Helping Organizations Thrive - July 2013 Edition

Helping Organizations Thrive
July 2013 Edition

Welcome to my July 2013 email newsletter.

The mission of Jonathan Poisner Strategic Consulting is to help organizations thrive. I do that by assisting my clients with strategic planning, campaign planning, coalition building, fundraising, communications, and other organizational development challenges.

To keep people informed about my work, I set up this monthly (mostly) e-newsletter. If you want to unsubscribe, just look for the link at the bottom. My most recent edition can be read in my archive.

For a complete lists of the consulting services I offer, check out my website.

What Works

Most editions of this newsletter contains a section I call "What Works."

Mostly "What Works" focuses on either Why Organizations Thrive and Why Organizations Go Off Course, both of which detail lessons I learned while growing the Oregon League of Conservation Voters (OLCV), buttressed by my observations of dozens of other groups both in Oregon and across the country.

Why Organizations Go off Course Lesson Eight is: Don't Wait for Magic Pots of Money

The title of this lesson is deliberately farcical. After all, no board member waits around waiting for "magic pots of money." Right?

Amazingly, I learned this phrase from the Board Chair of a nonprofit organization who had a two fellow board members specifically use that phrase. In their words, the organization needed to hire a consultant to "to help us identify the magical pots of money which are out there for organizations like ours."

The Board Chair was frustrated, as well he should be.

Read the rest of the article.

Download the article as a PDF.

Recent Success Stories and New Clients

More than 300 people have now downloaded my E-Book: Why Organizations Thrive: Lessons from the Front Lines for Nonprofit Executive Directors. I'm always looking for feedback on the book, so please send it to me so I can take that feedback into account if I publish a second edition.

I continue to work with the Central Coast Land Conservancy to upgrade the organization's fundraising and outreach capacity. In July, they'll be focused on implementing a new volunteer plan with tabling opportunities and stewardship of one of their properties.

I recently wrapped up a six month project helping the Wallowa Land Trust ramp up its fundraising. The Trust is currently seeking its first-ever Executive Director (deadline to apply July 10).

The last week in June I spent two days in Las Vegas. I worked with Progress Now Nevada to assist with an Executive transition and I worked with the Nevada Conservation League staff to develop work plans. Both projects should wrap up in July.

In July, I'll be launching a development and business planning process for the Blue Mountains Conservancy.

Also in July, I'm beginning work with Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania on an update to their strategic plan.

Check out my website for a complete list of all my clients.

Recent Blog Entries

Note: I am actively looking for Guest Blog submissions. If you have some thoughts to share on any aspect of organizational development, shoot me an email and we can discuss length, timing, etc.

Quick Thoughts about E-Newsletters

Thinking about Triggers in Work Plans

What you Call it Doesn't Matter

A Riddle about Five Frogs

E-Book Published

Hire for Things Other than Just Existing Skills

A Fascinating Video about Motivation

Thoughts on Engagement Organizing

Thoughts on the Growing Importance of Peer to Peer Fundraising - Guest Blog on The Databank.com

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Clarifying the Why when Doing Strategic Planning

Nonprofit Leadership Traits

Looking for one of my past blog entries on a particular topic? I have now categorized my past blog entries. Just go to my website and hover over the "blog" link on the navigation bar and you can see the topics and choose from among them.

Contact Information
Jonathan Poisner Strategic Consulting
jonathan@poisner.com
phone: 503-490-1234
http://www.poisner.com