A resignation . . . now what?

Leaders leave for all sorts of reasons — sometimes for new opportunities, sometimes because they’ve come to the end of their work life, and sometimes because they’re asked to leave. In many positions in social impact organizations, especially in the Chief Professional Officer position, engaging an interim leader can give the organization an opportunity to breathe, to assess the needs of the organization, remediate some immediate difficulties, and plot a strong, true course for the next “settled” leader. An interim isn’t just to water the plants and pay the bills, but to really take stock of where things are, where you want them to be, and to explore all the possibilities. Engaging an interim is no longer thought to be a sign of an emergency or a failed search, but of a board of directors that wants the very best for their organization. A seasoned, trained interim can provide a time of assessment, reconciliation, visioning and energy that can move an organization into the best possible place for a successful permanent hire. Joan has a rich, diverse history as an interim leader, both in the CEO/ED position and in the Chief Development position, with domestic and international organizations. In addition, she has completed Third Sector Company’s highly regarded Interim Executives Academy, a focused training program designed to prepare seasoned leaders for the particular work of interim leadership. She is uniquely qualified to help lead your organization through the challenging time of leadership transition.

Read More
Common People United
Becoming Storytellers.

Research tells us that if we haven’t grabbed the attention of a listener in 10 seconds, we’ve lost them for good. How do we craft fact and feeling into captivating stories, respectful of those we serve, that compel our listeners to stay with us, dig deeper, and ultimately, choose to engage with our organizations? Learning to weave the stories of real people into our development materials, conversations, and “asks” lies at the heart of transformational giving and deepening relationships. Cohort members will write and tell their own narratives, forming the foundation of a storytelling toolbox. The role of technology, such as video, will be discussed and we’ll analyze a great bunch of nonprofit storytelling examples.

Read More
Common People United
All the board members.

Both board chairs and ED/CEOs can be remarkably frustrated with board members — and sometimes wonderfully surprised when all the ducks are in a row. Board members need to understand their roles, as do the Chair and the ED, but real effectiveness comes through great relationships, not black and white role definition. We can help clarify what board membership truly means, the power it holds, and how necessary board members are to the health, stability, and sustainability of your mission. Seating and supporting functioning committees, designing energizing board meetings, engaging all members, and turning members into ambassadors and advocates are topics we’re ready to tackle with you. We’re BoardSource certified as a Board Trainer and would welcome the opportunity to walk with you and your board toward more effective (and enjoyable!) interactions that move the mission forward.

Read More
Common People United
Before you jump into the Search.

A vacancy, planned or unplanned, can present a unique opportunity for growth, change and self-reflection for any organization. Before you jump into an immediate search, consider the advantages of engaging an intentional interim to guide your organization through this change. Stronger alignment, clearer vision and re-energized staff and board can all come from bringing in someone specifically trained in the art and science of interim leadership.

Read More
Common People United
Is there such a thing as a “minor” donor?

When we talk with many organizations, particularly board members, one of the key concerns in that not enough time and attention is being spent on “major donors”. And those folks are, for most of us, who will provide the significant funding for our operations, special projects, capital campaigns, and endowments.  Learning to see every donor as a potential major relationship changes priorities and produces results, but it does take special planning to steward our high level donors, and also board members, well. Gratitude, respect, recognition all have to be planned for and carried out with great care. When do we involve board members and senior level staff members? We’ll look at recognition programs, special donor events, personal visits  and how these activities weave together. Cohort members will be challenged to move out of their comfort zone and engage significant contributors at an enhanced level.

Read More
Common People United
Please, not another event!

When the annual operating budget is being stretched, we can count on someone suggesting that we add another event. And all the development people cringe. With the lowest return on investment of any of our fundraising activities, events seem like a necessary evil.  How can we have more productive events that don’t bury staff members (and not just development staff) under tasks? How do we analyze events to see if we’re really making money and find sweet spots where revenue can be increased? How do we nurture relationships with people who only attend our events but don’t contribute? How do we make certain our events promote our mission, increase our visibility, and draw people more deeply into our work? We’ll analyze categories of events, discuss trends in event fundraising, and suggest ways of staying sane while eventing.

Read More
Common People United