What do you do when everything around your organization shifts and you must rethink your operations?
This is a topic that Jan Lawerance, the Executive Director of the Reconciling Ministries Network, knows a lot about. Listen in while Mary and Jan discuss how you can ride the wave of change, articulate your true north, seek out diverse thought partners, and remain relevant to your communities regardless of any changes that come your way.
The start of the year often leads to self-evaluation and reflection. An organization should take time to evaluate and reflect at the beginning of a new year. A piece of evaluation that can be done is an assessment of the intercultural competency of the organization and the staff. One tool that is used is the Intercultural Development Inventory. Read more to find out how this tool can be applied at your organization.
The second episode of our podcast: ’The Nonprofit Experts’ is live! Listen as Mary Gladstone-Highland talks with Tim Pare, founding artistic director and CEO of Michigan Stage, on Building Community Connections to Fast-Track Sustainable Growth.
Tell me if you can relate. You’re a busy nonprofit leader. Every day, a new emergency requires your attention, and reaching the bottom of your to-do list is difficult. If that sounds like you, then you aren’t alone. We hear this from nonprofit leaders all the time. Reactive leadership feels like constantly putting out daily fires. The magic wand to combating this dynamic is for you to be intentionally proactive. Proactivity feels like a deep breath, a warm cup of coffee, or a clear plan.
Disability impacts all of us. When professionals talk about DEI in their workplaces, sometimes there is little or no information on the disability community. It is not surprising that most organizations do not have enough disability representation and inclusion. Below are the fundamentals of how you and your team can help dismantle systemic ableism and make your nonprofit more accessible.
Welcome to the Nonprofit Experts podcast! In our pilot episode, you will meet our team, hear how sector leaders (like yourself) define 'expert,' and reflect on your expertise. Additionally, you will hear how you can use this material with your team to uncover the assets hidden within your midst.
Whether it's because you’re setting resolutions or designing annual strategic objectives, the beginning of the year is ripe with new opportunities. You've likely heard the advice to choose goals that are realistic or 'right-sized' but may be wondering how to determine if an approach is the best fit. Therefore, here are some guiding questions for you to consider when evaluating your next opportunity.
The first of the year is the time to evaluate, look back on the past year, and analyze what needs to be changed. In the new year, individuals often do this, but organizations can do it, too. Organizations might have old habits that need to be changed. The first of the year is an opportune time to start changing those habits. Here are three easy steps to help you kick those old habits in the new year.
January is a great time to talk about goals. We’ve shared some posts previously on goal setting; now we want to talk about what to do after the goals are set. You may be wondering, “What can I do to make sure my goals are met?” Below are four tips for achieving your goals.
As 2022 draws to a close and 2023 begins, we wanted to take a moment here at Spark Group to reflect on and celebrate the accomplishments of this past year. It’s been an honor to work alongside so many outstanding nonprofit leaders and visionaries, as our clients and colleagues. A huge thank you to everyone who worked with us, followed us, engaged with us, mentored us, and challenged us this past year.
This time of year, it is easy to get swept up in the end-of-the-year frenzy. As you wrap up the end-of-the-year paperwork, deadlines, and meetings, it is important to remember your team and show appreciation. Here are five small actions that you can take to show appreciation for your team as the year comes to an end.
Holiday vacations are right around the corner. Likely, some folks out there are counting down the days; those vacations can’t come soon enough! But for others – especially some overworked nonprofit leaders I know – the idea of holiday vacations is just one more thing to stress over! Here are a few tips to help you set aside work and enjoy your vacation.
You are the expert of your nonprofit organization. You work hard, know your organization inside and out, and seek thought partners to think through challenging moments and exciting new strategies. This show is a chance to have conversations with nonprofit leaders like yourself.
In each episode, you'll hear from everyday, exceptional leaders of the nonprofit sector as they chat with host Mary Gladstone-Highland, CEO of Spark Group Consulting, about the critical issues that impact nonprofits and how they use their assets to provide creative solutions to complex problems.
It’s December, the end of the year is coming fast, and you’re likely stuck in this weird place of both looking back at 2022 and thinking about the future. We’re doing the same thing at Spark Group, which is why this week, we wanted to compile a list of our favorite content of 2022 so that you don’t miss out. Here it is! Happy reading!
If you placed all your hopes on #givingtuesday for your year-end campaign, you probably felt disappointed by the results. However, if you see the day as part of a larger year-end approach, it is easier to appreciate the event.
Regardless, here are a few tips to pay attention to today!
It’s November. You’re sitting at your desk with ten essential tasks on your to-do list and your end-of-the-year campaign requiring immediate attention. You’ve heard about peer-to-peer (P2P) fundraising but don’t know if it’s worth it for your organization or if you should just stick with the tried and true methods that have always worked.
In 2019 you thought in-person events were superior to virtual options. Though now, you've had years to learn how to run exciting, cost-effective virtual galas. Here are three questions to ask yourself to make the best decision for your organization.
Many nonprofit leaders need help crafting a comprehensive marketing plan that shares their impact and causes donors to take notice. They either don't spend enough time crafting a strategy and instead post here and there on their social media when an event is coming up or when it's time to ask for money. Or, they feel lost, unaware of the best practices for nonprofit organizations.
So, here are our top nonprofit marketing tips:
Your strategic planning process is one way to check in with the community. In addition, incorporating Human-Centered Design helps facilitate meaningful engagement.
Fundraising plans are the tools employed by nonprofit leaders to set up proactive development strategies throughout the year. Don’t forget this important strategy!
