We all want to sit down and start writing as soon as we get the grant guidelines, so we can demonstrate real progress. But this approach results in wasted time and effort and, in the worst case, failure to be awarded the grant. Continue reading Six Basic Questions to Answer Before You Apply for a Grant
Most nonprofit board members are volunteers. They don’t have hours of time to research issues, to generate and analyze alternatives, to coordinate with others, or to study the environment in detail. It is not possible for them to be involved in daily operations. Instituting the Corporate Model separates policy development from operations.
“We [Boards] should be discussing policy and strategy, not counting paper clips!” Continue reading The Corporate Model
Managing a nonprofit is very nearly a science. There are certain fundamental steps that you must take to ensure an effective, efficient program. Sure, there are lots of issues in Human Relations and Development, but the fundamental management steps, from the board’s perspective, remain the same. Continue reading The Big Picture
As I mentioned in my post on The Big Picture, a Logic Model is a useful tool to bring clarity to strategic thinking. Logic Models provide a clear, direct, causal, link between strategies, inputs, actions, outputs, and outcomes, in a single package. Continue reading Use Logic Models for Clarity