I've said my piece about the competency of nonprofits – they are competent! – but now I have to speak up for businesses – they can be trustworthy, compassionate, and ethical.

That is not the perception of businesses in the survey recently published by Stanford University. The study indicated that nonprofits are viewed as trustworthy and incompetent. It found that corporations are viewed as competent but not trustworthy or "moral."

Take Up the Challenge: Show How Competent Nonprofits Are

by Geri Stengel on Mar 9, 2010 - 9:45am

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You’d think that after the Great Recession exposed so many incompetent corporations, opinions might be changing toward nonprofits, but a recent survey says, "no."

Madoff, AIG, Lehman Brothers, and General Motors have not dented the perception that for-profit corporations are more competent – although less warm and fuzzy – than nonprofits.

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Non-profit, For-profit Leaders Have Much in Common

by Geri Stengel on Mar 4, 2010 - 9:45am

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What's the difference between improving sales and drawing in more donors?

Not much, as it turns out. Both involve marketing, staff development, and having “A” players on board. The need to attract and retain good employees is common to both the for-profit and non-profit sectors as are the conundrums of mergers; how to do more with less; and how to fire or hire.

Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Social Enterprises Will Benefit From Ventureneer's Free eBook

by Geri Stengel on Mar 2, 2010 - 9:45am

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As a teacher, consultant, nonprofit board member, and entrepreneur, I've learned a lot about starting and growing a business. I'm distilling the key points into a series of free ebooks for small businesses – that includes commercial businesses, nonprofits, and social enterprises.

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A Social Entrepreneur Puts the Fun Back Into Recess

by Geri Stengel on Feb 25, 2010 - 9:45am

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Time was that "play ball" was not the cry you'd hear in low-income neighborhood. No matter that playgrounds offer children many benefits, from health (43% of kids are obese or overweight) to education to camaraderie. Many a low-income neighborhood just couldn't afford to build and maintain a playground.

Small Business Networks Help Each Other and Their Communities

by Geri Stengel on Feb 23, 2010 - 7:00am

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The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) is a great example of what you, through survey responses, and I have been saying for a long time: Peer support is a valuable asset to small business owners and social entrepreneurs.

We Did It: Non Profit Rating Agencies to Measure "Effectiveness," Not Just Overhead Ratios

by Geri Stengel on Feb 18, 2010 - 9:45am

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It's about time! In response, I think, to an outpouring of reports and and to many bloggers (including me, in Non Profit Funding Standards Undermine Non profits) who spoke up, the agencies that rate non profits are going to adopt more realistic standards, finally recognizing that non profits, like for-profits, have costs of doing business.

Harsh Advice Raises Hackles: Being a Bully Isn't Good for Business

by Geri Stengel on Feb 16, 2010 - 9:45am

Commentary / Opinion double bottom line small business triple bottom line

Fire your relatives? Scare your employees? Stop whining?

Well, your relative may not be the best person for the job so you might look at that, but much of the advice spouted by George Cloutier in the February 10 New York Times article certainly doesn't mesh with good business or good sense.

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It's a Vision Thing: Entrepreneurship Is Seeing What Others Don't

by Geri Stengel on Feb 11, 2010 - 9:45am

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Entrepreneurs are people who see the routine and envision change, who see an opportunity where others see a problem.

Tyga-Box Systems is the perfect example of entrepreneurship. Most of us anticipate moving-day by buying cardboard boxes, packing tape, and marking pens, then throw them all away at the other end of the move. But husband and wife Martin Spindel and Nadine Cino saw that routine as environmentally destructive and just plain silly.

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When Less Is More: A Guilt-Free Gift for Valentine's Day

by Geri Stengel on Feb 9, 2010 - 9:45am

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Candy Without the Guilt
Are you searching for something sweet to give your sweetie? Give a treat that's as diet-friendly and socially responsible as it is tasty. Huh, you say! When did Vistas start pushing products? Bear with me while I explain.