Cecilia Schenking
52 Tips in 52 Weeks: Nonprofits and Issue Related Election Day Activity
As I was filling in my mail in ballot earlier this week, I was struck by the number of ballot questions posed to voters in my county this year. Questions about funding for public schools, preservation, refuse facilities, waterways and a state constitutional amendment...
52 Tips in 52 Weeks: Keeping the Mission Statement Front and Center
While preparing for an upcoming virtual seminar, I remembered how much I like using table tents during meetings. For years, I have encouraged nonprofit boards to use these low-tech tools (just a piece of cardstock paper folded in half) to help for board members learn...
Charge-Up Collaborative Statement on Election Day
Change requires not only ideas but also tangible action. To better live up to their commitment to racial equity and social justice, many of the organizations in the Charge-Up Collaborative are adding Election Day as a paid day off for their teams. The right to vote should never be taken for granted and it is our responsibility as leaders to give our team the space to participate in this critical civic activity. Click the title to read more.
52 Tips in 52 Weeks: Charitable Giving
Good news! Charitable Giving is up in the First Half of 2020 – How will nonprofits respond to welcoming new donors? A recent report in the Chronicle of Philanthropy showed that charitable giving was up 7.5 percent in the first half of 2020 over the first half of...
52 Tips in 52 Weeks: Sustainability Planning
The Johns Hopkins University Center for Civil Society Studies recently released the 2020 Nonprofit Employment Report. In this timely report by Lester Salamon and Chelsea L. Newhouse, with the technical assistance of S. Wojciech Sokolowski, we learn that the nonprofit...
52 Tips in 52 Weeks: It’s Time to Review Your Organization’s Advocacy Policy
Advocacy efforts are front and center in these challenging times. For my colleagues who focus on advocacy efforts, 2020 has been a year with literally no downtime. I am grateful to have the opportunity to work in the midst of folks that are dedicated to the Standards...
52 Tips in 52 Weeks: Investing in Volunteer Orientation
In these unusual times, sometimes the things that we cling to the most are the activities and programs that proceed as they would in non-COVID times. I am truly grateful for individuals who volunteer their time to support our organization’s mission. I’m especially...
52 Tips in 52 Weeks: Board Meeting Minutes are Important Now and Always
Things are changing at what feels like lightning speed. It seems that if I turn off my mobile phone for just an hour or two, I miss all kinds of news headlines and updates that impact my work, family, and community. It’s more important than ever to keep careful...
Announcing Author and Activist Dr. Angela Davis as Keynote Speaker for Maryland Nonprofits & MARFY Annual Conference 2020
Maryland Nonprofits is delighted to announce activist, author, and social justice pioneer Dr. Angela Davis as the keynote speaker at the 2020 Maryland Nonprofits & MARFY Annual Conference on the morning of October 14, 2020. Through her activism and scholarship...
52 Tips in 52 Weeks: Fall Brings Board Development Efforts for Many Nonprofits
It’s fall and along with it—the start of school and even in these unusual times, the beginning of many new activities. One traditional fall activity for many nonprofits is the annual (or semi-annual) board member development effort in anticipation of the nominations...