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INSPIRATIONAL TRAINING
Articles, Videos, Podcasts
Keep up with the latest trends with practical and inspirational content about topics like leadership, fundraising, organizational development, board engagement, governance, capacity building, and much, much more. You'll also find content about how to find and work with the best nonprofit board retreat/training facilitator, or the best strategic planning facilitator so your day is a resounding success.
For the podcasts, use your favorite podcast player and search for the title names.
Tom's Blog
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Nonprofit Culture: Developing a Unifying Force to Inspire Team Spirit
Nonprofit CultureSome nonprofits have a charismatic founder, an influential board chair, an experienced program director, or someone with an uncanny ability to raise money. It’s a blessing if you have a star player or two on your nonprofit team, and the more stars you have on your team the better. But unless there is a strong team culture unifying the players and coaches, it’s doubtful your nonprofit will ever win a major championship. Read more about culture now . . .
17 Best-of-the-Best tips on How to Host the Best Board Retreat or Strategic Planning Session Ever!
17 Best-of-the-Best tips on How to Host the Best Board Retreat or Strategic Planning Session Ever!
Are Your Board and Staff Members "Authentic" about Their Passion for Your Mission? Check here . . .
Are Your Board and Staff Members "Authentic" about Their Passion for Your Mission? Check here . . .
Holiday Fundraising (Part 2 of 2) -- Small and Mid-Size Donor Campaign Ideas . . .
Holiday Fundraising (Part 2 of 2) -- Small and Mid-Size Donor Campaign Ideas . . .
Holiday Fundraising (Part 1 of 2) -- Major Donor Campaign Ideas
Holiday Fundraising (Part 1 of 2) -- Major Donor Campaign Ideas
Engage Your Board! More Action, Less Talk. Here's How . . .
Engage Your Board! More Action, Less Talk. Here's How . . . A disengaged board isn’t just annoying — it’s expensive.It drains morale, slows progress, reduces accountability, and forces the executive director to carry the load alone.
High-performance nonprofits have one thing in common:Engaged, informed, and motivated board members.
Board engagement does not happen organically. You must engineer it by providing structure, expectations, opportunities, and accountability.
Hiring the Best Board Retreat Facilitators: Are They Worth the Money?
Hiring the Best Board Retreat Facilitators: Are They Worth the Money?
Last-Minute Nonprofit Fundraising Tips for the Holidays -- or Any Time!
Last-Minute Fundraising Tips for the Holidays -- or Any Time!
Assess the Fundraising Skills of your Board - Learn How
Assess the Fundraising Skills of your Board -- Learn How Here!
It's Time to Get Your Donors Involved! Why? . . . Magic, Money, Loyalty!
Get Your Donors Involved! Why? . . . Magic, Money, Loyalty!
Don't Forget Grandma Gini? (she may be loaded!) The importance of small donations
Don't Forget Grandma Gini? (she may be loaded!) The importance of small donations
Why donors are better than grants
Why You Should Care About Adding More Donors (It’s Not Just About Money)
If your nonprofit raises money from donors, it seems obvious that you’d want more of them. More donors = more revenue… right? Sure. But the real value of donors goes far deeper than dollars, and understanding this is a game-changer for any organization that wants to grow, scale, and create meaningful impact.
Here's How to Get 70% of your Donors to Say, "YES!"
Here's How to Get 70% of your Donors to Say, "YES!"
Make your First Ask -- a Connection Ask!
Make your First Ask -- a Connection Ask!
Get Your Donors to Stick Around!
Get Your Donors to "Stick" Around! In this article, you’ll learn a simple principle that helps transform one-time donors into long-term supporters—and dramatically reduces attrition.
Are Your Donors Not Responding -- Try This!
Are Your Donors Not Responding -- Try This!
Find the Best Strategic Planner for Your Next Planning Session: 7 tips!
Find the Best Strategic Planner for Your Nonprofit: 7 Key Things to Look For.
Board Development Facilitator - Find the IDEAL Facilitator
Finding the ideal board retreat facilitator. Ever walked into a board retreat hoping for clarity and inspiration… and instead found yourself silently begging for the lunch break to arrive?
Maybe the facilitator droned through slides, spent half the morning wordsmithing statements no one cared about, or delivered content that felt stale, generic, and disconnected from reality.
Read on to learn more about how to find a great facilitator!
Looking for the Best Board Retreat Facilitator? - Here's How to Find a Gem!
Choosing the right board retreat facilitator matters more than most boards realize. The guide below highlights qualities you'll want to look for when selecting someone who can actually strengthen your board, elevate your discussions, and produce real outcomes.
9 Essentials for Choosing a Board Retreat Facilitator Who Won’t Waste Your Time
Let’s be honest: most people don’t dread board retreats because of the work.They dread them because of the facilitator.
You know the type—reading wordy slides, talking at the room, draining every ounce of energy while half the board secretly scrolls through emails. If your last retreat ended with people feeling bored, frustrated, or completely unchanged, it’s a sign your facilitator wasn’t the right fit.
Find a great facilitator . . . here's how!
Boot Camp for Board Members: What It Really Takes to Build a High-Performance Organization
Most nonprofit leaders dream of running an organization that’s stable, respected, fully funded, and wildly impactful. But too often, the day-to-day grind feels like a military obstacle course you weren’t trained for. That’s exactly why “Boot Camp” exists—an intensive leadership series designed to sharpen your mindset, expand your operational strength, and help your nonprofit rise above the noise of a fiercely competitive sector.
The video is Day 1. An Overview. Enjoy.
Why Quality People Are the Core of Every Gold-Standard Nonprofit
Quality People. Why does this pillar sit at the top building a high-performance nonprofit?
Because everything your nonprofit accomplishes—every dollar raised, every program delivered, every ounce of impact—starts with people. Without human capital, there is no nonprofit. It's imperative to bring on and retain the highest quality people possible. Learn more now! . . .
How to Bring On High-Quality People to Your Nonprofit
How do you actually bring on (and keep) those high-quality staff, volunteers, and board members?
The nonprofit world is a human endeavor. Without people—staff, board, and volunteers—you can’t run programs, raise money, or fulfill your mission. It all starts with Human Capital.
The higher the quality of your people, the higher the quality of your impact. Learn more now!
Retaining High-Quality People You Worked So Hard to Bring On
How do you keep those A-players once you have them?
People are the most precious commodity in the nonprofit world. Staff, board members, and volunteers are the engine that generates your resources and impact. Without people, you can’t raise money, run programs, or move your mission forward.
So if you’ve done the hard work to assemble a team of high-quality people—great! But now what? Read on!
Want to Make Inspired Change? Then Let's Talk Today!
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