Tom Spencer

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

Use concrete metrics to demonstrate your contributions, such as cost savings, revenue growth, or operational improvements. For example, some of my peers at my MBB firm took on internal rotations as Chiefs of Staff for senior leadership, gaining unique insights into global consulting operations.

Consulting 60

Consulting Finance Nonprofit Transportation 60

Harvard Business

NOVEMBER 15, 2018

hospitals and health systems experienced an average 39% reduction in their operating margins from 2015 to 2017. Cost reduction requires an honest and thorough reassessment of everything the health system does and ultimately, a change in the organization’s operating culture. In some larger nonprofit hospitals, there may be six.

System 128

System Management Nonprofit Operations 128

Tom Spencer

NOVEMBER 8, 2024

My friends at MBB firms have unique opportunities, such as travelling the world on client projects, participating in secondments at external nonprofits, or pursuing their MBAs in the US or Europe. My career path has taken me through consulting, joining a startup and becoming an operator, and then returning to consulting at an MBB firm.

McKinsey 78

McKinsey Methodologies Transportation Bain 78

Harvard Business

JUNE 7, 2018

Far too many great ideas for solving pressing social problems are not being applied at the scale they deserve, because thousands of nonprofit organizations are teetering on the brink of collapse. Fundraising is by far the biggest challenge for the sector, even for the most successful organizations.

Nonprofit 74

Nonprofit Case Interview Sales Training 74

Management Consulted

DECEMBER 7, 2014

Bridgespan was birthed out of Bain’s desire to expand its support of nonprofits. In 2000, the group launched its first website, www.bridgespan.org, and started operations from a Boston-based office. BRIDGESPAN HISTORY . Bridgespan is the offspring of none other than consulting industry giant Bain & Company.

Interviews 150

Interviews Culture Bain Consulting 150

Harvard Business

JULY 4, 2016

Over the past five years, more and more foundations have come to understand that their nonprofit grantees’ infrastructure needs more love, and more grant money.

Nonprofit 129

Nonprofit Operations Information Technology Information Technology 129

Harvard Business

JUNE 18, 2019

Khan Academy is an online global education nonprofit launched by Sal Khan with the audacious mission to “provide a free world-class education for anyone, anywhere.”

Education 132

Education Case Study Case Studies Nonprofit 132

Women in Consulting

SEPTEMBER 3, 2013

By: Jennifer LeBlanc Over the summer, we’ve been secretly working on a great project … we’re doing a pro bono brand relaunch for Operation Freedom Paws. The operation is headed up by Mary Cortani , a 2012 CNN Hero. And of course, feel free to connect with Mary and Operation Freedom Paws to support their important work.

Nonprofit 67

Nonprofit Operations Consulting Training 67

The Nonprofit Consultant

JUNE 6, 2006

I read the posting with great interest and agreed with most everything being said, until the last paragraph, which opened with, "Mergers may be the best solution to the excessive number of nonprofit organizations." It was just given as a fact: there are too many nonprofits. I take great exception to this comment. That's wonderful!

Nonprofit 40

Nonprofit Efficiency Government Financial 40

The Nonprofit Consultant

JULY 19, 2006

Here's a question that I received by email this week: What are the rules for giving part of your profits from a fundraiser to another nonprofit? Many nonprofits would (erroneously) assume that money raised this way is completely unrestricted and that they can use it for whatever purpose they choose.

Nonprofit 40

Nonprofit Ethics Advertising Examples 40

Women in Consulting

DECEMBER 18, 2012

Backed by award-winning services and support teams, Blackbaud’s comprehensive set of Internet solutions, featuring Blackbaud NetCommunity and Blackbaud Sphere eMarketing along with our industry leading peer-to-peer and event fundraising solution, Friends Asking Friends , is designed to meet the evolving needs of nonprofits.

Nonprofit 94

Nonprofit Software Consulting System 94

Successful Independent Consulting

APRIL 2, 2018

Government and nonprofits are used to paying much less than corporations. Professionalism (branding, marketing, positioning) — People who market themselves as an independent professional and who operate as a small business are able to charge more. Generally, the larger the firm the higher their billing rates.

