Geri Stengel's blog

Well, we learned a couple of things about nonprofit funders, grantees, advisors, and critics this week: They are a vocal lot and want to know a lot. Just how vocal can be gleaned from the anthology of blog posts on the subject started by Jeff Raderstrong of Change Charity and expanded by Adin Miller of Adin Miller Consulting.

We also learned that nonprofit activists can make things happen.

The salaries of nonprofit executives have become targets for politicians, from New Jersey to Washington, D.C. The brouhaha is focused on the $1 million benefit package paid to the chief executive of the Boys and Girls Club of America.

You know the old adage “What doesn’t kill you will make you stronger?"

You can't plan for everything.

Like BP not putting in the right kind of plug on its oil well.

Kyle Berner saw a need and built a company that took into account sustainability, market, community benefit, biodegradability, fair trade, and ethics.

'Tis the season for book lists and I don't want my readers left out. Rather than conjuring up a reading list based on my own tastes, needs and what I've had time to read, I asked our experts – the professionals who teach our webinars – for recommendations. Looking at this list, I'll have to plan a trip to the beach myself, just to check out these new ideas.

"We're fighting for workers rights, for health care. We have to take care of our own staff," said Sondra Youdelman, executive director of Community Voices Heard.

I can't think of better guidelines for social entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and small business owners than that of Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, a very large, socially responsible business.

As quoted by AP, Benioff describes his philosophy as the V2MOM process. It stands for the vision, the values, the methods, the obstacles and the measures.

Vandra Thorburn went into business for herself later in life – at 62 – motivated by both a cause and being laid off from her job. Necessity is the mother of invention!

Risk-taking. Passionate. Problem-solver. 

Investor. Innovator. Business person. 

Juggler. Hard worker. Idea person.

Sales person. Leader. Financial Planner.  

It's hard to believe but true: Some nonprofits aren't taking full advantage of technology. But perhaps they'll be inspired by the experience of the Council of Senior Centers and Services, a New York-based advocacy group.