Social Trendspotter Weekly Blog
What Nike Can Teach Us about Nonprofit Values, Change Management and Trends
Summer brings us blockbuster movies, and this summer is no different. I for one cannot wait. One recent movie that I really enjoyed was “Air,” which tells the story of the rise of Nike and how its basketball division landed Michael Jordan as its ambassador. (It’s now...
Keys to Major Life Changes from Harvard & Ted Lasso
I have been traveling the country speaking about nonprofit megatrends and one thing is clear: the pace of change is leaving everyone overwhelmed and a bit disconnected. We talk a lot about change, but not enough about the other side of the coin: transformation. Change...
Which Nonprofit Strategic Plan Is Right for You?
While there are numerous books and websites on strategic planning, the process of developing a plan can seem prescriptive. But it shouldn’t be that way. Strategy for any organization can be tailored to set forth the ways in which an organization will negotiate its...
Four Self-Care Strategies for Nonprofit Leaders
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Every year, nonprofits and government agencies use this month to fight stigma, educate the public about the support available and advocate for policies that advance mental health and well-being. However, it is equally important...
Addressing Nonprofit Challenges to Avoid Organizational Decline or Failure
Every nonprofit right now is feeling a bit unsteady. We have gone through a collective earthquake – with the initial shock and many aftershocks of the pandemic, which now include inflation and an economic downturn. It is natural to feel a bit “wobbly” in the face of...
6 Easy Ways Nonprofits Can Become More Eco-Friendly
Last Sunday was Earth Day – the first one was held in 1970, more than 50 years ago. Since then, Earth Day has become a global event that has mobilized 200 million people across 141 countries to recognize our role in saving our collective ecosystem. The United Nations...
Improve Your Nonprofit Financial Management with our Financial Sustainability Check-up
Tax Day was Tuesday, and, like it or not, it gets everyone, including social sector organizations, thinking deeply about finances. With the economic downturn and inflation, I spoke with one of our long-term partners, John Gillespie of Charles River CFO, about these...
How to Land the Big Fish: Try a Nonprofit Prospectus
We got a great email from a reader that we thought we’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...
How Faith-Based Organizations and Nonprofits Are Working Together to Solve Social Issues
With various religious holidays this month, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate the roles faith-based organizations in the U.S. play in serving our communities. Some of the country’s largest and oldest nonprofit organizations have their roots in faith traditions,...
How Nonprofit Conflict Management Can Create Better Results
With spring here, communities across the United States are experiencing severe weather. Our hearts go out to communities in Mississippi that were hit hard last week by an EF-4 tornado. I take heart though, knowing that immediately after these storms, nonprofits and...
