Social Trendspotter Weekly Blog
Pearls of Wisdom: Advice to Rising Social Entrepreneurs
As social entrepreneurs, we are lucky. We live each day knowing that we are making a difference in the lives of others. It is a blessing, but it isn’t always easy. Now we have a new generation of millennial social entrepreneurs starting out – inspired by...
Hot Topics in the Social Sector, Podcast-style
Podcasts are all the rage. According to an annual survey by Infinite Dial, last year 1 in 4 people listened to them. Now, that number has risen to 1 in 3! A few people have asked me to start a podcast, and I strongly considered doing so. But, I have since realized it...
The Light at the End of the Tunnel: Opportunity Zones
I often encourage my nonprofit clients to think big about the communities they serve and to become a catalyst for new development within these communities (e.g., grocery stores, place-based centers). But, nonprofits are limited in what they alone can do. And,...
The Five C’s of an Effective Policymaker Meeting
Advocacy isn’t something that comes easily to everyone. I come from a long line of unsung heroes who served as teachers and counselors. I lovingly call them “social soldiers.” They put their heads down and got the work done, never seeking the credit. While I always...
More Than Marketing: Storytelling Is the Shot of Adrenaline Your Nonprofit Needs
Spring has sprung, and it is just what many of us in the social sector need to re-energize our efforts. Spring inspires us to think about new possibilities, adventures and dreams and encourages us to take steps toward positive change. One change we have noticed is...
Advancing Equity as a Core Value of the Social Sector
This week, the country honored the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., an American Baptist minister and activist who embodied the Civil Rights movement until his assassination in 1968. In honor of his great legacy advocating for social justice, this is the...
2019 Nonprofit Trends: Shifting our Mindset
I have always been fascinated by the Titanic. When the movie came out and the exhibition opened, I was first in line for both. I am fascinated by it not just for its story or the glamour of the time, but because of why the ship met its tragic fate. The Titanic – the...
Favorite Inspirations to Celebrate the Holidays
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Nonprofit Trends & Inspiration: Top 5 TrendSpotter Favorites of 2018
The end of the year is always a special time for rejuvenation and reflection. This past year my favorite word has been “reimagine.” The word itself lulls me into both a state of reflection as well as thoughtful action. It allows you to hold up a mirror to yourself as...
Why We Should Live by the “Cowboy Code”
I have spent the last month crisscrossing Middle America, giving keynotes and leading workshops. (Shout out to the wonderful folks in Kansas City; Louisville, Ky.; Tyler, Texas; and Cincinnati who hosted me.) The Midwest and the South are such special places to me and...
