Trends in Philanthropy Grantmakers Need to Know
A key component in developing Philanthropy Ohio’s strategic framework was to learn about national trends in the philanthropic sector. I interviewed seven regional and national thought-leaders and reviewed numerous reports and studies. I’ve now brought this learning forward with updated information on high-level trends that grantmakers need to pay attention to. Philanthropy Ohio first posted my […]
Bill Gates has His List, Here’s Mine
Bill Gates recently shared his annual list of favorite books, a collection of powerful stories from 2019 I’d like to share my own year-end list, albeit of a different nature. I serve in many roles working with foundation and nonprofit leaders, boards and staff – thought-partner, planner, facilitator, coach and oftentimes organizational “therapist.” The connecting […]
Sometimes Board Chairs Need Support, Too
It is common practice for chief executives of foundations and nonprofits to utilize coaching to bolster their leadership and management skills. This can ultimately benefit the entire organization. It is less frequent for board chairs to have a similar kind of support even though their unique leadership role in governance often presents its own challenges. The […]
Going Deep into Organizational Change
(Part Two of a Two-Part Series) Last month, I shared Part One of a two-part interview with long-time colleague, Jill Blair, about her paper,“New Leader, Endless Possibility” (Read here) Jill describes the year-long journey she spent as an embedded Senior Fellow change-agent during a critical transition phase of a legacy agency. Here is Part Two of my […]
Going Deep into Organizational Change
(Part One of a Two-Part Series) I have often written about and presented stories here on organizational development, leadership and leadership transition issues. I am endlessly fascinated by how foundations, nonprofits and most any other kinds of organizations govern and manage themselves (or don’t!), particularly through periods of change. My long-time colleague, Jill Blair, recently […]
How Foundations can Support Generating New Ideas & Engaging New Voices in Community Development
My experience working on community and economic development issues in mid-sized metropolitan areas around the country has taught me a couple of key lessons. It’s difficult to get traditional players to truly think outside of the proverbial box. Some places are insular and hesitant to look externally for ideas and learning. Local folks with new […]
Why it’s Important for Foundations to Align Their Investments with Their Values
When working with foundations in strategic planning or evaluation efforts, I always advise that we start with the organization’s values. What are the fundamental drivers of the foundation’s work, what it wants to achieve and how it will be successful in those efforts. In a recent conversation with Brad Norton, Director of Endowment Solutions, for Winfield […]
Supporting Innovation to Tackle Poverty
What was it that wise person once said about expecting different results from doing the same thing over and over again? Well, what would happen by coming at a particularly challenging issue like poverty from another angle? What would happen if you took a page from the handbook on entrepreneurship, injected the spirit of innovation […]
Compensation Approaches When Long-Serving Chief Executives Transition Out
I recently assisted a small-staffed, private foundation in a planned leadership transition of their chief executive who had a tenure of 20-plus years. To get a sense of how other foundations approached creative retirement/transition packages for long-serving foundation chief executives, I posted a list-serv inquiry with Exponent Philanthropy, 21/64 and Philanthropy Ohio. With the permission […]
Learning Organizations
I’m always interested in finding out how different organizations pursue a learning agenda. I talked with Connie Hawk, Director of the Licking County Foundation in Newark, Ohio, who oversees a staff of six. Here’s how Connie inculcated a learning culture inside this community foundation. Q: I understand the Licking County Foundation (LCF) has a team approach […]
