If you are an executive leader starting a new program, mismanaged expectations may be setting you up for failure. When you build a program designed for legacy or impact, you do not get to bypass the start-up phase just because it is housed within an existing organization with infrastructure. As brand values and mission alignment…
Summer is time for vacation – and for your organization’s mid-year impact check-in! Your organization likely had a strategic planning session about six months ago. Ideally, your organization has a deliberate plan for creating social change just like it has a strategic plan to guide its overall growth goals. Now is the time to sit…
Non-profit organizations start because someone cares enough about a problem to do something about it. You likely are one of those people. You may have stumbled across this article because you found an unaddressed need and are considering starting one yourself. Getting involved is the first and most crucial step in changing a challenging situation….
A reminder for the change-makers. Before I was a consultant, I was the Chief Executive Officer of a small CDFI credit union in Chicago. It was small enough that I knew quite a few members by name. One quiet afternoon, I was standing at the teller station with an employee. We struck up a conversation…
Intentional change doesn’t come from accidental success. Your leadership team has decided it wants to make a big impact on ‘the community.’ The project could range from launching a new financial education program to running a charitable drive for a local school. Whatever the scope, you want to help your corner of the world gain…
Your organization has a clear mission and vision, and solves a societal problem. So, you invest in accomplishing your organization’s mission by spending time, attention, and financial resources. Your organization structure is less relevant than the specific impact you have in mind to change the world. You track outcomes and impact, and know where you…
Abstract Place-based community development in America has a rich history. Practices and procedures for successful redevelopment are supported by lobbying efforts, public administration, policy, federal funding, and the efforts of non-profits dedicated to neighborhood revitalization. Community revitalization work is often centered around specific geographic locations, while in recent decades modern technology has caused social networks…
Chicago, Illinois is the place I call home. The Windy City is recognized for its hardball politics and organizing history. In the late 1800s, the Pullman Strike led to major advances in improved labor law. Saul Alinsky, a well known community activist, spent his career in Chicago. He authored Rules for Radicals, still a popular handbook for…
Owners, executives, and bosses hold their own businesses back. That statement might hit a little hard if you fit the description. You might protest and say, “No, it’s the market!” or “it’s the competition!” or “it’s our lack of ___________(fill in the blank with your most frustrating operational challenge!” Conversely, you might agree with this…
Read magazine article here: Cooperative Business Journal Volume 1 Issue 1 (fliphtml5.com)