Yes, you can be doing the right thing for the right reason. Yes, you may be called to do the mission-driven work. Yes, you may have a divine appointment to accomplish good BUT resources require you to do your part.

We should encourage different perspectives at our table. We should intentionally invite people …

… more often than not, nonprofits close because the funds dry up or the passion fades or the founders just get tired. Nonprofits are critical to the health of a community and we need a strong, vibrant and sustainable sector to meet the difficult challenges of our communities.

Oh fellow LinkedIn'ers, can we have a chat about using LinkedIn to solicit sales? I have a business and I'm as interested as the next person in growing that business. BUT I think some of us have fallen into some bad habits …

I love social entrepreneurs. They are my people. Social entrepreneurs are visionaries with the crazy notion that they might be able to use creative energy, grit and tenacity to solve a problem.

These are descriptive phrases of unscrupulous predators who live and work among us but are often hard to see. We imagine unscrupulous types exist in corporate or political settings where the rich and powerful reign, but it's unnerving…

How do you juggle all the balls you have in the air? How do you decide how many is reasonable to juggle at once? When do you know you've added one too many....when they start falling?

Let's start with the questions of where do you live and why do you choose to live there? For most people it comes down to AAA: affordability, amenities, and academics -- albeit not always in equal proportions.

Business is all about relationships. It's not (only) a cliche, it's true. One of the best ways to have your business or organization marketed to prospects and new clients/customers/donors is through others. Other people talking about how great you are is far more persuasive

It's not yours. I read many memos and emails from heads of organizations and have numerous conversations with nonprofit leaders and practitioners.

How do you move past the feeling of being overwhelmed and burned out? Consider this:

I had an invigorating conversation recently with a brilliant, seasoned community development activist.

Two immediate and impactful strides you can make for your business: (1) Become a networker and (2) get over the fear of public speaking…

Communities where everyone can thrive. Everyone means all people. Everyone is not just those who are well-off or made great decisions or planned their life path and followed it perfectly. Everyone INCLUDES…

While CDP works with nonprofits, small businesses and local government across the US, we celebrate opportunities to plug into our local community. One of the ways we honor nonprofits in our local community is by participating with the Hamilton Joes

Often they are movers and shakers trying to solve complex social challenges through business structures. So....they/we don't fit neatly in the box.

I live in a world of acronyms -- admittedly, some are better than others. But I am leaning into this newest one -- LEAP. So what does it mean?

I love that quote. It doesn't mean a break now and then isn't nice, but I really love my day-to-day life...do you? Here's a check-up to consider:

...sprinkled with a bit of luck, divine intervention, and/or external opportunity.

Understanding the Charity Ladder is an insightful and thought-provoking concept and also a training that we offer at CDP.