Social Trendspotter Weekly Blog
Hot Nonprofit Trends for Summer 2022
We are officially in the “dog days” of summer. Interestingly, this phrase refers to the sultry days of summer and came from the Romans, who associated it with the star Sirius. They considered Sirius to be the “dog star” because it was the brightest star in the...
All You Need to Know about Charitable Giving Trends from Giving USA 2022 Results
At the end of 2021, readers of The Boston Globe were asked to describe the year – the top word: "exhausting," followed by "rollercoaster." One reader noted that there were "some highs and lots of lows." Each year since 1956, social sector leaders anxiously await the...
Where is Your Organization in the Nonprofit Lifecycle?
As the pandemic becomes more manageable and we explore possibilities for the future, I find that many executives and board members are reflecting on the “state of their organization.” Many are asking the question: “Where do we go from here?” I was recently asked by a...
How Mindfulness Can Make You and Your Nonprofit More Productive
I am a recovering perfectionist. I have a gift for being able to create and execute new ideas and strategies. Many would assume that this is the secret to my success; however, the real secret is how I pursue excellence every day in my personal and professional life...
The “Messy Middle”: Tips to Combat Nonprofit Burnout
The Great Resignation. The Great Awkward. COVID-19 turned everything upside down. Now, we are back in the office and need a new playbook to get past what we are calling COVID Fog. The good news is that this is not uncharted territory. We experienced this as a firm...
Changemaker Top 10 Music Playlist
As we approach the Memorial Day holiday and as we all struggle with the weight of the issues surrounding us, I thought I’d take a break from my usual fare and share a Changemaker Top 10 Playlist, curated by four generations of my fellow Trendspotters and Changemakers...
How Are Nonprofit Business Plans Different From Strategic Plans?
I love cooking shows! People can be so imaginative with food recipes. While many of us are content with the traditional combination of peanut butter and chocolate, chefs and food enthusiasts are combining seemingly unrelated ingredients to yield culinary genius. Take...
Are Performance Reviews Still Relevant? 6 Tips for Making Nonprofit Reviews More Effective
Another year has sped by, and it's time again for annual performance reviews. It might feel like you completed them a few weeks ago, or maybe you didn't even get to them last year because of lockdowns, hiring freezes, lack of funding or other issues related to the...
How Shared Services Can Maximize Your Nonprofit’s Impact
Today’s headlines could make even the most optimistic person – like me – a little weary. But, my optimism was restored when I watched the recent documentary about the 50-year anniversary of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” called “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” and it...
Bring Your Nonprofit Strategic Plan to Life with Action Plans
When it comes to planning, social sector leaders often ask me how to ensure strategic plans get implemented. They are right to be concerned – their hard work matters and should not be relegated to a shelf. I respond with the Japanese proverb – “Vision without action...
