Today’s environment lauds and extols partnerships and cooperative relationships involving nonprofit organizations. When two or more organizations find a way to join forces and either co-develop programs or coordinate their providing services, it is applauded by contributors, funders and stakeholders. It is a smart way to avoid duplication, limit competition and capitalizes on agencies’ knowledge and expertise and has become an accepted part of the nonprofit landscape. It also sends a strong message to the community at-large about efficiency and resourcefulness. When organizations decide they want to explore working together, whether it be in a cooperative relationship or a partnership, it is imperative that they define upfront what each wants from the relationship and how each agency can … Continue Reading
Consultants: Understanding their Assets and Limitations
Consultants are often thought of as magicians who can make problems disappear and fix almost any situation. In the face of tough situations involving boards of directors or organizational challenges, the first step is identifying the most appropriate suitable and best consultant. The consultant is usually approached at these times because there is a sense of crisis and the professional and volunteer leaders are not sure how to resolve these immediate challenges. Many times, there is a big difference between the reason the leadership reaches out to a consultant and the real problem confronting the organization. Another way of conceiving of these two aspects is to refer to the first as the presenting problem and the latter as the identified problem. True, sometimes they are the same, however, in … Continue Reading
When Donating Means More than Just a Financial Contribution
In 2005, Florence Galkin, a social worker living in New York, founded Mashov, an Israeli nonprofit organization whose mission is to support “Citizen Involvement and Partnership for Community Advocacy.” Over the years, Mashov has initiated a variety of efforts focused on advocating client’s rights and removing barriers to their receiving services. One demographic, in particular that could benefit from Mashov’s services, is single parents who often find themselves straddling many responsibilities and obligations. In addition to raising their children, they are often employed full or part-time and have additional obligations to other family members, as well. Ms. Galkin noted that single parents in Jerusalem were not always aware of their rights and entitlements and how to access them. This … Continue Reading
Bringing the Chair and the Donor Together
Fostering an Important Relationship: Bringing the Chair and the Donor Together Last week, I accompanied, G, one of my clients from abroad, to meet with an Israel-based organization she funds. The director of the organization had arranged a wonderful site visit that included visiting one of the agency’s youth clubs and meeting with a number of people such as the supervisor of the network of clubs, the coordinator of its youth club and a number of the club’s young participants. The schedule was perfect and the use of time could not have been designed more efficiently. The director thought of every detail and even arranged for A, the new chair of the board, to pick up my client and me and drive us to club for the site visit. After introducing himself, A took the drive to the site as an … Continue Reading
Sustaining Innovation
Any professional or lay leader of a nonprofit organization is familiar with the perpetual quest for innovation. Responding to the needs of the community in fresh and cutting edge ways is not only a constant challenge, it is often compounded by the additional task of presenting these new ideas to funders or supporters. Present and prospective donors are always interested in what is unique, innovative and/or creative about a new program and the way it responds to the community’s needs. It is no longer enough to provide services. At the same time, there is a price for maintaining a strong commitment to creative approaches. How do voluntary agencies sustain funding for sometimes risky and innovative ideas? How do they continually search for new ways of providing social, health and/or educational … Continue Reading
Tips for Hiring a Consultant
Recently, I came upon a community organization that was using a standard RFP (request for proposals) process to engage a consultant to assist with strategic planning. I started thinking about the process of engaging consultants and best practices for both the organization and the candidates. It is interesting to think about how an organization selects someone who will work with those most committed to the organization and the most appropriate steps to take to select the right firm or person. Organizations often bring in a consultant after facing a dilemma or conflict and having exhausted all of the human resources available to their leadership, including past presidents and other former leaders, then turn to an outside expert who can help the board and/or staff think through possible solutions. … Continue Reading
Reconfiguring Jewish Identity in Israel
Last June, I had the privilege to participate in the international Nachum Goldmann Fellowship (NGF) in Israel, sponsored by the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture (MFJC). (You can read my posting about it here.) Following this conference, the MFJC in conjunction with a small group of Israelis, decided to plan a mini-Nachum Goldmann Fellowship for Israelis, so this past weekend 40 people gathered at the Ohalo Conference Center on the Kinneret to engage in a series of presentations and discussions on the theme of, “Reconfiguring Jewish Identity and Peoplehood in Israel.” This very intense program began with a presentation by Professor Moshe Halbertal who posed a number of questions about the priorities in Israeli society. He questioned where we place our emphasis and whether we are striving … Continue Reading
Selecting Officers and Members of the Board: Does the CEO Have a Say?
Recently, in a meeting with a colleague a question came up about the process of engaging leadership and finding the most appropriate person to lead a nonprofit organization. Every nonprofit organization goes through a process every two to five years of selecting a new volunteer leader who serves as president or chair of the board of directors. The official name of the position depends on the culture of the organization as stipulated in the nonprofit’s by-laws. In general, the person in this role, the person is the volunteer “head” of the organization and is responsible for chairing the meetings of the board of directors and officially represents the organization in public events. The chair of the board leads the process of establishing policies and is responsible for the fiscal accountability … Continue Reading
If You Will It: Be Sure to Double Check the Name
A fascinating story ran in the Israeli newspapers last week about a couple named Kurt and Julia Nassau who left a bequest of $700,000 to the Israel Symphony Orchestra. The only problem is there is no such orchestra in Israel. There is the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and there is an Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion, but there is no Israel Symphony Orchestra! The issue is now before the New Jersey Supreme Court, which will decide what to do with the bequest. Friends of the deceased couple surmise that the Nassau’s most likely intended the money to go to the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Israel’s leading symphony, and not the much lesser-known Rishon LeZion orchestra, and that they merely made a mistake with the name when drafting their will. On the other hand, the people in Rishon … Continue Reading
The CEO Quit: What Now?
Just when you thought things were going so well, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) suddenly steps down. Now what? No one from either the board of directors or the professional staff saw this coming. Everyone figured that at some point, most likely after assuming the lead role as head of the organization, the CEO would eventually step down, but so suddenly? And so soon? When this happens, it’s important to take a few steps back and ask some Big Questions, such as: What does an organization do when faced with this situation? Who breaks the news to the board of directors, the staff and the community? How does the board organize itself to move forward? Who assumes executive responsibility for the organization after the CEO relinquishes responsibility? What becomes the focus of activity in the … Continue Reading
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