I have a tough time with New Year’s resolutions.  Not that I don’t have room for improvement. But before I get around to committing my good intentions to paper, I’m several days down the road with the status quo in tow. Which likely explains why blogger and social marketing guru Chris Brogan’s three-words solution to [...]

Everywhere you look this week, someone or another is touting their best intentions for improvement in the coming year. Not to be outdone, the Chronicle of Philanthropy invited members of its LinkedIn discussion group to submit their resolutions for the nonprofit world in 2012. Here’s a sampling of the responses to date. In 2012, we [...]

The folks over at the Bidgespan Group tell us that nonprofits will need to hire 640,000 new senior executives by 2016.  Having recently wrapped up two lengthy quests for organizational leaders — one as counsel and the other as board chair — the idea of all those searches is enough to make my head spin. [...]

Luke 1: 46-52 “Mary sings. She sings Hannah’s song (1 Samuel 2:1-10), making it hers and making it ours. God has looked favorably on Mary and on us. The world of ‘might makes right’ and ‘look out for your own’ is turned upside down. The humble hungry eat and the ruthless rich are put to [...]

“The good news of God brings hope to those who find themselves in the peripheries of our world, but it also belongs there. As ‘a call from the ways untrod,’ God’s good news of grace announces God’s presence on the fringe, God’s love that goes beyond the boundaries of where we thought God was supposed [...]

Over at Philanthropy 2173, blogger and self-proclaimed “philanthropy wonk” Lucy Bernholz has rolled out her top-ten list of buzzwords for 2011.  She’s up to 9, with the 10th coming in the December 27 issue of Chronicle of Philanthropy. So far, her best of the buzz list includes :  social impact bond; collective impact; storytelling; charitable [...]

You do good things for other folks all year round. In these last days before Christmas, do something nice for yourself — without spending a penny. I’ve pulled together some terrific stocking stuffer ideas for nonprofit junkies. (That’s you, dear reader.) All are  just a click away. Blue Avocado. The editors describe this monthly online [...]

“The Advent season plays out against the backdrop of a materialistic culture at its gaudiest, most materialistic, most vulgar; the season’s advertising will appeal to the least attractive human characteristics — greed and pride and our need to affirm ourselves by what we buy and consume. Advent responds by reminding us that a child will [...]

With 11 shopping days until Christmas, you still have time to pick up a book or two for that fundraiser on your list. If you’re looking for recommendations, here are four titles I’ve touted in presentations this past month – plus a couple of classics. First to the newer titles. Forces for Good: The Six [...]

Baseball superstar Albert Pujols is back in the news (and Generous Matters) as he signs a 10-year, $254 million deal that’s stunned Cardinal fans and set Evangelicals’ tongues wagging (again). After months of speculation, Pujols has traded the squawking of angry Cardinals for the sweet sound of Angels. The folks in Anaheim spotted their star [...]