Setting healthy boundaries
One of the things that most nonprofit leaders and team members find hard is setting healthy boundaries and sticking with them. In a way, it’s part of taking hard decisions. What are hard decisions? Hard decisions are for instance decisions to say no to toxic mantras...
Planners
This is for all my nonprofit leaders, executive directors, managers and founders: my printed planners. I want to guide you through 14 key topics to help you get a grip on your nonprofit core work, your system, your team and your financial situation. I want to be at...
Behind every hard conversation is a hard decision
Nonprofit leaders face the same challenges as leaders in any other sector. Having hard conversations is one of them. And behind every hard conversation is a hard decision. Sometimes a team member isn’t performing the way they should. A vendor delivers services or...
You will need to have hard conversations
As a nonprofit leader you face the same challenges as managers in companies and government bodies. And one of them is that you will need to have hard conversations. With your stakeholders. Or with your donors. With your vendors. And yes, also with your team members....
your stories don’t need to be bad news stories
One more thing that’s important in stories: your stories don’t need to be bad news stories. We all know some of us prefer romantic movies over family tragedies. Some people like watching comedy instead of horror movies. But when it comes to nonprofit stories, we tend...
What’s important in stories
We know that stories are important in our communication with (potential) donors. And we know that not every story works for every donor. So what’s important in stories? Why a story? Quick recap why we want to share stories in combination with facts. Through stories we...
What’s important in presenting your project to a donor
Someone asked a really great question: how can I present my project to a donor who is not nearby and cannot come and see what we do? I love the insight behind that question. The understanding that your donor needs to feel a connection to your project that’s not just...
What projects you should apply for
Recently I wrote how crucial it is to make sure that the projects you develop are aligned with your vision, mission and value statement. Immediately, people asked me: “But what about the money?” Yes, I know all of us nonprofits need money. And you may think that means...
What projects you should do
Quite regularly someone asks: "Should we apply for this project? What do you think about it?" The easy answer is of course to say, Oh yes, do it. Or: Please no, stay away from it. But that’s not really the right answer. If you’re wondering what projects you should do,...
Start your annual report from your numbers
By the time you start writing your annual report it can be really hard to remember everything about last year. And that’s OK! Because your annual report doesn’t really need to show ALL the details of ALL your activities. What should be in your annual report There is...