Don't be scared! This Wednesday, I will be giving a workshop called "Executive Director 101 ". What I wanted to call it was "Everything I wish I would have known but didn't when I started my first Executive Director job" but that's a little too long. I half jokingly say I was hired to be an Executive Director for the first time because I had three important qualities (in no priority order): I didn't need medical insurance, I was willing to do it for the meager salary, and I was willing to learn on the job. I had some skills and education but none of that really prepared me to lead a small nonprofit organization, more or less by the seat of my pants. I thought what the organization needed was my stellar marketing and communication skills, which I felt confidently about. What I realized is that marketing and communications are only effective when you have your story straight, that the organization is on solid ground financially, and you hav...
I blog about issues facing nonprofit managers and organizations as a former Executive Director and current nonprofit researcher, professor, and consultant. I am passionate about building up the sector, about claiming the value nonprofits provide to the world.