COVID-19 and Nonprofits: Leadership and Connection

COVID-19 and YMCA podcast

I was recently joined on our podcast by YMCA professionals Kathleen Walsh and Steve Tammaro. Kathleen is the CEO of the YMCA of Metro North, and Steve is CEO of the YMCA of the Inland Northwest. These two are on opposite sides of the country but the way they have been dealing with and leading […]

Making the Right Choices Now for Your Organization

COVID-19 crisis

These COVID-19 days are tough for everyone but especially for nonprofits and community economic development leaders. During a recent prospect solicitation meeting I had with a well-respected community leader in South Dakota, he relayed the story of King Solomon trying to humble his wise men by asking them to perform a seemingly impossible task. King […]

A Little Help From Our Friends: Ideas for Chambers & EDOs Nationwide

Ideas for Chambers and EDOs

We started a series of Virtual Round Tables this week for our friends and clients leading chambers and economic development organizations across the country. The purpose is to provide a venue for sharing frustrations, fears, questions, and most important, solutions. As COVID-19 changes the way we all operate on a daily basis, our communities are […]

Leading Your Organization During Unpredictable Times

Leading during unpredictable times

There is no doubt that leading a nonprofit organization during the COVID-19 pandemic is new territory for all of us. Being optimistic, bold, and strong, while maintaining honesty, empathy, and a sense of realism is a delicate balance for leaders today. Here are eight action steps that you can take to ensure that your leadership […]

The Power of a Strong Feasibility Study

It was a pleasure to welcome Pellissippi State Community College President Dr. L. Anthony Wise and Convergent Partner Joe April to our podcast, The Difference. We discussed the college’s recently completed (and very successful!) capital campaign and the difference it made having an experienced nonprofit fundraising consultant conduct a strong feasibility study prior to that […]

Lessons in Fundraising for Challenging Times

Fundraising in Tough Times

A large majority of the nonprofit world was not prepared for the cataclysmic economic downturn of 2008. Terms like “underwater endowments” and “individualized stewardship plans” were new concepts for many. In 2008, I was in the middle of a $16 million capital campaign at a college in Western Massachusetts. I learned six key strategies that […]