Icebreakers, do’s and don’ts, and some that don’t suck
When I say “icebreaker,” what images or feelings come to mind? For some people, they think “Yay, a fun game to get to know people!” For others, it is a swirling vortex of darkness and hatred. A while...
View ArticleIs equity the new coconut water?
In the past couple of years we have seen the meteoric rise in the consumption of coconut water. Cold, refreshing coconut water. Drinking some is like being punched in the mouth by a tropical breeze....
View ArticleThe Equity of Risk and Failure
Hi everyone. It’s Thanksgiving this week, and I usually spend a post listing things for which I am thankful—a meaningful job, awesome colleagues, loving family, The Walking Dead, etc.—but something has...
View ArticleAre you or your org guilty of Trickle-Down Community Engagement?
In Seattle, if you’re a person of color and you walk down a dark alley late at night and you feel like you’re being followed, it’s probably someone trying to do some community engagement: “Psst…hey...
View ArticleThe Baker’s Dilemma and the inequity of restricted funding
Hi everyone, before we begin this week’s discussion, I just want to point out that this Thursday, 2/19, is the Lunar New Year, a very huge and important holiday in many Asian countries. There are some...
View ArticleCapacity Building 9.0: Fund people to do stuff, get out of their way
Some people think capacity building is boring. Well, I think it’s sexy, and I’ve spent many hours writing romantic poems about it: “Can Love’s arrows seek truest rapture/Without the quiver of...
View ArticleAre you guilty of Fakequity? If so, what to do about it.
All right everyone, we need to talk about Equity. I know, I’ve talked a lot about it, including “Is Equity the new coconut water;” “The Equity of risk and failure,” “Which comes first, the Equity...
View ArticleWeaponized data: How the obsession with data has been hurting marginalized...
Hi everyone, I just came back from giving a keynote speech in Vancouver Canada, complete with pictures of baby animals. I am condensing the key concepts here. A couple of notes before we tackle today’s...
View ArticleLetter to RVC’s first cohort of nonprofit leaders of color
Hi everyone, RVC’s first ever cohort of ten leaders of color start their work today after spending most of last week in an intense orientation retreat designed to introduce them to the nonprofit...
View ArticleWhy individual donations strategies often do not work for communities of color
Hi everyone, this week is my organization’s first annual fundraising reception, where we formally introduce our Fellows to the community. Doing special events, to be honest, freaks me out, and I have...
View ArticleWhy Equality is actively harmful to Equity
A few weeks ago, I gave a keynote speech to a large group of youth involved in philanthropy, along with a few of their parents and mentors. My topic was “The Role of Equity in Philanthropy.” It was...
View ArticleWhy communities of color are getting frustrated with Collective Impact
A while ago I wrote “Collective Impact: Resistance is Futile,” detailing the frustrations of CI and comparing it to The Borg on Star Trek. “Controlled by a hive mind that neutralizes any sort of...
View ArticleCommon nonprofit terms and concepts and what they actually mean
Hi everyone, a colleague asked me to write a translation of nonprofit terminologies and concepts, which may be helpful to those who are thinking of going into nonprofit work. Since I was pressed for...
View ArticleMeta-Equity and the irony of inequity around Equity work
Hi everyone, before we begin today’s post, look: Get a Beer and Undo Nonprofit Power Dynamics Day (#GABAUNPDD) on July 8th is actually happening. Thanks GEO for organizing an actual event! Please use...
View ArticleHey, you got a little racism stuck in your teeth.
Recently, there was a news story claiming there’s no evidence that flossing actually does anything. I fell on the ground weeping with joy. Yes, complete exoneration! Take that, you dentists and dental...
View ArticleFunders’ role in protecting marginalized communities during the next four years
Last week, my organization, in partnership with several other orgs, called for an urgent meeting between funders and nonprofit leaders. “Protecting Marginalized Communities During the Next Four Years.”...
View ArticleWhy we need to stop asking “What do you do?”
A while ago, while writing a post on how we can all be more disability-inclusive, a colleague mentioned that we should drop the get-to-know-you question “What do you do?” because people with...
View Article9 Principles of Community-Centric Fundraising
Hi everyone. After last week’s post, I got a lot of comments, many in support, a few cautiously curious, and some strong disagreement. Which is all awesome, because we can disagree on many things, but...
View ArticleWinter is here, and we must build the power of organizations and communities...
Last month, I attended a luncheon where one of the speakers, a colleague of mine, mentioned doing a home visit to check in on a little girl and her mom. The small apartment was completely dark. As my...
View ArticleHow to deal with your family who has no idea what nonprofit is or what the...
Hi everyone. Before we get into this week’s post, I’m thinking of all the families in Houston and other areas of Texas affected by Hurricane Harvey, and of all our nonprofit colleagues who are working...
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