Center for Association Resources

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

Non-Profit

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

5 Reasons Why Every Nonprofit CEO/ED Should Blog

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 Business 2 Community­­:

There’s no arguing that a nonprofit CEO or Executive Director is the most influential member of your organization. After all, why else would the cover letter for the annual report or your gift acknowledgements be penned by them?
Just like those donor communications pieces, a blog can be a great place to let the leader of your nonprofit shine. Unfortunately though – according to our own research – only about 37% of nonprofits are blogging regularly.
Here are five reasons why the leader of your nonprofit should blog regularly:
1) Nonprofit Leaders Are Subject Matter Experts
If you are the leader of a nonprofit organization, it’s likely that you possess a lot of institutional knowledge about your cause – especially if you are also the org founder. Read More

Six Tips to Boost Your Board’s Fundraising Culture

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 Wealth Engine:

Fundraising is a challenge for nearly every board. According to Leading with Intent (link is external), 60% of CEOs and 58% of board chairs identify it as one of the most important areas for board improvement. You can’t sustain board engagement in fundraising without a culture that prioritizes the fundraising role for every board member. Use the following tips to cultivate a better board fundraising culture., not keep them a secret to protect our own success. Read More

The Eight Building Blocks of Strong Nonprofit Brands

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:

To some, the very idea of nonprofit branding is a vulgar topic. No doubt, the nonprofit sector should be about mission, about performance, about excellence. We all want nonprofits to get the support they deserve, and we may sincerely wish that effectiveness were the coin of the realm—but it rarely is. Not only are measures of performance imprecise in many fields, the metrics we do have are incommensurable across fields. For all the talk of social investing and venture philanthropy, the reality is that brands still dominate the capital markets in the nonprofit sector. Decisions about support are a function of what the public thinks a nonprofit is doing far more than what it actually knows about what the organization is accomplishing.
So, what is a brand? Read More