Having a vision is hard. Having a vision that bucks the way we’re socialized to think is even harder. Developing programs, projects, and initiatives that bring the vision into reality is a different kind of hard. To start, it’s overwhelming when we start to think about what all we don’t think we know. Where do […] The post New Resource “Implementing New Programs In The Time Of COVID-19” appeared first on Notations on Non-Profits.…

I have a very soft spot for libraries and bookstores. Places that allow for communing at the level of comfort for the communer. Pretty important for someone like me. And, as places that are holders of books…which as my accountant might tell is a weakness of mine. So the proliferation of bookstores closing across Houston […] The post Re-imaging Bookstores During COVID And After appeared first on Notations on Non-Profits.…

Audre Lorde said, “The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house.” It’s something I sit with often because man…is it easy to pick up the tools you’ve been indoctrinated to believe are not only the best way of doing things but the only way to do things. Lorde’s quote was the first thing that […] The post Do You Rely On Models That Create The Problems You Want to Solve? appeared first on Notations …

So, let’s chat. I have a few client conversations where I know they call me names in their heads. Challenging a mission is one of them. But, whether or not they start an organization is another big one. I have this conversation for a few reasons. One, there are narratives–I mention them below–that pressure us […] The post Do I Need to Start an Organization to Have Impact? appeared first on Notations on Non-Profits.…

This year’s protests, increasing research on disparities between people of color and their white counterparts, and coverage on racially driven killings has many organizations looking at the ways they perpetuate inequity. Note, I didn’t say whether they perpetuate inequity. There’s a reason for that. The US economy, its legal institutions, academic institutions…heck its constitutional charter […] The post Centering Social Equity In Your Projects, Programs and Initiatives: A Tool-kit and Workbook appeared first on Notations …

I always appreciate a client honestly and vulnerably naming their fears.  For others, I find fears are a bit more unconscious. But, if I’m helping with strategy or a business launch and hear “I don’t want to get it wrong,” “I want to well-received,” or “I don’t want to look stupid” what I often pick […] The post Are You Building For Impact or Building for Acceptance? appeared first on Notations on Non-Profits.…

Happy Friday! Over the years, I’ve noticed any time a client is hesitant to adopt an approach or direction it’s not because of dislike but fear. They’re afraid that something they don’t know will turn around and bite them. So instead of exposing themselves, they stick with what they know and has kept them out […] The post Understanding the Legal Concerns with Nonprofit Technology appeared first on Notations on Non-Profits.…