What We’re Reading
Need Census Data for Your Next Grant? Try the Opportunity Index
We have all been here: it is one week before the grant proposal deadline, and your team is scrambling to find or verify the latest statistics on the…
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The Surprising Salary Comparisons for Jobs in the For-profit vs Nonprofit Sectors
Another class of college graduates is about to enter the workforce—and they’re not just looking for any job.
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Is Political Polarization Affecting the Nonprofit Sector?
In many ways, America’s population has grown more polarized along racial, economic, and political lines. Americans are more likely to live near others from the same socioeconomic background and…
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Principle 30: Sometimes the Juice Ain’t Worth the Squeeze
Let’s face it, we can’t underestimate the importance of donors and donations to nonprofit organizations. Donor support breathes life into our ability to do what we do: successfully execute our…
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Lessons Learned as Board Chair
When I took over as board chair for BoardSource back in 2016, I was honored but also nervous about the responsibility. Now that I’m done with my term, I wish I could go back…
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Self-Coaching Strategies for Nonprofit Leaders
There is nothing like understanding that your decisions and actions will be consequential to reinforce learning. Therefore, learning on the job, with a lot of feedback and reflection, can be a very rich source…
Read MoreTell Us How We Can Support You
Like you, we see the good we do through our daily interactions with the people and organizations we serve. We also ask participants in trainings and those of you who engage CNE for consulting to provide feedback on your experience. This is…
Read MoreMother Knows Best
What We’re Reading
501c4 Nonprofits’ Image Problem is a Problem For All of Us
In recent months, a narrative has taken hold that is compounding a reputational problem for an entire class of nonprofits—and it is threatening to rob advocates of one…
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General Operating Support: The Effective Thing to do; The Respectful Thing to Do
General operating support can provide nonprofit organizations with the flexibility to plan, innovate, and pivot in their work. So, why don’t more foundations provide general operating…
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Two Stories About Motivating People
Today I offer you two stories. Very different and both true. They have something in common. The first one is the story of a simple thing I did to motivate my board. You can…
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Funders Can Bolster Democracy by Supporting Census Tech
Local governments and philanthropy are missing out on one of the biggest opportunities to positively affect the census: supporting the application of modern technology to increase the chances of a more…
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BOARD ACADEMY CELEBRATES 10 YEARS
On Friday, May 3, CNE held our annual Board Academy Graduation at Building Goodness Foundation, while also celebrating the Board Academy’s 10 year anniversary. Over the years, 234 participants have honed their skills to…
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Mission Haiku: The Poetry of Mission Statements
The mission statement is a cornerstone of both external communications and internal vision, and deserves your attention whether you are a grassroots startup or a generations-old foundation.
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Philanthropic Defenders Weigh in on the Notre Dame Debate
The immediate overwhelming outpouring of donor generosity, nearing $1 billion in just a day, in response to scenes of Paris’s iconic Notre Dame cathedral in flames has been greeted with…
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How to Prevent Donor Fatigue in a Small Nonprofit
Donor fatigue is real and it’s hurting lots of small nonprofits that are over-asking their donors without balancing those asks with enough feel-good interactions.
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Bolder Goals, Bigger Breakthroughs
Authors [in philanthropic sectors} are calling for folks working on the frontlines of social change to rethink their approaches and set their sights higher to achieve more meaningful outcomes. We could not agree more.
Read MoreAnnouncements
Last week a staffer from one of our member organizations was in our Resource Center using the Foundation Center. He saw a couple of us at the…
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What We’re Reading
6 Tips to Know Your Nonprofit Is Ready for Skilled Volunteers
Engaging skilled volunteers (also known as pro bono service) can be way to solve the capacity challenge.
Read MoreNew Kid on the Block
Think about a time…
Read MoreNew Member Benefit: Risk Management!
A data breach. An embezzlement. We would like to think it will never happen to us or the organizations we love, but it happens.
Making sure that your organization is managing its risk exposures is vital. This article—A…
Read MoreCollaborations: The Missing Party
Periodically, we’ll be featuring a thought piece from one of our amazing CNE board members. We hope you’ll enjoy this chance to get to know them better and hear a bit of their story. This piece was…
Read MoreLeadership Coaching
Are you an organization going through a transition in leadership, management, or staff? Are you a nonprofit professional seeking to maximize your potential and identify a clear path to your goals?…
Please Take Our Member Survey!
Please participate in our biennial member survey! This short questionnaire enables CNE to improve our programs and services by using data-driven decision making. The member survey helps us…
You’re Invited to a 10 Good Things Party!
Join us for CNE’s annual
Celebration of Strong Nonprofits
Wednesday, May 31 from 5:30-7:30pm
IX Art Park
Each summer, CNE brings together nonprofit, business, and community leaders,…
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