When people think of lobbying, they often envision well-funded interest groups, not local nonprofits fighting for community change. But nonprofits often serve on the front lines, helping our most vulnerable populations and deeply understanding the issues that hold people back and let them thrive. Nonprofits have every right to lobby legislators—and they should.

You may have heard people talk about different types of funds that you can raise. Learn what those are, how they differ and how to secure each type for your organization.

Too often board members and organizations define "conflict of interest" too broadly which may preclude some highly qualified board members from serving on your board. Learn what a conflict is and isn't and how you can protect yourself and your organization from a potential conflict.

Successfully engaging staff in organizational change begins with creating an organizational culture that supports change.

25-30% of all gifts come in during the month of December yet many fundraising professionals simply send a letter and wait for the money to pour in, wondering why they didn't raise more. These five strategies will help you raise more money this holiday season.

Now that you have identified the problem and the type of problem, we move to the next phase: generating solutions.

If you have a small and often volunteer-led nonprofit, the question often arises about paying your executive director. Should you? Is it appropriate? How can we afford to? Why should we take money from our mission to support a salary? Learn answers to these and other questions you may have about paying your executive director. (HINT: The answer is YES, pay them!)

Once you effectively identify the problem – the real problem, you need to categorize the type of problem you have.

November 15 marks National Philanthropy Day. Whether your community has a formal recognition of this day, you can - and should - use this opportunity to celebrate the philanthropists who make your work possible and the staff and donors - that's you - who help them find the joy of giving.

Understanding the steps of organizational change management is fairly simple; implementing them is not.

Time is not the friend of development professionals who always have much more to do than hours in the day. Time blocking is one way to stay on top of your tasks to get more done. How do you manage your lengthy to do list without going crazy?

By applying appropriate conflict management strategies, you can more effectively guide conflicts toward positive resolutions that strengthen your relationships and improve organizational dynamics.

4 ways to make new board members feel welcomed, informed, and prepared to contribute effectively to your nonprofit's mission.

When you know your organization needs to change, you need staff ready, willing, and able to implement that change. But I'm a firm believer that change doesn't happen to people, it should happen with people. Learn how and why to get your staff prepared for change and how to effectively engage them in the change process.

8 reasons why it's importance to have term limits for your board.

The Greek Philosopher Heraclitus said "the only constant in life is change." If the last decade or so taught us anything, it was the truth in that statement. With change inevitable, is your organization poised to manage change, whether imposed from external forces or your choice?

Do you struggle to recruit volunteers? You might look at your communication methods and the activities you offer to see if you are reaching the right demographic. That is, each generation has a different reasonh for volunteering and a preferred method for outreach to them. When you match their needs, they will come eager to help!

Thinking and acting strategically means taking into consideration both your mission and your aspirations when making any decision.

What does a culture of philanthropy look like and how can you create one at your organization? Here are 4 helpful steps to get there.

Improve your donor retention and bottom line.