There’s a dangerous dynamic in the nonprofit sector that’s not getting called out nearly enough. And no, it’s not just Founder Syndrome. It’s something even sneakier, and just as destructive: Founder Fragility. You’ve seen both. Founder Syndrome is about control. It’s when a founder refuses to let go, hoards decisions, and stifles growth because they… Continue reading When Ego becomes the Enemy: the cost of Founder Fragility in Nonprofits
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The Call is coming from inside the House
The crisis of our own making There has been an INORDINATE amount of talking about the decline of giving in the United States. Yeah, let’s just take a breath, shall we? Philanthropy in the US is nearly a trillion dollar industry. That’s TRILLION. With a T. $557.16 Billion was given charitably in the US in… Continue reading The Call is coming from inside the House
🦄 Death to Unicorns: Why “No” Is Your Most Powerful Fundraising Tool
I like unicorns, I have friends who are unicorns. But let’s get something straight: you are not a unicorn. The myth of the “nonprofit unicorn” is cute—until it’s weaponized. Until it becomes the excuse leadership uses to demand superhuman results from already maxed-out staff. Until it becomes the reason we normalize burnout, turnover, and trauma… Continue reading 🦄 Death to Unicorns: Why “No” Is Your Most Powerful Fundraising Tool
Job Interviews are NOT Internships
Nonprofits that require candidates to complete unpaid work as part of the interview process are actively harming the sector. This practice is exploitative, short-sighted, and ultimately self-serving. Let’s be clear: when a nonprofit demands work from candidates without compensation, it is theft. Yes, theft. Candidates’ time, expertise, and intellectual property have value. If an organization… Continue reading Job Interviews are NOT Internships
Adventures in Development Planning
Why Nonprofits Need a Roadmap: The Importance of a Written Development Plan My mom has a terrible sense of direction. Growing up, family outings often became “adventures,” which my sister and I decoded for “we’re lost.” To her credit, my mom always meant to stay on track. She’d plan ahead, but without a clear roadmap,… Continue reading Adventures in Development Planning