What We’re Reading
How to Transition Social Solutions to Government
“Sustainability” has long been a buzzword in the development community, but the road to long-term social impact is not always clear. Success often depends on an organization’s ability to support governments as…
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Giving USA 2019: Most Nonprofits Will Need to Work Harder for Their Money
Giving USA released its report on charitable giving in the United States for 2018, and few are likely to find any reason for enthusiasm in the…
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Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Big Green Nonprofits: Negotiating the Challenges
Equity, diversity, and inclusion is the topic du jour across disciplines and sectors. Writ large, these themes pertain to increasing the access and power of people and population…
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Navigating the Complex Nonprofit Revenue Landscape
The author adds to previous articles regarding the critical success factors for board members wishing to lead nonprofits that go big and truly deliver substantial social impact. It takes a high-performing team; a…
Read MoreLearning from Dad
Even though they share the moniker, no two dads are exactly alike. Which makes it no surprise that each father and/or influential male in our lives has a little something different to instill upon us. Here are a few…
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5 Questions to Ask Before You Join a Board
What We’re Reading
At Nonprofits, the “Reward” for Work Still Isn’t Money
One of the classic refrains about nonprofit work is that those doing it will feel so rewarded. As in, emotionally—not financially. “Most of us who entered the nonprofit field didn’t…
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Asking and Listening: Key to Social Change Communications is Focusing on the People We Serve
When college students who need financial aid don’t know how to get it or children eligible to get food benefits don’t receive them, it’s imperative…
Read MoreSave the Date: Philanthropy Day 2019
Each fall CNE hosts Philanthropy Day as a way to bring together a diverse audience to celebrate, educate and motivate stakeholders from the nonprofit sector.
This year we are honored to welcome…
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One Austin Neighborhood and Its 40-Year Battle against Displacement
In 2000, Austin’s Guadalupe neighborhood—a 14-block area just across the interstate from the city’s downtown—was 85 percent Mexican American and 15 percent African American, with a median family income of…
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How to Know When to Dissolve Your Organization
It’s never fun to think about the worst-case scenario. And if things are going well for your organization, it might seem to make little sense to do so. Often it’s clear…
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Instagram Unveils a New Donation Tool for Stories
Instagram users will now be able to help their favorite nonprofits raise money using a “donation sticker” embedded in the platform’s stories feature.
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Best Sustainer Retention Rates Are Online
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has been in the monthly giving business a long time. The Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit started its sustainer program, Partners, during the 1990s with 2,000 members. Today, it has…
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Need Census Data for Your Next Grant? Try the Opportunity Index
We have all been here: it is one week before the grant proposal deadline, and your team is scrambling to find or verify the latest statistics on the…
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The Surprising Salary Comparisons for Jobs in the For-profit vs Nonprofit Sectors
Another class of college graduates is about to enter the workforce—and they’re not just looking for any job.
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Is Political Polarization Affecting the Nonprofit Sector?
In many ways, America’s population has grown more polarized along racial, economic, and political lines. Americans are more likely to live near others from the same socioeconomic background and…
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Principle 30: Sometimes the Juice Ain’t Worth the Squeeze
Let’s face it, we can’t underestimate the importance of donors and donations to nonprofit organizations. Donor support breathes life into our ability to do what we do: successfully execute our…
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Lessons Learned as Board Chair
When I took over as board chair for BoardSource back in 2016, I was honored but also nervous about the responsibility. Now that I’m done with my term, I wish I could go back…
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Self-Coaching Strategies for Nonprofit Leaders
There is nothing like understanding that your decisions and actions will be consequential to reinforce learning. Therefore, learning on the job, with a lot of feedback and reflection, can be a very rich source…
Read MoreTell Us How We Can Support You
Like you, we see the good we do through our daily interactions with the people and organizations we serve. We also ask participants in trainings and those of you who engage CNE for consulting to provide feedback on your experience. This is…
Read MoreMother Knows Best
What We’re Reading
501c4 Nonprofits’ Image Problem is a Problem For All of Us
In recent months, a narrative has taken hold that is compounding a reputational problem for an entire class of nonprofits—and it is threatening to rob advocates of one…
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General Operating Support: The Effective Thing to do; The Respectful Thing to Do
General operating support can provide nonprofit organizations with the flexibility to plan, innovate, and pivot in their work. So, why don’t more foundations provide general operating…
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month! A time of reflection and overwhelming urge to make a change because maybe we have been there before or know someone who has. And for those of us who…
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Two Stories About Motivating People
Today I offer you two stories. Very different and both true. They have something in common. The first one is the story of a simple thing I did to motivate my board. You can…
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