Sustaining Mission during Unprecedented Times: Considering the Strategic Pause
By Steve Zimmerman The headwinds facing nonprofits today – from the federal government retrenchment to…
Spectrum’s blog posts for nonprofit solutions and our books about nonprofit strategy.
Nonprofit Education Resources
Spectrum’s Resources for Strategy
Navigating Nonprofit Potential: Balancing Vision with Reality
By Erin Manske The potential to help is powerful because it speaks directly to why many of us entered this…
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Three Years of Learning What Strategy Actually MeansThree Years of Learning What Strategy Actually Means
By Maggie Corry I remember taking a Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment in a previous job, having…
The Power of Nonprofit Repositioning: An Alternative to Scenario PlanningThe Power of Nonprofit Repositioning: An Alternative to Scenario Planning
By Steve Zimmerman, Spectrum Nonprofit Services Nonprofit organizations are operating in an environment of…
Spectrum’s Resources for Staff & Board Strategy
The Hidden Driver of Executive Director Burnout
By Erin Manske “I can’t keep operating like this.” For many executive directors, that thought shows up even when things…
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Investing in Your People: 3 Tools to Hire and Retain Top Nonprofit TalentInvesting in Your People: 3 Tools to Hire and Retain Top Nonprofit Talent
By: Samantha Maldonado How well is our staff aligned to their current roles? Is our…
Fostering the Heartbeat of Nonprofit Strategy: People, Purpose, and ProgressFostering the Heartbeat of Nonprofit Strategy: People, Purpose, and Progress
By: Samantha Maldonado Doing a lot with a little is a common understanding and expectation…
Steering Organizational ChangeSteering Organizational Change
By Steven Zimmerman In the movie Groundhog Day, Bill Murray’s weatherman character, stuck in time,…
Spectrum’s Resources for Nonprofit Business Models & Sustainability
Navigating Uncertainty
Photo by Khyta on Unsplash By: Steve Zimmerman Uncertainty: Noun. The state of having doubt; lack of certain knowledge or…
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Programming for ImpactProgramming for Impact
By Shelly Scnhupp Achieving impact is still a challenge for many nonprofits. While we often…
The Organizational Model: How to Stay Grounded and Adaptive at the Same TimeThe Organizational Model: How to Stay Grounded and Adaptive at the Same Time
“In order to fly you need something solid to take off from.” - P.L. Travers…
The Big Lie Of Strategic PlanningThe Big Lie Of Strategic Planning
By: Steve Zimmerman As a strategy consultant, admitting one of your favorite articles is titled…
Spectrum’s Resources for Revenue & Financial Strategy
Nonprofit Finance Pulse Check: What the Data Tells Us
By Steve Strang A nonprofit leader sits in a leadership meeting reviewing their financials. On paper, things look stable. Revenue…
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Budgeting for ImpactBudgeting for Impact
By: Steve Zimmerman As nonprofit leaders prepare for budgeting season they face no shortage of…
Looking Beyond Contributed Support: How to Leverage Traditional Development Skills to Build the Right Revenue StrategyLooking Beyond Contributed Support: How to Leverage Traditional Development Skills to Build the Right Revenue Strategy
By Maggie Corry In the past three years nonprofits have faced an onslaught of external…
Calculating the True Costs of ImpactCalculating the True Costs of Impact
By Steve Zimmerman It is a story as old as time. A donor expresses interest…
Spectrum’s Resources for Organizational & Programmatic Impact
Why Inclusion Still Matters for Nonprofits – and How to Maintain It
By Samantha Maldonado As the new administration shutters federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and many corporations follow suit,…
Read More Budgeting for ImpactBudgeting for Impact
By: Steve Zimmerman As nonprofit leaders prepare for budgeting season they face no shortage of…
Calculating the True Costs of ImpactCalculating the True Costs of Impact
By Steve Zimmerman It is a story as old as time. A donor expresses interest…
Beyond Strategic Planning: Using the Process to Strengthen ExecutionBeyond Strategic Planning: Using the Process to Strengthen Execution
By Steve Zimmerman Have you noticed when you’re finished watching your favorite show on Netflix…
Spectrum’s Resources for Implementation & Operations
How to Start a Nonprofit Accounting System
By: Steve Zimmerman It is sad, but true, that most people don’t start nonprofits because of their love of nonprofit…
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How do you build nonprofit operating reserves?How do you build nonprofit operating reserves?
Questions for Senior Leadership By: Steve Zimmerman “We want to build $100,000 in our operating…
Creating Nonprofit DashboardsCreating Nonprofit Dashboards
By: Steve StrangAre your board members or staff bogged down by lengthy financial statements and…
Outsource Your Bookkeeping!Outsource Your Bookkeeping!
By: Steve Zimmerman The most strategic decision you make regarding how to staff your accounting…