Consulting 199

Consulting How To Marketing Deloitte 199

The Nonprofit Consultant

JULY 28, 2006

It also had an operating budget of $18,280, putting it below the federally mandated poverty threshold for a family of four." Does this sound like your nonprofit organization? Why do nonprofit leaders feel guilty when they sit in a new chair? Tags: nonprofit , poverty , satire

Nonprofit 40

Nonprofit Operations 40

Successful Independent Consulting

APRIL 27, 2022

By contrast, professional independent consultants operate as microbusinesses. During a given month, a freelance writer might tackle a newsletter for a nonprofit, content for a small business web site, and a procedure manual for a global corporation, working on each for a few hours or a few days at a time.

Consulting 195

Consulting Accenture Hotels Nonprofit 195

Harvard Business

JULY 7, 2022

It’s about creating a balance of grant types, categorized by operations, growth, and risk.

Operations 178

Operations Nonprofit Finance Management 178

The Nonprofit Consultant

APRIL 23, 2010

Up to 25% of the nation's officially recognized 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organizations have never filed an IRS form 990; the nonprofit tax return. If you are working or volunteering with a small, community nonprofit, make sure they've completed an IRS 990 or quickly request an extension and begin work on your filing.

Nonprofit 40

Nonprofit Financial Operations Course 40

The Nonprofit Consultant

OCTOBER 5, 2010

Every operation is and will remain a collection of regularly repeated processes. Tags: continuous improvement processes Nonprofit management efficiency. At its essence, CI is a repeatable process for improving processes. While CI was principally developed in the for-profit world, it has broad application for non-profits.

Nonprofit 45

Nonprofit Data Tools Insurance 45

The Nonprofit Consultant

JUNE 23, 2010

This is a question that came up in a conversation last week, and from time to time; "What is the appropriate size for a nonprofit board of directors?" The generally accepted number for most small- to mid-sized nonprofits is 9-14 members. It is important to be operating within your bylaws.

Nonprofit 69

Nonprofit Recruiting Recruitment Government 69

Harvard Business

AUGUST 8, 2018

nonprofit organizations like the Heartland Capital Strategy Institute are bringing together institutional investors, private asset managers, and worker representatives to harness some of the $13 trillion of assets in workers’ pension funds to invest in worker-friendly businesses that offer good investment returns. Already, U.S.

Company 132

Company Enterprise Finance Operations 132

The Nonprofit Consultant

FEBRUARY 18, 2010

So why have some nonprofits flourished while others have floundered? They've given concrete examples of specific cuts, and then demonstrated their strengths and ability to operate, despite challenges. Tags: donors Nonprofit message communications. It's all in the message. End of that rant. Here's one more note about mergers.

Nonprofit 61

Nonprofit Operations Leadership Examples 61

The Nonprofit Consultant

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

In each case I served as part of the negotiating team, protecting the interests of my client, and managing communications to staff, as well as managing day-to-day operations of the organization. In only one situation was I asked to investigate, and then implement, a plan for bankruptcy and an orderly shut down of operations.

Nonprofit 53

Nonprofit Case Interview Operations Leadership 53

The Nonprofit Consultant

APRIL 3, 2014

As part of the whole, "nonprofits need to operate more like businesses" meme, the means for analysis are primarily market-driven tools for evaluating programs that exist because of market failures. culture donors evaluation giving Nonprofit philanthropy' So, why help one person in poverty in the U.S.

Nonprofit 53

Nonprofit ROI Analysis Culture 53

The Nonprofit Consultant

JANUARY 17, 2008

I will add to that the charge that this hyper-vigilant accountability is killing the ability of small, local, and grassroots nonprofits to operate at all. The same funders who will then use that nonprofits' high administrative expenses as a reason to discontinue funding them.

Nonprofit 45

Nonprofit Education Analysis Data 45

The Nonprofit Consultant

MARCH 5, 2019

After four years of working as a "permanent" full-time Executive Director, launching a start-up nonprofit, and only taking a few short-term consulting gigs from existing clients, I am once again available for new opportunities. Not to forget operating programs at a different location while managing the construction at home base.

Nonprofit 69

Nonprofit Construction Financial Operations 69

Consulting Success

JANUARY 3, 2018

We do that with taking a hard look at their operations, helping them streamline, optimize and choose the right technology to support those operations. How were they taking advantage of this concept of building relationships using information to strengthen your relationships with your constituents in the nonprofit sector?

Consulting 189

Consulting Healthcare Industry Nonprofit 189

Harvard Business

JANUARY 8, 2018

For example, take Talia Milgrom-Elcott , executive director of 100Kin10 , a nonprofit that is spearheading the effort to train 100,000 STEM teachers in 10 years. Whatever form a grand challenge takes, it is an effort to pull an organization out of a purely operational mode and create something truly new.

