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Reframing the Problem: Start With What’s Strong Scarcity mindset and deficit-based problem-solving run rampant in our society. When a challenge comes up at your nonprofit, you might hear someone ask: “What’s going wrong?” “Why isn’t this working?” “What are we missing?” “Who or what is causing the problem?” “How do we fix it?” To survive, humans have always needed to notice trouble and address it, but this explicit process of viewing challenges as inherent deficits to be dia

Rethinking Nonprofit Events: Start with “Why” Is your nonprofit’s calendar dotted with events—luncheons, galas, open houses, 5Ks, or house parties? For many organizations, events are an important tactic. But not every event should serve the same purpose, and not every gathering needs to be a fundraiser. The most effective organizations start by asking one simple question: Why are we hosting this event? When you get clear on the “why,” everything that follows—audience, format,

I started AltruNext back in 2008. For years, it was just me: one person, partnering with nonprofits to advance the greater good. Ten years ago, that changed. AltruNext grew from a solo practice into something bigger, and my husband, Don, left his job to build it with me. It was a leap of faith for both of us. Two parents, young kids, and the very real uncertainty that comes with betting on your own business. Ten years in, I can tell you it hasn't always been easy, but it rema

June 9, 2026 | 1:00 - 2:00 PM This joint webinar brings together GPCI, CFRE, and NGMA to explore how accredited credentials support professional practice across grant development, grants management, and fundraising. Held on World Accreditation Day, the session reflects a shared commitment to the quality, consistency, and trust that accreditation brings to professions worldwide. Representatives from each organization, along with guest speakers who hold two or more credentials,

Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) June 24, 2026 | 1:00 - 5:00 PM Eastern $209 USD (Members); $279 USD (Non-Members) Eligible for 4 CFRE points. Strengthen your organization’s fundraising by joining this practical, interactive session designed to help you draft or audit your Gift Acceptance Policy that protects your mission, manages risk, and builds donor trust. Together we’ll explore what types of gifts you should and should not accept, who inside your organizati

This time of year, gardeners are eagerly watching to see what emerges. Some plants seem to burst to life overnight, while others take their time. I’m not great at keeping plants alive, but I’ve been trying to add pollinator-friendly perennials to our yard over the last few years. The problem is that they seem pitiful in that first year. I water them, I hope, and I wait. But I’m not even sure they’re alive. I found out there’s a gardening axiom for that: the first year it slee

Many nonprofits feel pressure to pursue every available grant, which can be overwhelming and counterproductive. When we’re chasing dollars, strategy and quality suffer. Instead, a well-designed grant screening tool helps your organization invest its limited resources where they can make the greatest impact. Why Build a Screening Tool? Grant opportunities vary widely in fit, likelihood, and return on investment. A structured screening process allows you to: Save time by quickl

Have you seen NPR’s brilliant new marketing campaign ? It “defend[s] the right to be curious.” I’m absolutely smitten . As NPR’s Chief Marketing Officer, Mishka Pitter-Armand, put it, "Curiosity is the fuel of a functioning democracy." It’s also essential for thriving, creative nonprofits. Get Curious About Curiosity Curiosity can be intrinsic or externally motivated. It can focus on intellectual topics or interpersonal issues. Regardless of its particularities, the ben