Social Trendspotter Weekly Blog
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...
Can Your Nonprofit Manage a Crisis? Follow These 5 Tips to Hold onto Your Halo in a Crisis
As professionals in the social sector committed to doing good, we’d like to think we’re immune to public relations crises. But, just like corporations, socially minded businesses and nonprofit organizations are susceptible to events, be they natural...
Inspiring Nonprofit Resilience: 6 Tips for Building a Mindset to Rise Strong
When I'm traveling the country for various conferences, I am amazed by how resilient we are in the social sector. We have truly been pioneers over the past four years – changing our business models during COVID, keeping our communities unified as we fight for the...
Take Your Organization from Good to Great with our Nonprofit Talent Checklist
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” As a child, you likely heard this question. As adults, we still ask children this question to better understand their creative, young minds along with their hopes and dreams for the future. We – and they, even from a young...