Agile 133

Agile Nonprofit Development Enterprise 133

Consulting and Organizational Management

MAY 5, 2013

After all, the way your client’s organization has been operating in the past is because one or more people felt strongly that their organization should be operating that way (even though that way they were operating may have caused their problems and is actually what needs to be changed). Fundraising for Nonprofits.

How To 73

How To Consulting Management Organizational Development 73

The Nonprofit Consultant

JUNE 12, 2006

The first edition of the Carnival of Nonprofit Consultants has been posted over at writing911.com. Many articles were submitted, and the seven best have been selected - including one of mine: Too Many Nonprofits? Tags: nonprofit , blogs , blog carnivals , resources Be sure to check them out and add them to your bookmarks.

Nonprofit 40

Nonprofit Finance Software Resources 40

Consulting and Organizational Management

OCTOBER 15, 2011

It helps the client know the true costs in successfully operating his or her organization. ” Is it decreased employee turnover, increased profit or successful operation of a technical system? Read my weekly blogs: Boards, Consulting and OD, Nonprofits and Strategic Planning. Fundraising for Nonprofits. Leadership.

Consulting 98

Consulting Organizational Development Guidelines Nonprofit 98

Consulting and Organizational Management

JUNE 28, 2010

Development is hard pressed to interface with operations. Yet it is extremely important that this interface be workable because developments are not relevant until they find their way into operations. An operation is charted to preserve the status quo, the current thinking and methods. Operations are based in control.

Management 50

Management Organizational Development Operations Nonprofit 50

Consulting and Organizational Management

SEPTEMBER 28, 2010

All systems operate on a steady-state called homeostasis and they operate within norms and standards. Fundraising for Nonprofits. Nonprofit Capacity Building. There is a set performance level and gaining entry, as an outsider is tough because systems filter what’s plausible and realistic to them and who is not.

System 66

System Management Organizational Development Nonprofit 66

Consulting and Organizational Management

DECEMBER 16, 2010

They operate from self-evaluated standards. I am sure we have all seen groups operate from these various stages, or plateaus. We can observe groups operating at various stages of moral development in their assumptions and behaviors. The conscious operate from a self-evaluated set of standards. Fundraising for Nonprofits.

Development 68

Development Leadership Consulting Organizational Development 68

Consulting and Organizational Management

DECEMBER 2, 2012

For example, say I’m working with a team of people representing a bottling operation in a brewery, and the team has figured out how to redesign the bottling operation to reduce costs, simplify the process, and increase production. Fundraising for Nonprofits. Nonprofit Capacity Building. I love that type of project.”. “On

Organizational Development 73

Organizational Development Nonprofit Ethics Consulting 73

The Nonprofit Consultant

JUNE 21, 2007

If you've been working in nonprofit management for any amount of time, you should already be fairly adept at recognizing good partnership opportunities. Nor am I one who talks about there being "too many nonprofits." The list above is just a place to start your discussions and soul searching within your nonprofit.

Nonprofit 40

Nonprofit Retail Operations Leadership 40

The Nonprofit Consultant

MAY 23, 2006

Jonathan Peizer has a new posting on his "Philantherapy Blog" addressing the systemic flaw in traditional nonprofit capacity support. Nonprofit capacity support is often dictated by an external donor base and not internal organizational need as it is in most other sectors. I tend to agree with most of his thesis.

Nonprofit 40

Nonprofit System Financial Operations 40

The Nonprofit Consultant

OCTOBER 26, 2006

Stewart James, of Inside Collin County Business , writes that: American's trust and confidence in nonprofits is alarmingly low. Today, nonprofits need to operate like a business. James really should learn more about nonprofits. He might be surprised to learn how professional and efficient the nonprofit sector really is.

Nonprofit 40

Nonprofit Comparison Education Efficiency 40

The Nonprofit Consultant

SEPTEMBER 2, 2007

Fellow nonprofit blogger, Gayle Roberts , has suggested that I look into my crystal ball and give you a posting from ten years in the future. Back when all the 'experts' were warning of the coming nonprofit leadership shortage? The trend of nonprofit mergers and bankruptcies more than kept pace with the loss of baby boomer leadership.

Nonprofit 40

Nonprofit Consulting Trends Course 40