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2014
Ten Essential Nonprofit Job Interview Question Areas
A Post from James V. Toscano Many questions that should be answered by finalists for a nonprofit position are never even asked. Given time, number of interviewers and the variation in job descriptions, there are still ten essential areas that should be woven into any interview session. These basic areas, or verbal variations thereof, should be covered with each candidate interviewed for consistency and comparison. Verbal answers should be noted, along with modes of expression and body language. All should contribute to the overall assessment of the candidates, along with such other factors as resume, experiences, references, compensation, potential and…
17
2014
The Seven Deadly Nonprofit Sins
A Post from James V. Toscano As it is the darker time of the year, it’s time to review the other side of our work. Certainly the satisfactions and successes of our sector are what keep us motivated and eager to get to work each morning, and will inevitably always be the case. Nevertheless, there are dysfunctions, negatives, hindrances of which we need to be aware and upon which we can continuously strive to improve. Not included are those illegalities and ethical lapses for which society has prescribed remedies. Our seven “sins” are those we need to deal with for…
30
2013Nonprofit 2014: The Year Ahead
A Post from James V. Toscano Change for nonprofits is constant. Yet, the nonprofit world will see certain changes accelerate in 2014. A number of forces building over the last decade will reach tipping point and will come to dominate aspects of the sector. With nearly a million nonprofits, variation is enormous. What are focused on here are the modal factors that will have significant impact on the sector. We will list only ten, plus one speculation. There are many more, and your comments and additions will make this a much better attempt to characterize our sector in 2014. The…
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2013The Top Ten Posts of 2013
These are the ten most read articles on the Good Counsel’s blog in the last year. 1. Twelve Elements of a Nonprofit’s Business Model 2. Ten Questions to Ask a Director of Development Candidate 3. 10 Questions A Development Director Candidate Should Ask Once Offered But Before Accepting the Position 4. Why Does a Nonprofit Board Need Young People? 5. Guest Post by Jon Pratt – Flaws in the Social Impact Bond Craze 6. The Ten “Must” Agreements between Board and Executive Director 7. The Ten Requisites for Conducting a Capital Campaign 8. Ten Things Every Nonprofit Board Member Should Know 9. The First 100 Days: Ten Things…
10
2013Nonprofits 2013: The First State of the Sector
A Post from Jim Toscano As the end of year approaches and before our annual predictions for next year, it might be useful to summarize the current status of the nonprofit sector. Where are we, the near-million current nonprofits in the nation? Clearly all over the lot, but are there reportable milestones and trends that may characterize nonprofits? Twelve complex factors comprise major parameters that are prominent in 2013, part of the constant change that we all experience. Over the years, our nonprofit sector has attributed our strong societal standing to American exceptionalism, while we have also heard from various…
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2013Nonprofit Thanks
A Post from Jim Toscano We, as nonprofits, have so very much for which to be thankful. This is the appropriate time to list the many things for which we are thankful: Our patients and clients for their faith in our service; Our fellow employees for their decision to work with us; Our board for their guidance and support; Our donors for their confidence in our mission; Our prospective donors who give us hope; Our volunteers for their enthusiasm and work; Our social media friends for their constancy; Our special events participants for their loyalty; Our government for our exemption from…
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2013The Million Dollar Charitable Gift Givers
A post from James V. Toscano Building on their annual Million Pound Donors Report, the Coutts Institute in Britain, in combination with Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy have issued a report covering million dollar charitable gifts from six geographic regions: the US, UK, Russia, the Middle East, China and Hong Kong. Gifts of one million or more totaled $19 billion in these six areas in 2012. The lion’s share came from the US: $13.96 billion; Britain, £1.35 billion; Russia, $239 million; Middle East, $727 million; China, $1.18 billion; and Hong Kong, $877 million. Estimates go from relatively accurate…
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2013Charitable Giving Among Donors of High Net Worth
A Post by James V. Toscano A U.S. Trust study conducted with The Philanthropic Initiative of the “Philanthropic Conversation” between individuals of high net worth and their financial advisors is revealing: there are wide differences between these individuals and their advisors on a number of aspects of charitable giving. The most interesting are reasons given by each group on why donors don’t give or give more. The advisors, who understand their clients’ interest in philanthropy, cite their fears that they won’t have enough money to leave to heirs (41%), or they won’t have enough for themselves in old age (34%)…
02
2013The Qualities Needed in a Nonprofit Organization’s CEO
A Posting by James V. Toscano & Dania Toscano Miwa The latest surveys report between 20-40% of CEO/EDs of nonprofit organizations are thinking of leaving in the next few years. Is this a disaster or a remarkable opportunity to improve leadership? In addition to management degrees, e.g. MBAs, MNPM, MPAs, and good track records, what else should we be looking for in the next generation of nonprofit CEOs? Here is our collective baker’s dozen on those qualities that will help bring nonprofits to a new, more productive, innovative position. Some who are next in line at these organizations may have many…
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2013The New Philanthropy
A post by James V. Toscano Headlines scream, “Philanthropy is Dead!!!” while other headlines retort, “Philanthropy is Alive and Well!!!” What’s up? The reality is that traditional philanthropy is suffering under a barrage of criticism (see the Charitable-Industrial Complex post), that there is a new philanthropy based on very different assumptions, and that there is an emerging brand of philanthropy that will not accept anything except solutions and cures. Philanthropy is iterating and that’s good. Generational differences, conceptual and methodological developments, vastly different expectations and many other factors are motivating change in the way we give money, time and other…