In my town, we have a coalition called Community Organizations Active in Disaster. It’s a group of nonprofit and government organizations that is incredibly helpful as we navigate earthquakes, wildfires and, sadly, shootings. It works because each agency knows what makes them different from the others, so when disaster strikes they each have a specific
If your organization has made the serious and authentic commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, it’s time to make sure your communications reflect your mission, vision, and values—and your understanding of the work ahead. Yet it’s not uncommon for even the most committed and well-intentioned communicator to inadvertently reinforce negative stereotypes that perpetuate racism, exclusion,
Brand is just another word for reputation and every organization has one by default, whether or not you manage it well or how your logo looks. Your brand lives in the minds of your audiences. It’s the culmination of their experiences of how you sound, how you look, how you act, and what you do.
…
…
If the pandemic has taught us anything (and surely it has illuminated a lot), it’s to take stock of what’s really important. To strip away the excess and lean into what we value most. For many individuals, it’s a stark reminder of the value of loved ones and community, of kindness and empathy, of equity
Adopting a new name is hard work. It requires that you pursue the right strategy, AND it demands that you also prepare your staff, board, and stakeholders for the emotional stages that lie ahead. We all expect that it requires skills such as research, strategy, and creativity to launch a new name, but what many
There’s no question that stories are essential to your organization’s success. Our brains are wired to be drawn to narrative. We are far more likely to remember and reshare an anecdote than a data point. And yet, it’s hard to know what stories to tell. Nonprofits have been guilty of promoting narratives that perpetuate stereotypes,
The year of COVID-19 has been a year of mergers. Some organizations have become stronger during this challenging year and sought to expand their impact by joining forces with a similar organization. Other organizations, facing dwindling revenues, have paired with mission-aligned nonprofits to increase efficiency. Mission Minded has served multiple mergers in its 20+ years.
…