Vu - Nonprofit AF (Page 12)

hiring

NOPE: Job seekers, don't pull this move when applying for a job

Hi everyone, I am heading out on a three-week speaking trip that spans the US, Canada, and Aotearoa, so apologies in advance if the next several blog posts may be short, poorly edited, posted at strange times, missing completely, or just a single picture of a majestic kiwi bird. (The

Funder Relations

Greek Myths if They Were Set in the Nonprofit Sector

Over the past several months, my kids have been obsessed with Greek Mythology, thanks to a podcast they listen to called “Greeking Out.” Greek myths are awesome, and there’s a lot they can teach us. Actually, many of the terms we use in this sector have Greek origins. For

leadership

Hyper-independence as a trauma response, and how it manifests in nonprofit leaders

It’s been nearly three years since I stopped being a nonprofit executive director. My skin looks healthier, my eyes less sunken and haunted, and I’ve started reverse-aging and now look like my kids’ father and not their grandfather. Best of all, I only wake up once or twice

Race, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion

13 Types of White Moderates: Which Ones Are You?

Hi everyone. I appreciate Deepa Iyer’s and Building Movement Project’s Social Change Ecosystem Map. It is helpful to see what roles we each play in the work to make the world better. And while we do that, it’s also helpful to see the roles we play that

Fundraising

The joy of fundraising: How fundraising can be truly, authentically joyful

When I was younger, one of my favorite things was the Skymall catalogue, which some of you may remember. It was a catalog that every airline had at every seat, and it was a glorious collection of some of the coolest stuff ever. I couldn’t afford the life-size gorilla

Funder Relations

What Loot, the show on Apple TV+, gets right and wrong about nonprofit and philanthropy

Hi everyone. It’s been a while since I’ve written about a TV show. I was scarred by Game of Thrones and its outlandish, horrifying ending (turns out Daenerys, Mother of Dragons, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, stole classified nuclear documents, kept them at her castle, and engaged

nonprofit

The abundance mindset: what it looks like in everyday practice, and the equity implications around it

Y’all, I have a confession to make. I am not sure I like the whole “abundance” thing. In many ways, this concept became prominent in our sector because of our ingrained scarcity mindset, where we are so freaked out about potential lack of funding that we underinvest in everything,

Capacity Building

Nonprofits: Get over learned helplessness and stop standing in your own way

Hi everyone. I’m back after taking the month of July off from writing! During these past four weeks I took the kids on trips, attended a wedding (outdoor) for the first time in years, read some books in a hammock, removed the (probably sentient by now) leftovers from my

Funder Relations

Roe vs Wade, and a wake-up call to progressive funders everywhere

Hi everyone, I’ll be taking a break next month, so this will be the last post until August 1st. It’s probably good for me to take a break, because considering the rage I’m feeling, I might say things I’ll regret later. I know many of you

Board Relations

“Plaque and Sack”: The art of getting rid of terrible board members while making them feel appreciated

Hi everyone, in honor of Juneteenth, I want funders and donors to remember that only 1.8% of traditional philanthropic dollars go to Black-led orgs. So, if you've released or are releasing a statement about Juneteenth, back it up by giving significant money to Black orgs and movements.

nonprofit field

Let’s de-normalize alcohol consumption in nonprofit, and let’s be more considerate of colleagues who don’t drink

Hi everyone, next week we have PEEP (Party to Enhance Equity in Philanthropy), a series of fun events where nonprofit and foundation staff and board members get together and stare into one another's eyes while the wind rustles through the leaves and the warm sun paints the afternoon

nonprofit field

Consultants, are you actually making the sector worse? Here are some questions to ask yourselves

Hi everyone. Just a reminder, before we dive into this week’s post, that the pandemic is not over. Some of y’all are acting like it is. Cases are surging. Get your boosters, wear masks, avoid indoor dining when you can, and stop double-dipping when you’re eating with