Read my guest post on this important step in purchasing donor management software, plus two related articles that will help you approach it strategically and avoid missteps.

Dig in for background on the project, along with quotes and audio clips from my conversation with executive director Kristin Rigg. I helped her organization research and evaluation CRM options to meet their complex set of needs.

Our partnership elevated the endeavor from simply solving an operational problem (we need new software) to investing in the strength of the network (we have shared tools, processes, and relationships to make data-informed decisions and serve our communities better).

The more adept I become at leading, the more I come to appreciate how crucial other leaders are to my own success. Just as every member of Harry Potter’s crew brought an essential quality or skill, my colleagues and peers have lifted me up with their wisdom and collaborated to make the sum of our efforts greater than its parts.

Here are some thoughts on the purpose of data documentation, what should be in an organization’s data manual, and how to keep it up to date.

In this blog post, I explain the importance of trust, learning mindset and mutual exchange of value in partnerships. I also share a few resources for learning more.

I failed to follow my own advice and best practices, resulting in my email messages getting blocked and my domain getting blacklisted.

It all started when I sent a survey to around 10,000 people from a purchased list.

I’m there to encourage you and celebrate your success, but I’m not just a cheerleader. I also have a responsibility to challenge you when I sense you are not being honest with yourself or not using your full capabilities.

About six months into my coaching practice, I discovered I was doing it wrong. It’s not that I was doing harm, nor were my coachees dissatisfied, but I found out how I could be more helpful to them. That’s because I realized something counterintuitive: I can be more effective if I know less about the situation.

A well-structured technology plan can guide your nonprofit organization toward making smart choices and using technology for better impact.

If we truly believe that technology is a strategic asset to the organization, why aren’t we more strategic about budgeting for it? This post explains three different approaches to nonprofit technology budgeting, and explains why budgeting should be intricately tied to planning and strategy.

“If the users do not adopt the new systems and processes, then that means they are not using the new technology to its fullest potential and therefore leaving money on the table.”

User adoption issues are preventing nonprofit organizations from getting the full value out of their technology investments. Here’s why, and what you can do about it.