Family foundations are such a critical part of the philanthropic community. Originally set up as tax havens for philanthropists, they are now much more than that and making considerable, positive changes in our local and global communities. This is due in large part to an increased focus on...

Nonprofit board members are reminded again and again to think of our role in terms of the “three Ts” — offering time, treasure, and talent to the organizations we serve. There is no question that nonprofits and society are well served when boards are ably and enthusiastically fulfilling these core...

There’s a famous scene in the Mel Brooks movie Young Frankenstein where Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (played brilliantly by Gene Wilder) realizes that his assistant Igor gave him “Abby Normal’s” brain to put into his monster. As you can imagine, hilarity ensues. Today, we’re once again talking about...

With his personal finances spinning out of control, Steve Carell’s character in the television series The Office gathered everyone around and announced, “I declare bankruptcy!” His co-workers then explained that using bankruptcy as a path to deal with financial difficulties involved more than a...

This article first appeared Jan. 19, 2017 on the Chronicle of Philanthropy website, http://philanthropy.com. It is reprinted here with their permission.

As the country prepares to inaugurate Donald Trump as our 45th president on Friday and leadership at all levels of government takes shape...

The critically important role nonprofit boards play in employee health insurance purchasing

If you serve on a nonprofit board, you’ve probably seen those fellow members who look like a deer in the headlights when presented with financial statements. Maybe that’s even you. While everyone is recruited to serve because of a unique skill set, it’s important for all board members to understand...

To infinity and beyond! Isn’t that a great and energizing phrase? Buzz Lightyear would certainly agree, as it’s his mission: To go further, be stronger, and ultimately be successful. Those of us who know the movie Toy Story can relate to his motivations. But we also recognize the many struggles he...

One of my favorite questions to ask boards is “If your organization were founded today, what would it look like?” I love it because it leads to the board asking some other very important questions — questions that get to the heart of the organization’s existence:

• What’s our organization’s core...

President Trump has vowed to repeal the Johnson Amendment, a move that — if successful — would strike down the rules that prevent nonprofit organizations from electioneering.

In 2013, I had the opportunity to serve as a member of the Panel of Nonprofit Sector Representatives for the Commission on...