Social Trendspotter Weekly Blog
Giving USA 2025: The Comeback and the Call to Action
As a proud Texan, I want to start by saying thank you. So many of you reached out after the devastating floods in Central Texas last week – and your care, along with the generous outpouring of support for those impacted, reminded me of one of America’s best qualities:...
Hot Nonprofit Trends for Summer 2025
While July 2nd may not seem to hold any special significance, it actually marks a quiet milestone – it’s the halfway point of the calendar year and the perfect time to reflect on where we’ve been, where we’re going and what still matters most. At Social Impact...
Emotional Intelligence: The Superpower Every Nonprofit Leader Needs
What is the strongest predictor of success in the workplace in the 21st century? It’s not IQ or technical skills – it’s emotional intelligence (also known as emotional quotient or EQ). According to Talent Smart, 58% of performance across all job types is attributable...
5 Keys to Boost Employee Engagement in Nonprofits
The pandemic – and return to work afterward – taught us many lessons. One of the most powerful for me was the importance of organizational culture and meaningful employee engagement. Our research revealed a clear correlation: nonprofits with strong internal cultures...
5 Tips to Hit a Social Business Pitch out of the Park
Summer always reminds me of one of my family’s favorite pastimes – baseball. When my nephew Alexander was first learning to play, I got a chance to help him practice for a game. At practice, he was struggling with hitting the ball. Eventually, I realized the problem –...
Urgent Attention Needed: Federal Bill Could Hurt Nonprofits and Our Communities
I loved Saturday morning cartoons, and one of my favorites was “SchoolHouse Rock” – especially the classic episode “I’m Just a Bill.” Many of us learned how the legislative branch works (or sometimes doesn’t) by watching this episode in our social studies classes....
Managing Uncertainty: How Nonprofit Leaders Can Reclaim Their Energy
Typically, as we shift into the summer, many in the nonprofit community find time to pause and recharge – something that’s important for both personal well-being and organizational health. But with potential government changes ahead, nonprofits face a lot of...
What the Ice Bucket Challenge Still Teaches Us About Nonprofit Fundraising, Marketing and Storytelling
If you've been feeling a sense of déjà vu, you are not wrong. The Ice Bucket Challenge has returned! This viral phenomenon during the summer of 2014 earned a top spot in the annals of fundraising history for raising more than $115 million for the ALS Association in...
Creating a Ripple Effect: How the Social Sector Can Lead on Mental Health
Like many of you, I was stunned when Prince Harry opened up in his Apple docuseries, “The Me You Can’t See” – co-created and produced with none other than Oprah herself – about the trauma he experienced and the treatments that have made a significant difference in his...
Mission Meets Metrics: Unlocking Nonprofit Potential with KPIs
If you ever want to start an unsolvable argument, ask a group of people about their favorite pizza chain. Some say Pizza Hut. Others love Papa John’s. Mine is Domino’s – but it did not start out that way. Back in 2008, the most common complaint Domino’s received was...