Founder's Syndrome: what it actually looks like, and how organizations move through it
Founder's Syndrome is one of the most frequently discussed and least honestly named dynamics in the nonprofit sector.
Five things every new executive director should know about their board
The ED-board relationship is the most consequential dynamic in any nonprofit. It shapes the organization's culture, its financial health, its ability to make decisions under pressure, and ultimately whether the executive director stays or goes. And most new EDs inherit it without a map.
Building a high-performing board isn't luck — it's a system
Most nonprofit boards don't fail because they recruited bad people. They fail because they recruited without a system.
How to tell if your board is governing or managing - and why it matters
The line between governance and management is one of the most misunderstood concepts in the nonprofit sector. I've watched it cause friction between executive directors and board members who genuinely like each other, who share deep commitment to the mission, and who can't figure out why every meeting feels like a standoff.
What makes a strategic planning process fail - and it's not the plan
After a decade of facilitation, I can usually tell in the first hour whether a strategic planning process is going to produce something real. It's not the quality of the materials. It's not the size of the room or the catering budget.
