It’s a Zoo Around Here
We go from the politician who seems to understand nonprofits (Dan Malloy, potential candidate for governor of Connecticut and the subject of my last blog) to those who seem pretty clueless about nonprofits. I’m speaking about the city of Tampa, which wants to reinvent the wheel. Late last year, a city audit revealed that the Lowry Park Zoo—recently rated the number one zoo in America by Parent’s Magazine—wasn’t the number one best managed nonprofit in America. Far from it.
The Read more
My Write-In Vote
I want to live in Connecticut. Well, not really. But I would like the Mayor of Stamford, Dan Malloy, who is assessing whether he will make a bid for the Governor’s seat, to run and I’d like to vote for him. And, even more importantly, I’d like him to win and carry out his tentative campaign promises—well, at least one of them.
But before I get into why I want to vote for Malloy, I need to make one thing clear: I am not a one Read more
Common Waters, Diverging Streams
As I am sure someone much wiser than I once said, “There are lessons to be learned from tragedy.” So, I hope nonprofits all around the world are watching what is happening in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania is almost two months overdue in passing a state budget. Until last week, state employees had not been paid since the start of the new fiscal year. Vendors have not been paid since the start of the new fiscal year. And the emergency budget that was Read more
August 28th, 2009 0 Comment And I’m Worth It
I run a business. It is a business that is designed to help nonprofits. So, our product is help. That’s how we earn our living, pay our bills. But why do people think that we should give that product away for free? If my business were manufacturing sneakers, my phone would not ring off the hook with requests that I give away free sneakers. I would not be contacted by people three blocks away saying they are starting a sneaker factory and would I please tell Read more
August 21st, 2009 0 Comment Crime and Punishment
When one has a past profession and a new one, there is the opportunity for those worlds to collide. And so it has happened. My decades as a professor of criminology have met my current world as a nonprofit executive. But the cause for the intersection is nothing to celebrate.
In the aftermath of a criminal conviction, as the judge is weighing sentencing options, victims, their family and friends, are allowed to testify or have statements read about the impact of Read more
August 13th, 2009 0 Comment Term Limits for Nonprofit Boards
In response to a recent blog, I was asked the following question: What is your opinion on term limits for board members and officers? Opinions are one thing of which I have no shortage. So, be careful what you ask!
The debate on term limits has been waging for decades, if not centuries. So, there is no “settled” answer to this question. But my own answer is very firm: term limits—both for board members and officers—are a must. My reasons underlying this Read more
August 6th, 2009 18 Comments Stressed ≠ Important
Before leaving on vacation, I foolishly allowed myself to agree to working with a client on my first evening back. But the client was most solicitous and understanding, and upon arrival asked about my vacation, even wanting to see pictures. She asked an interesting question: what insights did you gain?
At the time I laughed, as I rarely thought of work, but the question kept gnawing at me. My answer began to take shape over the course of the Read more
July 30th, 2009 0 Comment Corporate Social Responsibility is Good Business
What a brilliant idea! Robert Goodwin, co-founder of Executives Without Borders, has suggested that every corporation adopt a nonprofit, providing IT, marketing and logistical support, as well additional business expertise that could help nonprofits do better at delivering their mission. He sees this as a win-win situation, noting that:
“Companies that integrate altruistic activities into their core business model will have the competitive advantage that comes with delivering a social profit: They will retain employees, recruit top talent, and build better community relations and a stronger Read more
July 22nd, 2009 1 Comment A Fine Line Between Love & Hate
First a warning: Laura Otten is not responsible for the contents of this week’s guest blog.
She is on vacation and since her blog is read in more than 20 countries, I just might be hearing from her as to how I handled this sacred trust.
Since Laura encourages her staff to speak their minds, I’m taking this rare opportunity to use this space to give a rant 25 years in the making.
10 Things I Hate About Nonprofit Read more
July 16th, 2009 0 CommentA Tale of Two Boards
It wasn’t quite the best of boards nor the worst of them, either. But it was a lesson in contrasts. In the space of an hour, I got to shore up a newly minted board president struggling with a board that hadn’t yet listened to reason and also field the questions of a board that, once a table of bobble-heads, had morphed into a take charge board. God, I love my job! Chapter I:
a thoughtful, Read more
July 9th, 2009 0 Comment 