Wild Apricot
MARCH 21, 2014
'The March Nonprofit Blog Carnival is about non-profit disruption and innovation. So we looked at Fast Company''s Most Innovative Companies for 2014 to see if there were lessons to guide non-profit innovation.
Spark Consulting
MARCH 17, 2014
'I’m excited to share the launch of the fourth whitepaper in the ongoing Spark whitepaper series, Risk: The Missing Link Connecting Strategy to Implementation. Co-authored with Jamie Notter ( JamieNotter.com ) and Leslie White , CPCU, ARM, CIC, CRM, ( Croydon Consulting ), the whitepaper tackles the question: why do senior teams have so much trouble with strategic decision-making?
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Aaron Wolowiec
MARCH 11, 2014
'As parents, I think most of us want to instill in our children the importance of giving back. Thus the reason I’m PTA president, I teach Sunday School and chaperone field trips. As a working mom, it’s sometimes hard to manage professional and personal commitments, but new federal government data suggest that we working moms volunteer the most. That said, volunteerism is on the decline, according to a new report released Feb. 25 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Association Leaders
MARCH 12, 2014
'“I have some bad news” What’s your reaction when you hear this phrase from a co-worker? I’ll tell you mine – I get a lump in my throat, a strange feeling in my gut, my palms start to sweat, my heart beats a little faster. I probably even roll my eyes and exhale loudly sometimes. Most people don’t like to receive bad news.
Speaker: Gareth Webb & Phil Selley, Founding Partners at Intouch Business
For many nonprofit organizations and NGOs, managing grants and monitoring projects with spreadsheets and manual processes feels familiar—but is it holding your organization back? As funding requirements become more complex and stakeholder expectations for transparency grow, relying on outdated methods can lead to inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and compliance risks.
YourMembership
MARCH 31, 2014
Today represents a milestone for YourMembership.com, with the kickoff of Xperience2014, our first customer conference. With more than 2,800 organizations using our software, representing 20 million members around the globe, our customers champion a highly diverse landscape of professions and causes. We are thrilled to welcome several hundred of them to Xperience2014 this week, and the significance of this conference is best said by J.P.
Association Universe brings together the best content for association members and organizers from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Wild Apricot
MARCH 12, 2014
'The Web turns 25 today. Here''s a look back at the "technology revolution" it sparked and the impact it has had on non-profits and membership orgs.
Spark Consulting
MARCH 20, 2014
'Whitepaper release week continues! From the new Spark whitepaper, Risk: The Missing Link Connecting Strategy to Implementation , co-authored with Jamie Notter ( JamieNotter.com ) and Leslie White ( Croydon Consulting ): Strategy and risk are about choosing to do certain things and, sometimes more importantly, not to do certain things. Conversations about these choices are difficult because your organization naturally has a range of overlapping concerns and interests, typically represented by sp
Aaron Wolowiec
MARCH 4, 2014
'The ASAE Great Ideas Conference is right around the corner. If you’ve not attended before, I highly recommend looking into it (if not this year, then next year). The event focuses on creative approaches to everyday issues in association management and is built around the sharing of – you guessed it – great ideas. Unlike other events, this conference offers a relaxed, but business-oriented environment where you can step back from your day-to-day routine and be exposed to new thinking.
Association Leaders
MARCH 24, 2014
'There are many lessons we can learn from sports – both positive and negative. Just off the top of my head I am thinking about these – how to build a great team; how to coach, not preach; the virtues of ethical behavior and more. This weekend as I was participating in the annual ritual we have come to call “March Madness”, I witnessed another lesson, one I am calling “Gracious Losing” Now this NCAA basketball tournament has become known as “March Madnes
Advertisement
Struggling to generate revenue beyond membership dues? You're not alone. Our free guide, The Ultimate Guide to Non-Dues Revenue for Associations , offers practical strategies to help your organization boost financial health. Inside, you'll explore creative ways to generate income, including: Educational offerings tailored to your audience Event-based revenue opportunities Job boards that drive engagement and income Corporate sponsorship ideas A checklist to evaluate and strengthen your current a
YourMembership
MARCH 27, 2014
I just got back from speaking at CalSAE’s ELEVATE Conference in beautiful Palm Springs, CA, and I am quickly preparing to head to St. Petersburg for Xperience2014 , YourMembership.com’s first customer conference. It’s a little like my own March Madness, and I like it! These back-to-back events inspire me as I have the privilege to once again meet with the wonderful association professionals we serve, and share new ideas on how we can help them better serve their members with the technology and s
Mariner
MARCH 16, 2014
'Elizabeth Engel and I are on a bit of a road tour to advance the idea that we in the association biz can attract and enthrall the new volunteer. The question we hear often is to implement the model.
