Your Nonprofit Coach: Advice for Executives and Board Members
July 7, 2021 | Read Time: 4 minutes
In her column, “Nonprofit Coach,” Joan Garry offers nonprofit leaders — CEOs and trustees — frank advice drawn from years as a consultant to small nonprofits and from her tenure as executive director of Glaad, an advocacy group for LGBTQ people.
In a conversational style, Joan enjoys “stirring the pot,” as she puts it, by highlighting many of the toughest perennial challenges faced by nonprofit leaders, and offering frank advice to remedy them. She often urges leaders to acknowledge their weaknesses. In calling for change, she stokes questions and conversation among readers.
For your convenience, we’ve gathered all of Joan Garry’s columns here, so you can join the digital discussion.
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Your Nonprofit CoachHow to Have Productive Site Visits: Advice for Grant Makers and Nonprofit Leaders
They are a huge investment of time and energy, and the goal of building authentic relationships is forgotten. -
Career AdviceIs it Time for a Career Change? Here’s a Tool to Help You Decide
If you are thinking about making a professional move, here’s an exercise that can help you get started and gain clarity. Plus, read about burnout on the job and the grinding hunt for staff. -
Advice7 Ways to Know Your Board Is Diverse
One clue: Board conversations are messy in the best of ways. -
Your Nonprofit CoachA Last-Minute Recipe for Year-End Fundraising Success
If you feel unprepared for year-end fundraising, here are steps to take between Halloween and December 31 to engage your board and attract gifts. -
Your Nonprofit CoachThe 4 Deadly Sins of Dysfunctional Boards ― and How to Fix Them
It’s up to nonprofit leaders to give trustees the tools they need to be successful. -
Your Nonprofit CoachA Plea From Community Nonprofits for Investment, Equity, and Less Bureaucracy
Small nonprofits should require less red tape, and they need support for efforts to advance fair pay and benefits — and recognition for making communities stronger. -
Your Nonprofit CoachHow to Inspire Major Donors to Give at the End of a Very Tough Year
A five-step recipe for big-gift fundraising success in challenging times. -
Your Nonprofit CoachNonprofit Leaders: Here’s How to Recruit Board Members — Even in a Crisis
How to make a better pitch to candidates for board service and six ways to improve recruitment overall. -
Your Nonprofit Coach5 Easy Ways Board Members Can Help During This Crisis
How trustees can support executives and lead by example without spending a lot of time or money. -
Advice3 Ways We Can (and Must) Help Small Nonprofits Now
The helpers need our help, says columnist Joan Garry, as she urges support for local charities. -
AdviceIt’s Time to Align Your Office Culture With the Values That Drive Your Work
Tips for getting employees to talk about organizational values and how these values ought to manifest themselves in the workplace. -
AdviceHow to Manage Change in a Time of Growth
Acknowledge and work through the tension created by change, and listen to all who are affected. -
Your Nonprofit CoachHow to Trim Your Board of ‘Dead Weight’
Celebrate high-performing board members, motivate those who are not self-starters, set rules for attendance at meetings, evaluate performance annually, and more. -
Your Nonprofit CoachStrategic Planning Sucks the Life Out of Nonprofits
How and why the process is often flawed, and how to fix it -
Your Nonprofit Coach
Strategic Planning Sucks the Life Out of Nonprofits: Readers Respond
Joan Garry responds to readers, who commented on her column’s headline, the frequency of “strategy” changes at nonprofits, and the need to educate new board members on the history and culture of the organization they’re serving. -
Your Nonprofit CoachToo Many Boards Abuse Their Power. Let’s Change That.
Columnist Joan Garry lays out four ways to change dysfunctional dynamics between trustees and nonprofit executives. -
AdviceWho Needs an Executive Coach? Time for Some Myth-Busting
Why nonprofit leaders need and deserve professional coaching -
Advice
Who Needs an Executive Coach? Readers Respond
How do I find a good executive coach? Can a coach help me identify and prepare for my next nonprofit role? Columnist Joan Garry has answers. -
Your Nonprofit CoachIgnite Your Board Members’ Passion
How executive directors and key leaders should inform, engage, and enrich trustees to maximize their contributions. Let us know something you are going to try. -
Advice
Igniting Board Members’ Passion: Readers Respond
How can you get trustees excited about the mission if their only contact at the organization is the executive director? Or if the mission isn’t about saving puppies or feeding the hungry? Columnist Joan Garry has answers.
