Our digital identities—email addresses, phone numbers, and card numbers—are quietly threaded through nearly every service we use until one change breaks them all. A $50 disputed charge taught me that swapping a card or losing a long-held alumni email isn’t a ten-minute task; it can cascade into hours of account updates, locked accounts, and missed alerts. Institutions ending lifetime .edu accounts and routine card replacements show why stability and careful planning matter more than convenience. Before you click “replace,” weigh the full disruption: sometimes the easy fix creates bigger problems than the original issue.
Read MoreWhen a nonprofit receives a large, unexpected, unrestricted gift, excitement can quickly turn to tension without a plan in place. A clear windfall policy transforms those moments from reactive debates into strategic opportunities—balancing today’s needs with tomorrow’s sustainability. By defining in advance how surprise funds will be split between immediate priorities and long-term reserves or endowment, organizations make disciplined decisions that build lasting strength. With a policy, every unexpected gift becomes more than a blessing—it becomes a legacy.
Read MoreFour skilled, mission-driven volunteers can unlock over $90,000 in annual value for a nonprofit—the equivalent of a full-time employee. As budgets tighten and needs grow, it’s time to view volunteerism not as charity, but as smart talent strategy. When organizations recruit and empower volunteers with purpose and structure, they don’t just save money—they expand capacity, deepen community engagement, and transform impact. The value is measurable, and the opportunity is too big to ignore.
Read MoreMidlevel donors are the quiet engine of long-term philanthropy—steady, loyal, and often your best future planned giving prospects. They bridge the gap between annual fund supporters and major donors, combining generosity with deep mission commitment. By investing in meaningful stewardship and authentic relationships today, nonprofits can turn these consistent givers into tomorrow’s legacy champions. The path takes patience, but the payoff is enduring impact.
Read MoreAfter 51 years of Nebraska football, I’ve learned the real magic isn’t on the field—it’s in the stands. For a few hours, 85,000 people set aside politics, backgrounds, and differences to cheer as one. Memorial Stadium becomes more than a venue; it’s a reminder that unity still exists when we focus on what connects us instead of what divides us. In a fractured world, that shared spirit might be the most meaningful victory of all.
Read MoreAs donor pools shrink and costs rise, unrestricted funding has become a lifeline for nonprofits—fueling the people, systems, and strategy behind every mission. Yet too often, organizations undersell their operational backbone. Winning core support requires more than a grant proposal; it demands trust, transparency, and proof of organizational strength. In today’s climate, general operating support isn’t overhead—it’s the engine that drives impact.
Read MoreIn a world built for speed, we’ve traded depth for efficiency—quick texts instead of long talks, brief visits instead of lasting memories. Yet the moments that shape us most aren’t the fast ones; they’re the ones that stretch, linger, and allow real connection to take root. Whether it’s family dinners, road trips, or slow Sunday rounds of golf, those unhurried experiences remind us what it means to be fully present. Life may move fast, but meaning takes time.
Read MoreThe best nonprofit boards aren’t just filled with generous givers—they’re powered by great connectors. A board member’s true value lies not only in their personal contribution but in their ability to open doors, expand networks, and amplify the organization’s reach. Recruitment shouldn’t just be about resumes or wealth, it’s about mapping influence and identifying who can help tell your story to new audiences. The strongest boards don’t just give, they connect.
Read MoreBill Gates’ decision to spend down the Gates Foundation within 20 years of his and Melinda French Gates’ deaths marks a bold shift in philanthropy. By prioritizing urgency, scale, and present-day stewardship, he aims to tackle global challenges while his dollars can make the greatest impact. Yet this immediacy comes with trade-offs—loss of continuity, institutional memory, and philanthropic infrastructure. Gates’ choice sparks a bigger question for philanthropy: should wealth fuel immediate change or perpetual legacy?
Read MoreNebraska AD Troy Dannen’s decision to pause the $450–$800 million Memorial Stadium renovation is less a setback than a reality check. With limited population, steep seat-license fees, and a stadium used fewer than 15 days a year, the math doesn’t support a billion-dollar project. In today’s NIL-driven era, investing in athlete facilities and opportunities may deliver far greater returns than polished concourses. By hitting pause, Nebraska has kept the door open for smarter, more sustainable choices.