Wild Apricot
MARCH 31, 2014
'This month, we''ve found 36 free non-profit webinars. Topics include: tips and tricks for seeking grants; non-profit CRM strategies; social media; non-profit tax law and more.
Spark Consulting
MARCH 18, 2014
'From the new Spark whitepaper, Risk: The Missing Link Connecting Strategy to Implementation , written with Jamie Notter and Leslie White: The risk management process involves the continuous identification, assessment, prioritization, and selection of risk management techniques; implementation; and monitoring of outcomes. But what if the board and senior team members don’t all agree on what the risk is, how likely it is, or what impact it might have?
Speaker: Dave Sackett
Traditional budgeting and forecasting methods can no longer keep pace with today’s rapidly evolving business environment. Static budgets, rigid annual forecasts, and outdated financial models limit an organization’s ability to adapt to market shifts and economic uncertainty. To stay ahead, finance leaders must leverage a future-forward approach—one that leverages real-time data, predictive analytics, and continuous planning to drive smarter financial decisions.
Aaron Wolowiec
MARCH 18, 2014
'In this day and age, we’re inundated with data. And some of us thrive on it. Especially event planners. Data are key to improving your events, to giving your customers and potential clients what they crave. But how do you know which data are important? It’s something called event intelligence, the subject of a new(ish) Professional Convention Management Association whitepaper by Eric Olson, CEO and president of Zerista, and Staci Clark, global marketing strategy manager for Cisco Systems.
Association Leaders
MARCH 3, 2014
'Remember that song by the seemingly timeless band Chicago? The lyrics go something like, “Hold me now, it’s hard for me to say I’m sorry, I just want you to stay; after all that we’ve been through, I will make it up to you, I promise to” You can almost hear the Chicago trademark horns in the background as you read those words right?
YourMembership
MARCH 20, 2014
It’s once again that wonderful time of year when the annual rites of spring are upon us. Major League Baseball’s Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues are in full swing, and opening day fast approaches – the National Past Time is alive and well. The beauty of each new season is that every team has the chance to wipe the slate clean and start anew, with eyes fully focused on the ultimate prize – the World Series.
Virtual
MARCH 20, 2014
'I’m still pretty young (by my own standards). But I can remember the days of pink “while you were out” slips, calling in for messages from pay phones and (gasp) not having email at work. And every innovation carries with it the same promise—it will keep us more connected. In many ways, this is true. When I sit in a far away hotel room talking to my kids over Facetime (when they actually answer), it’s a remarkable display of the promise of the connected society.
Speaker: Tim Sarrantonio, Director of Corporate Brand
Do you really know your donors? Not just what they give, but who they are? 👥 In this interactive session, we’ll break down how nonprofits can use behavioral indicators (affinity, recency, frequency, and monetary value) to build prospecting segments that go beyond wealth screening and actually align with donor identity. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to move beyond basic demographics and cultivate supporters based on how they already engage with you!
Wild Apricot
MARCH 10, 2014
'If you''re a Twitter newbie, here are 7 great resources to help get you started.
Spark Consulting
MARCH 27, 2014
'I’m presenting at Cal SAE’s ELEVATE Conference today, on the topic of membership marketing on a shoestring budget. During the presentation, I shared five tips. Below are the bonus tips I promised everyone in the session: Membership recruiting is an eternal program, not s series of intermittent campaigns. Have a plan! The same holds true for retention.
