Center for Association Resources

The Center for Association Resources supports mission-oriented organizations, assisting them in increasing relevance and accomplishing goals.

Center for Association Resources

Brave Leadership

Another in a series of articles related to association management selected from our reading list by:
Robert O. Patterson, JD
CEO/ Principal
The Center for Association Resources, Inc.

From Great Leadership:

Widely. For some bravery could mean facing a tough personnel decision or making investment decisions to enter a new market. And while those decisions can often be brave, I contend that the highest form of bravery in an organizational context is keeping at bay the opposite of bravery; fear. In our business organizations fear has a growing influence. This can be seen in our capital allocation decisions, how we react to competitors and how engaged our employees are in the mission of the organization that you are leading. To be a truly great leader you must tackle the three primary areas that fear can influence your organization and prevent your business from realizing increased returns and long-term value creation. Read More

The one trait successful leaders share

Another in a series of articles related to association management selected from our reading list by:
Robert O. Patterson, JD
CEO/ Principal
The Center for Association Resources, Inc.

From Smart Blog on Leadership:

More and more studies show that confidence is a critical trait in leaders, a quality that draws people in and adds weight to everything you say. It’s not only important to be right, you must also be confident. Yet sometimes it seems like confidence is either something you have, or something you don’t. Read More

Opportunities Missed From Too Many Fundraising Channels

Another in a series of articles related to association management selected from our reading list by:
Robert O. Patterson, JD
CEO/ Principal
The Center for Association Resources, Inc.

From The NonProfit Times:

Most fundraisers (68 percent) use four or more channels to engage constituents, and the most popular engagement channels are email (86 percent), website (72 percent) and in-person events (71 percent) and direct mail (68 percent).
While most nonprofits use multiple channels to engage their supporters, there still are missed opportunities when it comes to online fundraising and the time it takes to acknowledge donations. Some 60 percent of organizations have only one online fundraising page or no fundraising page at all and 76 percent of organizations take 72 hours or more to acknowledge a donation. Read More

A Mega-Investor’s 6 Best Marketing Tips for Social Businesses and Nonprofits

Another in a series of articles related to association management selected from our reading list by:
Robert O. Patterson, JD
CEO/ Principal
The Center for Association Resources, Inc.

From Entrepreneur:

A major challenge for any business is finding the best and most effective ways to market itself. When your business is mission-driven, whether that be through a social business, non-profit status or otherwise, there is the added complexity of not only educating potential customers on services and products, but also the purpose and the drive behind the organization. Read More

Want Good Governance? Teach Hard Skills in Nonprofit Advocacy

Another in a series of articles related to association management selected from our reading list by:
Robert O. Patterson, JD
CEO/ Principal
The Center for Association Resources, Inc.

From NonProfit Quarterly:

In “Reframing Governance II,” David Renz makes the point that some of the most powerful decisions affecting the communities and mission work of nonprofits are made at levels outside the purview of the board. Rather, they are made at the network level and often involve advocacy. So, do you and your board know how to deconstruct your state’s budget, or about the legal parameters about lobbying and campaigning in your state? These skills and knowledge bases should be required for many nonprofits because it allows them more influence over the policymaking and money flows that in many cases define how their missions can be actuated, but few funders and capacity-builders promote them as core competencies. Read More

9 tips for leaders to make the most of collaborative efforts

Another in a series of articles related to association management selected from our reading list by:
Robert O. Patterson, JD
CEO/ Principal
The Center for Association Resources, Inc.

From Smart Blog on Leadership:

People like to use the word “collaboration” as if simply gathering together solves problems, but there’s a right way to collaborate and a wrong way. One builds relationships, creating better end products; the other just wastes time. The success of your collaborative efforts hinges on the effectiveness of your teammates and how you oversee and manage their effort. Read More