Most philanthropies seek to be strategic and have an impact. Yet few build their own internal capacity to be strategic grantmakers. In particular, most funders forget to intentionally learn from their initial piloting and testing of strategies so that they can make early modifications and course corrections. Learning isn’t hard to do, but it must […]
Learning How to Learn Read More »
School’s out and summer is here! Time to pursue that great American pastime – the lazy summer vacation. Be it at the beach, in the mountains, or somewhere in between, there’s actually a great value in taking time off and letting your mind daydream for a bit. In fact, summer dreaming time is the perfect way
Summer Daydreaming is the Perfect Time to Re-Imagine Philanthropy Read More »
We all know the feeling. When that sense of excitement and possibility on the drive to work is replaced by stress, dread or boredom. What’s a grantmaker to do? It’s natural to face burnout and frustration from time to time. Processes and routines get old. Results are less than hoped for. Grantees approach you with
Isn’t This Supposed to be Fun? 5 Ways to Put the Joy Back in Philanthropy Read More »
Over the last 15 years, I’ve consulted with a few clients who, in the midst of our strategic planning sessions or evaluation efforts, must deal with the added stress of handling conflict within their boards. At best, these conflicts are time- and energy-consuming hassles. At worst, they can derail an entire planning or implementation process
Boardroom Battles: 5 Ways to Move Beyond Conflict Read More »
If you have ever been a parent of young children, you probably know the utter agony of trying to teach your children to read. Night after night my husband and I sit with our 6-year-old twins and slog through early reader books with titles like A Lucky Day for Andrew and Birthday Surprise. We help
Your Attention, Please! Read More »
The sale of a nonprofit hospital or health plan to a for-profit company can yield a great deal of change for a community, including the creation of a new, independent foundation created from the proceeds of the sale. In many cases, these new entities represent a significant new source of community wealth – and where
Similar and Different: 5 Key Shifts from Hospital Board to Private Foundation Board Read More »