To the CEO Who Finally Showed Me the Way (#3 in the Letters We Never Send Letter Series) There is a dynamic in nonprofit leadership that is rarely discussed, though it should be…and at length. A nonprofit’s CEO reports to the Board. Their employment, their performance review, and their future with the organization sit in […]
When Good Fundraisers Leave: To the Board Member Who Meant Well
Every fundraiser has worked alongside a board member who genuinely cared about the mission but never quite stepped into the partnership. Not out of indifference. Out of uncertainty, fear, or simply never being shown the way. This letter is written from the perspective of a fundraiser leaving an organization they loved, to the board member […]
Lead Them to the Yes: With Fire in Your Belly
Most people think the Yes is born in the ask. But it isn’t. A well-timed question. A persuasive pitch. A direct request that gets someone to do what you need them to do. But here’s the truth seasoned leaders learn (often the hard way): you can’t ask people into alignment. You have to lead them […]
The Permission Gap: The Real Reason Boards Don’t Step Up
Most board members aren’t disengaged. They aren’t apathetic. They aren’t too busy, too uninterested, or too intimidated. What they are—most of the time—is uncertain. Uncertain about the boundaries. Uncertain about the “right way” to help. Uncertain about where staff wants them involved… and where staff doesn’t. Uncertain about what leadership actually looks like in their […]