As described in our last post, a strong board-led evaluation process transforms how a board and its executive director work together. It ensures alignment, builds trust, and keeps the organization moving forward with clarity and purpose. While each nonprofit may tailor its process, the best evaluations share the following 7 steps that combine structure with respect.

A 30-45 second explanation of your organization and why it's important, an elevator pitch provides an important tool for educating the public about your organization. When created with your leadership team, board and staff, it also empowers them to both better understand your organization and to share a consistent message with their friends and network.

Effective leadership drives mission success. When the executive director leads with clarity, integrity, and purpose, the organization thrives. Like every employee, even the most talented leader needs regular and structured feedback, direction, and accountability to continue to grow personally and professionally and strategically move the organization forward. For a nonprofit, the board alone carries that responsibility. These five reasons explain how board-led evaluations of your chief executive will reap long-term benefits for your organization.

One strategic plan that I recommend all organizations have is a strategic fund development plan. It allows you to chart out your long-term and short-term goals, find the gaps in achieving that goal, and develop specific steps to get there.

Organizations that have a good strategic plan will more likely achieve their goals, their goals will more likely move them toward their vision of success, and they will have more engaged board members and staff. Learn why you need a strategic plan and how a good planning process can get you there.

Fund development work relies on relationships. People give to people. Understand the importance of building relationships and leveraging your board and volunteers to expand your circle of relationships to expand your fundraising success.

Having advocates on your board does not happen overnight nor does it happen by osmosis or chance. You have to prepare them. These 5 tips can help you grow a more advocating board.

Too many nonprofits think that they cannot talk to lawmakers about the causes that matter to them because they know that lobbying can jeopardize your 501c3 status. While the latter is true, you can engage in advocacy. Learn the difference between the two in this short video.

Now is the perfect time to reach out and thank your donors for investing in your organization and show them what a difference they make in fulfilling your mission. At the halfway point through the year, giving tends to slow down which should give you some time to implement some stewardship activities while cultivating your donors to give again at the end of the year.

2025 has certainly been a stress filled year so far. Nonprofit professionals have born a lot of the brunt of that stress. Try some of these tips that I have found help me reduce my stress in my days and weeks. I hope you can find something that works for you as well.

When people think of lobbying, they often envision well-funded interest groups, not local nonprofits fighting for community change. But nonprofits often serve on the front lines, helping our most vulnerable populations and deeply understanding the issues that hold people back and let them thrive. Nonprofits have every right to lobby legislators—and they should.

Here are 6 ways your board can help navigate change in your organization.

Successfully engaging staff in organizational change begins with creating an organizational culture that supports change.

Now that you have identified the problem and the type of problem, we move to the next phase: generating solutions.

Ask these 10 questions to recruit the best board and board members for your organization.

Read my top 4 benefits of taking time for professional development, whether in person or virtually, to recharge and grow in your profession.

Thinking and acting strategically means taking into consideration both your mission and your aspirations when making any decision.

A movement has existed for years to include more equitable language in philanthropy, especially in grant applications. This blog explains why.

What does a culture of philanthropy look like and how can you create one at your organization? Here are 4 helpful steps to get there.

While nothing will guarantee that your development professional will never leave your organization, these tips should help minimize the chances that they will begin looking for their next opportunity as soon as the ink dries on their contract with you.