We are likely to spend the majority of our lives caring for others or being cared for. If we are lucky, we are well-cared for, and we find purpose in giving care to others. It is our job, then - all of us architects of the future, shapers of systems and culture, neighbors, kin, and friends - to make care a principle and practice and first order of business.

As nonprofit professionals, we can choose what we want most over what we want now. Staying disciplined helps us to not only succeed, but to maintain that success over the long haul. Whether it ‘s fundraising, data management, or strategic planning - staying disciplined in your pursuits pays off in the long term

Asset-based language spotlights the inherent strengths, talents, and humanity within all people, regardless of their social identity or circumstances. And it insists that we name the perpetrators of oppression, rather than just its targets.

While stepping into the board chair role is challenging, it's an incredible opportunity for personal and professional growth. Much like training for a marathon, the journey tests your mental and physical limits, but crossing that finish line leaves you with an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment.

When is the last time you were able to feel the fullness of your humanity? The point is to give yourself enough space, time, and attention each day to listen and learn what your needs are. It’s what you deserve.

I can’t count how many meetings I’ve been to where most of the meeting is spent figuring out what the meeting is supposed to be about, or who was leading it, or why I was even there. How can we interrupt the pattern of dreadful meetings? It starts with WHY.

Most people don’t want a push off the high-dive into the deep and complex nuances of their challenges. Good questions are like floaties and goggles. They help us see better and feel more confident as we explore the hard stuff.

You deserve to live and work in an environment where you flourish. And if that simply isn’t possible, then you deserve to make little pockets of safety for yourself. You deserve to ask for what you need, and if you don’t get it, then you deserve the peace of knowing you were worthy of wanting it.

Why is it so hard to rely on other people? Or maybe the question is: why is it so hard for us to place our trust in others, to allow others to be relied upon?

I have always struggled with New Year's Resolutions. I’m trying something new this year …

We often get questions from our clients and community who are working every day to grow their impact and advance their good work in the world. Today, we’re answering a couple of questions as an offering to our readers.

Nonprofit founders all need a plan for what's next, and it's never too early to start thinking about what a successful transition might look like. The “Passing the Torch” workshop reminded all of us that, like everything in life, there are beginnings and endings in organizational leadership. There’s nothing we can do to change that truth, but we do have the power to plan strategically, communicate our needs, and (perhaps most importantly) honor the journey.

The key to being a Culture Shaper is knowing that the patterns visible on the surface are just a symbol of a deeper set of cultural values and priorities. Culture Shapers recognize that they have the power to, at any time, disrupt patterns that are harmful, inequitable, or traumatic - and to offer an alternative in service to a more equitable and inclusive culture.

Then I heard something that unstuck me: your work will expand to the time you give it.

WHOA!

I went to a meeting in Bastrop, TX that challenged my expectations in a powerful way. I was invited to participate in a meeting of “Network Weavers”

Nonprofit organizations are founded and managed by people who possess great enthusiasm for the mission. But too often, they are not well equipped to sustain and grow a healthy organization, leading to disappointing outcomes.