits are in a tough spot when it comes to reaching out to donors, especially corporate donors. Every company is busy, concerned about the future and laser-focused on business continuity. And, many corporations just don’t have the resources to support charitable...
Keeping Nonprofit Volunteers Engaged During COVID-19
Volunteers are the lifeblood of the social sector – this is why we celebrate them this time every year. This week is National Volunteer Week and when issuing the national proclamation, the president said, “We have never needed the volunteerism of America more than we...
The Mary Poppins Guide to Making the Best Use of Nonprofit Downtime
My favorite movie as a child was the epic adventure of Mary Poppins. I love everything about it, including my favorite song in the piece, “Feed the Birds” – which to this day makes me cry. But, the best lesson in the piece for children is the song “Spoonful of Sugar.”...
7 Tips to Tap into CARES Act-Stimulated Charitable Giving
Last week, everyone, including our team, focused on the big-ticket item for nonprofits – the CARES Act and its grants/loans. It is vitally important that your nonprofit organization considers applying for this money in order to leverage it as working capital in the...
Fast Facts on Federal COVID-19 Stimulus for Nonprofits
I recently asked my Facebook friends to share “the phrase you never want to hear again.” The top four winners: unprecedented, flatten the curve, COVID-19 and social distancing. While we are living through challenging times, I am a firm believer that we can get through...
Learning in the Age of the Coronavirus
We have two types of clients right now. Frontline superheroes who are barely making it – those in healthcare and those who are ensuring that basic needs are met. I check on them daily and pray for them nightly.But, many of our clients are quarantined and are settling...
Q&A on COVID-19
I got the news late last week that my social entrepreneurship class was postponed due to COVID-19, so I decided to share my lesson in today’s special blog, which includes many questions I have been receiving from clients.Whether you are a young entrepreneur just...
How to Land the Big Fish: Try a Nonprofit Prospectus
We got a great email from a reader that I thought I’d share. “Dear Suzanne, we are working with a ‘big-fish’ entrepreneur and instead of a grant, she is asking us for a prospectus. We have researched this term and don’t see how to apply it to our nonprofit. Can you...
If You Can Write a Grant, You CAN Write a Nonprofit Business Plan
Earlier this week, one of my favorite management gurus, former CEO of GE Jack Welch, passed away. On my bookshelf is my well-worn copy of “Winning.” I bought this book before business school, and it gave me many gems that I used there and during my time at the...