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Executive Coaching, Professional Development, Training, and Career Advancement for Nonprofit Leaders in the United States, Canada, and Europe.

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10 Steps to Create an Equitable Organization

November 11, 2020 by Joenita Paulrajan

Steps painted bright coloursHaving diversity in the ranks and working on making the organization more inclusive is a commendable first step. However, diversity and inclusion (D&I) efforts do not automatically lead to an equitable organization.  Creating pathways to make an organization equitable require different approaches and processes.

Take a look at the guidelines below to see what changes might need to occur in your organization: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Leadership Tagged With: Talent Management

5 Crucial Questions to Help You “Manage Up”

July 22, 2020 by Emma Lewzey

A white up arrow on a blue background“Managing up” is one of the most crucial skills you can develop as a fundraiser. 

Being good at managing up will continue to serve you throughout your career, whether you’re just starting out, or you’re moving into the role of CEO or Executive Director. 

Managing up is a term that gets thrown around a lot – but what does managing up mean, exactly? 

I like to think of managing up as simply another facet of leadership. It’s supporting and enabling those around you (including those “above you” in your org chart) to feel effective, successful and fulfilled in their role. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Management Tagged With: Talent Management

Managing to Retain Fundraisers

January 6, 2020 by David Langiulli

In the marketplace for fundraiser talent, demand currently outstrips supply.  There are currently thousands of job postings for fundraisers listed at the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and LinkedIn.

In the face of this demand, advancement and development leaders often say that one of the most significant challenges they face is managing to retain fundraisers. While the economic forces of supply and demand are putting upward pressure on salaries, a common misconception about fundraiser retention is that it’s “all about the money.” That’s a management and leadership cop-out, and the situation is dire. According to a recent Association of Fundraising Professionals’ (AFP) report, half (50%) of fundraisers surveyed reported that they intend to leave their jobs in the next 2 years. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Leadership, Management Tagged With: Talent Management

Strategic Organizational Design for Larger Advancement Teams

April 17, 2019 by Tahsin Alam

One of the most important decisions a Chief Advancement or Development Officer for a large team can make is picking the right people, particularly in leadership roles, for their shop. As the supply of professionals in our industry continues to play catch up to demand, it becomes critical that you keep and retain your leaders and their teams. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Leadership Tagged With: Talent Management

Retaining Fundraising Leaders – Invest in Them So They Can Leave

February 6, 2019 by Janice Cunning

CFO asks CEO: “What happens if we invest in developing our people and then they leave us?”

CEO: “What happens if we don’t, and they stay?”

I am sure you have seen this quote many times on social media. It is a thought provoking quote, although it does play into some outdated stereotypes about CFOs.

Framing this quote in the context of the nonprofit sector, we have observed at Fundraising Leadership that most nonprofits invest in fundraising training. Where we see the gap is investing in growing leadership capacity. As David Hutchinson, President of Cause Leadership Inc., explains the social profit sector is currently facing one of the most significant leadership transitions.  And there is an urgent need to develop the next generation of leaders. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Leadership Tagged With: Talent Management

How to Hire (and Retain) a Top Fundraiser

February 7, 2018 by David Langiulli

In the marketplace for fundraiser talent, we know that demand currently outstrips supply. Consequently, advancement and development leaders often say that one of the most significant challenges they face is the hiring and retention of fundraising talent. While the economic forces of supply and demand are putting upward pressure on salaries, a common misconception about fundraiser recruitment and retention is that it’s “all about the money.” That’s a management and leadership cop-out.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Management Tagged With: Talent Management

Finding Exceptional Talent is Difficult…Especially Now!

August 2, 2017 by David Langiulli

TalentThe economy is growing again and hiring in the private sector has spiked amid improved corporate profitability.  Unemployment hasn’t been as low as it is right now (4.4 percent) in a decade according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.  This is placing significant pressure on nonprofit organizations to recruit and retain the best employees, especially for Fundraising and Leadership roles.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Management Tagged With: Talent Management

The Three As to Impactful Performance Reviews

October 19, 2016 by Janice Cunning

Recently I attended a panel presentation that included an HR representative from a large hospital foundation. This organization is moving towards a coaching-style of management. One of the major decisions they made was to do away with annual performance reviews. The audience audibly and positively reacted to this decision, which is not surprisingly since performance reviews are often dreaded by both managers and staff alike.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Management Tagged With: Talent Management

Leadership and the art of Appreciation

September 7, 2016 by David Langiulli

“What you appreciate, appreciates”–Lynne Twist, The Soul of Money.

Appreciation. What is it? The definition of which I am most fond is: “the recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something.”
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Management Tagged With: Talent Management

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Recent Posts

  • Collecting Courage: Traversing the whiteness of the philanthropic sector as Black fundraisers
  • Community Reflections on 2020
  • 4 Common Fundraising Challenges – And How To Overcome Them
  • 10 Steps to Create an Equitable Organization
  • 7 Ways Organizational Leadership Can Demonstrate Purpose Through Action

RSS Recent Podcasts

  • Episode 73: Collecting Courage: Traversing the whiteness of the philanthropic sector as Black fundraisers
  • Episode 72: Reflections on Coaching in 2020
  • Episode 71 Overcoming Fundraising Challenges in Smaller Shops with Emily Capelle
  • Episode 70: Creating Equitable Organizations with Joenita Paulrajan
  • Episode 69: How Organizations Can Really Live Their Values with Nicole Salmon
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