Guiding Principles

I do this work because I love it. I am truly inspired by the individuals and organizations that I work with, and believe in the value of nonprofit, voluntary action in making the world a better place. The following are some of the guiding principles that inform our work.

Nonprofits work best when they are truly based in their community. Strong communications, transparency, diverse leadership and diverse opportunities for engagement all support strong community connections.

Board service should be fun, inspiring and engaging. Thoughtful recruitment, proper training and orientation, strong leadership, active committees, and alternative meeting formats that allow dialogue and creativity are hallmarks of effective and enjoyable boards.

Organizational health is critical to organizational effectiveness and sustainability. Strategic investments in technology, staff development, financial management systems and other types of infrastructure lead to greater capacity and effectiveness. Diverse revenues are critical to ensuring long-term survival.

Strategic planning motivates people and helps them work together. Nonprofits benefit from participating in comprehensive planning processes that develop or validate a common vision and goals, a thoughtful, flexible strategic plan as a framework for action, and well-defined outcomes to evaluate success. A clearly articulated mission and goals will attract people and resources to an organization.