--- title: BoardSource Blog - The Leader in Nonprofit Board Governance | Donald Summers description: Donald Summers is the founder of Altruist Partners, a global nonprofit and social enterprise advisory firm that provides strategic, financial, and performance solutions for organizations seeking growth and high impact. A graduate of Middlebury College and Harvard University, Donald is a frequent keynote speaker and author, with scholarship and articles published by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Chronicle of Higher Education, and the Stanford Social Innovation Review. --- ![Blog-0216.jpg](https://blog.boardsource.org/hs-fs/hubfs/blog_photos/Blog-0216.jpg?width=1400&name=Blog-0216.jpg "Blog-0216.jpg") [![Blog-header-logo.png](https://blog.boardsource.org/hs-fs/hubfs/blog_photos/Blog-header-logo.png?width=360&name=Blog-header-logo.png "Blog-header-logo.png")](https://boardsource.org) [Back to blog homepage](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog) ## Donald Summers Donald Summers is the founder of Altruist Partners, a global nonprofit and social enterprise advisory firm that provides strategic, financial, and performance solutions for organizations seeking growth and high impact. A graduate of Middlebury College and Harvard University, Donald is a frequent keynote speaker and author, with scholarship and articles published by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Chronicle of Higher Education, and the Stanford Social Innovation Review. [![businessperson navigating Money-Shaped maze](https://blog.boardsource.org/hubfs/money-maze-blog.png)](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/navigating-the-complex-nonprofit-revenue-landscape) ## [Navigating the Complex Nonprofit Revenue Landscape](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/navigating-the-complex-nonprofit-revenue-landscape) Posted by [Donald Summers](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/author/donald-summers) on Jun 5, 2019, 4:09:53 PM In my [previous posts](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/author/donald-summers) on this blog, I have laid out the critical success factors for board members wishing to lead nonprofits that go big and truly deliver substantial social impact. It takes a high-performing team; a culture of courage, risk tolerance, and grit; and a world-class business plan... [more](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/navigating-the-complex-nonprofit-revenue-landscape) Topics: [Fundraising](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/topic/fundraising) [![blogimg](https://blog.boardsource.org/hubfs/blog_photos/blogimg.png)](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/how-to-produce-a-world-class-investment-grade-business-plan-for-your-nonprofit) ## [11 Steps to Producing a World-Class, Investment-Grade Business Plan for Your Nonprofit](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/how-to-produce-a-world-class-investment-grade-business-plan-for-your-nonprofit) Posted by [Donald Summers](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/author/donald-summers) on Oct 17, 2018, 1:12:47 PM ***Eight-Minute Read*** Unfortunately, most of the 1.5 million nonprofits in the U.S. live a hard life and struggle just to keep their doors open. Often, staff suffer from low pay, high stress, and burnout; technology is underutilized; and board members and other volunteers are disengaged, misaligned,... [more](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/how-to-produce-a-world-class-investment-grade-business-plan-for-your-nonprofit) Topics: [strategic planning](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/topic/strategic-planning) [![Three gotta-haves for impact and scale](https://blog.boardsource.org/hubfs/blog_photos/three-steps2.png)](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/the-3-gotta-haves-for-boards-seeking-impact-and-scale) ## [The 3 Gotta-Haves for Boards Seeking Impact and Scale](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/the-3-gotta-haves-for-boards-seeking-impact-and-scale) Posted by [Donald Summers](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/author/donald-summers) on Jul 18, 2018, 12:15:00 PM An exciting, grand historical evolution of American society is taking place: [For-profit and nonprofit domains are converging](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/the-for-profit-and-nonprofit-sectors-are-converging-what-are-the-implications-for-you). Many of the entrepreneurial and organizational practices and frameworks found most frequently in the business world are finding increased adoption in the social sector, just... [more](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/the-3-gotta-haves-for-boards-seeking-impact-and-scale) Topics: [strategic planning](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/topic/strategic-planning), [Culture](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/topic/culture), [similarities in for-profits and nonprofits](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/topic/similarities-in-for-profits-and-nonprofits) [![Convergence](https://blog.boardsource.org/hubfs/blog_photos/blog-converge.png)](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/the-for-profit-and-nonprofit-sectors-are-converging-what-are-the-implications-for-you) ## [The For-Profit and Nonprofit Sectors are Converging: What Are the Implications for You?](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/the-for-profit-and-nonprofit-sectors-are-converging-what-are-the-implications-for-you) Posted by [Donald Summers](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/author/donald-summers) on Mar 14, 2018, 1:30:00 PM *sec·tor ˈsektər/ noun 1. an area or portion that is distinct from others*Writing in 1924, the brilliant British author Virginia Woolf made her now famous observation about rapid changes in human society during the early 20th century: *On or about December 1910, human character changed. I am not...* [more](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/the-for-profit-and-nonprofit-sectors-are-converging-what-are-the-implications-for-you) Topics: [Perspectives on Board Service](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/topic/perspectives-on-board-service), [Mission Impact](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/topic/mission-impact), [New Trends & Resources](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/topic/new-trends-resources), [Current Events](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/topic/current-events) [All posts](https://blog.boardsource.org/blog/all) ### Recent Posts Search this site on Google Search BoardSource   1050 Connecticut Ave NW, PO Box 65001  Washington,  DC   20036   US [![14](https://blog.boardsource.org/hs-fs/hubfs/14.png?width=37&height=37&name=14.png)](https://www.facebook.com/BoardSource/)  [![15](https://blog.boardsource.org/hs-fs/hubfs/15.png?width=37&height=37&name=15.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/boardsource) [![13](https://blog.boardsource.org/hs-fs/hubfs/13.png?width=37&height=37&name=13.png)](https://www.youtube.com/user/BoardSourceVideo) [Privacy Policy](https://boardsource.org/privacy-policy/)     |     [Acceptable Use](https://boardsource.org/terms-of-use/) © Copyright BoardSource