Read MoreIowa State’s athletics department faces a $147 million deficit through 2031, driven by the NCAA settlement’s new revenue-sharing requirements and shifting conference dynamics. Like Kansas State, Houston, and Oregon State, ISU is cutting expenses, raising donor expectations, and delaying facility upgrades just to keep pace. The deeper concern is cultural: as costs climb and revenues consolidate, non-revenue sports, community traditions, and the amateur spirit of college athletics may be sacrificed. Some schools, like UConn, are thriving through record fundraising, but many mid-tier programs may soon face existential choices that reshape the very fabric of college sports.
Read MoreWhat began as a forced medical leave for knee replacement surgery quickly became something far more meaningful—a sabbatical that reset both body and mind. Between rehab sessions and recovery, I discovered the benefits of stepping back: deeper healing, renewed creativity, and clarity on what truly energizes my work. Research shows sabbaticals reduce burnout, restore motivation, and sharpen focus—and my own experience confirmed it. Sometimes the best way to move forward with purpose is to pause intentionally, giving yourself the space to heal, think, and realign.
Read MoreToo often, philanthropy leaders are asked to raise big dollars without a roadmap to guide the work. The absence of a strategic plan isn’t just inconvenient—it undermines donor confidence, limits gift potential, and erodes credibility. Savvy fundraising executives can change that by elevating the issue as a leadership duty, bringing donor voices into the room, and proposing phased frameworks that spark momentum. Strategic clarity isn’t optional—it’s the fuel that transforms donor interest into meaningful investment, and philanthropy leaders must be the catalyst to make it happen.
Read MorePhilanthropy without a strategic plan is like building on sand—it may stand for a moment, but it cannot last. Donors disengage when appeals lack focus, internal credibility erodes when fundraising operates in a vacuum, and opportunities vanish when organizations fail to define their priorities. A strong strategic plan provides clarity, direction, and measurable outcomes that unlock donor confidence and energize fundraising. Without it, even the best fundraisers are left making vague asks—and that’s not just inefficient, it’s a leadership failure.
Read MoreFundraising events may look busy and feel productive, but the data shows they rarely deliver lasting results. Donors increasingly want authentic connection, clear communication of impact, and opportunities to partner in meaningful ways—not another gala or golf outing. Studies confirm that events make up only a small fraction of charitable giving while draining staff time and fueling burnout. The real path forward lies in relationship-driven strategies that prioritize trust, transparency, and long-term impact.
Read MoreUniversity endowments, long celebrated as a hallmark of fiscal strength, are now at the center of a heated policy debate. With billions of dollars held by institutions like Harvard, Amherst, and Grinnell—sometimes exceeding $1 million per student—lawmakers are questioning whether these funds truly serve affordability and access. Proposals to tax large endowments add pressure, especially as tuition costs remain steep and federal grants face freezes. Ironically, the very institutions that followed best practices in building endowments may now be penalized for their success, sparking tough questions about fairness, stewardship, and the future of higher education finance.
Read MoreShould big nonprofits that operate like corporations still enjoy sweeping tax exemptions? Scott Hodge thinks not—arguing for nearly $40 billion in new federal taxes on large hospitals, wealthy universities, and donor-advised funds. His case highlights a growing tension: when mission-driven institutions behave like market giants, the public benefit of their tax breaks comes into question. Whether controversial or overdue, the debate forces us to ask what it really means to be a nonprofit today.
Read MorePublic universities are under mounting pressure as state funding declines and operational costs climb, leaving students to shoulder rising tuition and fees. The challenge is clear: can these institutions keep being “everything to everyone”? Streamlining through strategic specialization—focusing each campus on its strengths and reducing duplication—offers a path forward. But the real test lies in overcoming political resistance, where local pride and jobs often outweigh efficiency.
Read MoreWhat if billionaire wealth was deployed more boldly—not to fund passive foundations, but to fuel education, housing, and economic opportunity at scale? Redirecting just half of billionaire fortunes into community-focused programs could dramatically cut poverty, reduce housing insecurity, and strengthen long-term economic resilience. The impact wouldn’t be charity, but transformation—empowering families to thrive while easing pressures on public systems. The Giving Pledge promised generosity; true fulfillment would mean turning dormant wealth into a catalyst for national renewal.
Read MoreFifteen years after its launch, the Giving Pledge has largely failed to deliver on its bold promise. With only 13 percent of U.S. billionaires signed on—and most donations funneled into private foundations—the wealth gap has only grown wider. History shows what happens when voluntary redistribution falters: government steps in. If today’s billionaires continue to hoard wealth under the guise of philanthropy, policy reform may once again force their hand.
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