Many clients ask what one thing can be done to increase productivity and reduce the cost of operations in their organization. The answer is always the same, create an environment that values teamwork above all else. The best way for nonprofit organizations to maximize their potential is through active teamwork. Teamwork is at the heart of any great accomplishment. Teamwork

As a nonprofit there are many things to consider when moving from a contributions based model to a Fee-for-Service model. The attached paper explores many of the issues and should help Community Based Organizations make informed decisions. Fee-for-Service Model

Filing tax forms is one of those things that can leave even the brightest among us in a state apoplexy. Since many nonprofits use the standard calendar year, now seems to be an ideal time to say something about the dreaded 990 form and point out some of the most common mistakes that are made when completing nonprofit tax documents.

When you’re starting a new nonprofit, or just running one, the last thing you want to focus on is failure. But if you address the common reasons for failure up front, you’ll be much less likely to fall victim to them yourself. Here are the top 7 reasons why nonprofits fail and tips for avoiding them. Poor Management Many a

Working with businesses to fund your programs can be one of the most stressful and challenging aspects of nonprofit leadership. Many in the business of making a better world don’t have a clear understanding of the profit model or what drives business to support nonprofit programs. That’s where a little creative thinking and honest conversation can help align goals and

According to a new study by Compass Point Nonprofit Services, sending nonprofit leaders on sabbaticals not only helps those executives return to their jobs with renewed enthusiasm, but it also provides opportunities for the organization to nurture up-and-coming talent. Sabbaticals helped organizations improve the management abilities of their second-tier leaders: Eighty-three percent of sabbatical awardees said the managers under their

For 15 years Breaking Barriers Community Services Center has provided support services and transportation to and from medical appointments for low- and moderate-income Sacramentans with catastrophic diseases. Then the economy tanked and the State and County began cutting funding. In response, Breaking Barriers has teamed up with Golden Rule Services, a local minority based nonprofit organization committed to addressing the

Today it was announced that the the U.S. jobless rate unexpectedly jumped to a 26-1/2-year high of 10.2 percent last month. The Labor Department said on Friday that employers cut 190,000 jobs in October, more than the 175,000 that had been expected but fewer than the 219,000 lost in September. A wider measure of labor-market slack, which includes both the

In the last few months we have spent quite a bit of time working with clients on organizational transparency. Below are some general lessons learned from our interactions with nonprofits, funders, and government agencies. When most nonprofit managers think of nonprofit transparency they generally think in terms of financials. While this is a vital piece of the puzzle, recent allegations

There are many arguments for funding nonprofit organizations, some moral and others practical. This post addresses the latter. The majority of economists now believe that the US economy has returned to growth. However, the national unemployment rate stands near 10 percent and is not expected to reverse until well into 2010, if not 2011. In addition, foreclosure activity continues have