Pas de deux: A new way of approaching board governance

Time is a Significant Gift Time is a finite resource; once spent you can never get it back. When one gives of his or her time to your organization, that is an incredibly valuable gift. Volunteers play an increasingly important and powerful role in many nonprofit organizations. Some people volunteer ...

It seems now more than ever; we each need more grace and more space in our lives. On the surface, giving grace and making space for others seems easy to do. Right? Sure, I’m in with that. Who wouldn’t be? But I’ve been noticing something in myself and in others...it’s getting harder and harder to ...

Dear friends, Design Group International is pleased to announce three new Senior Consultants have joined its team of process consultants adding to the collective strength and service to clients. ‘We are excited to have Rose Shetler, Eric Doss, and Steve Slagel bring their skills and passion to help ...

An old friend called one day and asked if I could help her with a capital campaign. My first question was this: What did she hope to achieve through the campaign? PROCESS CONSULTING IDENTIFIES DEEPER ISSUES A conversation ensued that helped my friend articulate several key organizational issues ...

This year through A Cause Greater, I’ve talked a great deal about the importance of initiating, developing and sustaining authentic donor relationships. I hope you’ve found value in this approach to donor cultivation and stewardship, and have been inspired to try some new things in your work. With ...

Last month, we discussed a new framework for thinking about board governance, we called it pas de deux, pronounced pɑ d(ə) dø, and translated as the dance of two. The field of board governance and the writing that surrounds it is complex and can be difficult to understand, let alone implement. We ...

It’s been hard for me to write over the past month. It has been hard to be still, to be quiet, or to think deeply for very long. In fact, let’s be honest, it has been hard to do a lot of things lately. COVID-19 and “stay at home” orders are having a huge impact on all of our work, our home lives, ...

A client once asked me, “What’s the secret to developing relationships with donors?” My response? Time. Developing real, authentic, and meaningful relationships takes time. That may seem like an easy answer, but it’s true. Think of relationships you have with people in your life outside of your ...