Building Capacity in Nonprofit Organizations

whitePaper | April 7, 2021

As your nonprofit organization grows, so should your accounting software. The financial responsibilities of a nonprofit evolve over time as the organization achieves its goals, expands its mission and adapts to new variables.

whitePaper | March 25, 2020

In their seminal article, "Nonprofit Starvation Cycle", Ann Goggins Gregory and Dan Howard exhort nonprofit finance professionals to report to funders the real costs of running nonprofit organizations. The authors explain that the popular trend to restrict funding to specific programs without accounting for infrastructure expenses leads to an unintended consequence, a "nonprofit starvation cycle", where charities cease to function because they can't pay for overhead costs, such as administrative employees, computers and electric bills. To break this unhealthy cycle, the article encourages nonprofits to recalibrate funder expectations by providing accurate financial reports and other supporting information to reflect the true costs of nonprofit operations.

whitePaper | April 6, 2020

Philanthropy has always been centered on individuals giving back to causes that ignite an emotional response. In recent years, this emotional connection to important causes combined with controversial political events has produced a new type of giving that many have dubbed “rage philanthropy” or “rage giving.” Americans today are making more political donations than they were two decades ago, highlighting the fact that they are engaged in political issues now more than ever before (Hughes, 2017). Political events and changes to major legislation can influence the way donors engage with your nonprofit—and understanding rage philanthropy can help your organization increase giving opportunities.

whitePaper | February 11, 2020

It’s the turn of a new decade, and several social, technological, economic and political forces promise to shape the future of the nonprofit sector. Some are already in play – or have been for some time – and are already challenging nonprofit organizations. They have the potential to fundamentally transform the sector. I’ve outlined eight predictions here; a convergence of these factors will alter the landscape, necessitating a major shift in the way nonprofit organizations operate.

whitePaper | November 26, 2019

Our dedicated team has delivered digital projects to over 100 customers in the charity and membership sector. Throughout these projects, as well as dedicated events, roundtables and partnerships, we have learnt a lot about what makes a successful CRM strategy. As part of our commitment to non-profits, we’ve taken some key learnings from our team, our customers and attendees at our events, and compiled this guide to help you in the planning, execution and maintenance of your digital strategy. Thank you to all of our contributors for sharing valuable insight and advice.

whitePaper | December 19, 2019

Our complex, changing world continually challenges leaders to be flexible and innovative. At the heart of efforts to create change, nonprofits, agencies, communities, and funders are working to uncover the roots of some of our greatest social issues, so-called “wicked problems.” At the Center for Creative Leadership, we have had the privilege to work alongside many social sector partners as they invest in improving the health of entire populations, transforming education to serve all, and alleviating persistent, intergenerational poverty. These experiences have led us to an increased understanding of the aspects of leadership that propel these efforts to greater success.