Jamie Notter
MARCH 18, 2014
'Both Amazon.com and Intuit have both declared publicly that their work teams should be no larger than a group that can be adequately fed with two pizzas. They do this to stay fast and nimble. I think the co-founder of Kayak was saying the same thing when he said “ No innovation happens with 10 people in the room ” (hat tip, Eric Lanke ).
Optimist Consulting
MARCH 26, 2014
'The latest MemberWise network report has just been launched. ‘Harnessing the Web to Drive Membership Value and Growth’ is now in its second year. It takes into account the responses of over 400 membership-sector professionals. It was a really informative read; I encourage you to download a copy. I have pulled out five things that I think are signals of trends for the sector: ‘ Digital-only’ memberships will increas e – whilst only 12% of respondents currently offer digital-only membership, 35%
Advertisement
GrowthZone’s 11th annual survey highlights trends, challenges, and strategies shaping the membership industry through insights from U.S. and Canadian association professionals. Get your copy of the 2025 Association Survey Results Report to see how your organization measures up: The biggest challenges associations are facing Membership retention trends and non-renewal insights Strategies for automatic renewals and reinstatements Shifts in member engagement tactics Why members are joining (and sta
YourMembership
MARCH 13, 2014
This article originally appeared in the January/February edition of ASAE’s “Associations Now – Great Ideas from Industry Partners.” Dues-based associations, regardless of industry or size, need to identify ways to stay relevant and competitive in an environment where members and prospects want proof of value before they hand over their money to pay for membership.
Association Navigator
MARCH 4, 2014
'I’m speaking again this week to University of Alabama law students about career opportunities for lawyers working in government relations. It’s not an easy time for new lawyers to get started, so I’ve been thinking about what I can say to help them in their searches. University of Alabama Law School – Tuscaloosa. Last year my presentation to these students focused on the association world, explaining what we do at Verto Solutions and Verto Legal Solutions.
Wild Apricot
MARCH 7, 2014
'Here are some great examples of how bloggers have "newsjacked" the Sochi Olympics and the Oscars and tips on how non-profits can use this tactic.
Spark Consulting
MARCH 25, 2014
'Missed my Association 101 #10in20 webinar sharing 10 tips to create better association marketing pieces on Friday, March 14? Never fear! The archived recording is ready and free to view/listen to here (where you can also download the 10 tips handout). Or you can just review the slides: 10 Tips for Better Association Marketing Pieces from Elizabeth Engel.
Speaker: Jennifer Hill
Payroll compliance is a cornerstone of business success, yet for small and midsize businesses, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of federal, state, and local regulations. Mistakes can lead to costly penalties and operational disruptions, making it essential to adopt advanced solutions that ensure accuracy and efficiency.
Jamie Notter
MARCH 17, 2014
'Joy, Inc.: How We Built A Workplace People Love. by Richard Sheridan. Portfolio/Penguin, 2013. This book is by Richard Sheridan, who is the CEO of Menlo Innovations , a software company in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They’ve been covered by Inc. , NPR and others, partly for their radical ideas of (a) having all their software programmers work together in one big room (no offices, not even cubes), and (b) actually having two programmers per one computer.
Optimist Consulting
MARCH 26, 2014
'I was recently asked by a client to look into what they would need to do to move to paperless committees for their board meetings. They are currently trialling their new system following my research project. Here are 4 steps you need to take if you want to do this at your organisation: 1. Involve your members. Start by talking to your board members about potentially changing your processes.
YourMembership
MARCH 6, 2014
While I was watching the Academy Awards the other night along with the 43 million other fans of all things Hollywood, I was struck by Matthew McConaughey’s acceptance speech for his Best Actor Award. McConaughey is somewhat of a favorite son here in Austin, where he attended the University of Texas, got his start in films with the locally shot movie, “Dazed and Confused”, and built a colorful reputation with his unique and carefree lifestyle at the Pecan Grove RV Park, located near the epicenter
Expert insights. Personalized for you.
304 
Let's personalize your content