There is no denying this: Starbucks has created an experience for customers that keep us coming back again and again. There are more than 8,000 Starbucks in the U.S. and each location provides the same products and service. Enter any Starbucks and you smell the rich aromas of coffee from all over the world. Order from a barista (not a server or coffee maker) and you are called by name. Sit down and enjoy the […]

For too long, Americans have used the term “nonprofit” in a way that means “against profit.” Let’s be clear: to operate as a nonprofit does not mean operating at a loss each year. Rather, nonprofits sow whatever gains they have back into their missions to change and save lives.  There is nothing wrong with a nonprofit innovating and taking risks for the sake of achieving a heroic mission of scale.  In the free market, ideas […]

We live in a frenetic sound bite culture of 24/7 distractions. Especially in the nonprofit world, there are a multitude of discussion, topics, webinars, feasibility studies, board trainings, conferences, organizations, political issues and books that (while well intentioned) only distract you from growing your organization’s impact. You don’t have to work in our sector for very long to feel overwhelmed and confused. There are days when we wonder if anyone is listening or if we […]