http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org/blog_harvest Assisting nonprofits gather financial management resources that will help them build sustainable futures. Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:35:08 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Let's Get Innovative Judy Alnes, Executive Director of MAP for Nonprofits, is on a roll about the importance of innovation.  In her article for MCF's Winter 2010 Giving Quarterly, she outlines what might come next for the nonprofit sector, finishing with a call for innovation: "Scrub-Down" Won't Be Enough We Aren't Going ... http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org/blog_harvest/2010/02/26/making-it-work/ In my last post I shared some New Year's Resolutions, and TechSoup had a similar idea with a series of technology resolutions, including #3: This Year, We Will Manage Our Finances Better.  This is a great resource that rounds up available nonprofit financial management and accounting options.  It explains the ... http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org/blog_harvest/2010/02/08/getting-the-lay-of-the-land/ It's a new year, a new decade, time to turn over a new leaf. Like many of you, I have New Year's resolutions to get my life (and notoriously messy office) in better shape. Many nonprofit and social enterprise bloggers have the same idea.  My favorite was Nell Edgington's ideas about ... http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org/blog_harvest/2010/01/22/new-year-new-you/ This is often a time to take stock.  As I wrote in December's Nonprofits Count, we have a lot to reflect on. 2009 was a difficult year, and unfortunately 2010 will probably pose even greater challenges. Rather than dwell on the series of year-end reports issued in the last few days ... http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org/blog_harvest/2009/12/22/good-tidings-to-you-and-all-of-your-kin/ Tomorrow I'm going home for Thanksgiving, and I'm looking forward to seeing friends and family for the first time in a while.  I live half a country away, so I don't get home as often as I would like. I think it's interesting, and timely, that in the last few weeks ... http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org/blog_harvest/2009/11/23/what-im-thankful-for-strategic-collaboration/ It's that time of year, when the Wall Street Journal and New York Times devote entire sections to philanthropy, charitable giving, and nonprofits. The Wall Street Journal Makes It Personal Why is management advice to the philanthropic sector filed under personal finance? This section includes commentary about foundation payout rates, general operating support, ... http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org/blog_harvest/2009/11/13/whats-wrong-with-this-picture/ Sometimes I think our sector needs its own superhero - a Nonprofit Mythbuster who would go around busting up some of the perceptions that undermine our ability to do good. Photo Credit: Dunecasher on flickr There are many things that make nonprofit work challenging.  However, often we're not battling the forces of ... http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org/blog_harvest/2009/11/03/who-ya-gonna-call-mythbuster/ I'm doing something risky by linking to Seth Godin, but his recent blog on the difference between apparent risk and actual risk got me thinking... What Is Risk Management? According to the Nonprofit Risk Management Center: Risk management — A discipline for dealing with the possibility that the future may be surprisingly different ... http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org/blog_harvest/2009/10/15/doing-something-risky/ You may have heard that there was quite a ball game last night (coverage here, here, and everywhere). The state of Minnesota (including yours truly) is celebrating a playoff berth for a plucky squad of baseball players, assumed out of the running after All-Star slugger and 2006 AL MVP Justin ... http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org/blog_harvest/2009/10/07/finding-inspiration-in-unlikely-places/ Generally I'm a skeptic when it comes to applying business advice to nonprofits.  Although nonprofits are businesses, we also operate under a different greater restrictions.  However, recently there have been two interesting articles I wanted to share. Dealing with Uncertainty McKinsey Quarterly's article, How managers should approach a fragile economy cautioned business ... http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org/blog_harvest/2009/09/30/all-you-need-is-love-and-the-right-tools/