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Current News

Individualistic Networks and Networking Individuals in Tango Argentina

Some of you may know that I fell head over heals in love with tango last year. Most of you know that I have a passion for understanding human systems and how they grow and thrive. With a rare opportunity to combine these passions, let me recommend this research by Celine Kuttler and Ralf Blossey entitled Individualistic Networks and Networking Individuals in Tango Argentina (12 page PDF). It looks at very generalizable issues such as what makes mentoring a successful strategy for growing a community. I want to look at how this might apply to donors and activists. Posted: 7/23/05; 7:35:15 PM #

HBS Working Knowledge: Social Enterprise: Why Nonprofits Have a Board Problem

I have for years felt that the classic corporate governance model might not be the right one for social service and social change work. Few people seem willing to go that far, but some are taking a hard look at the division between governance and leadership that seems to be the standard response to board problems. In the form of an interview, Richard Chait looks at Why Nonprofits Have a Board Problem and calls on us to look at things a little differently. Posted: 7/23/05; 7:28:17 PM #

Jillaine Smith - Tools

Jillaine Smith has combined a razor sharp intelligence and great compassion in her roughly 20 years of work on nonprofit communication and technology. It's been far too long since I have pointed to her work. Take a look at the three tools that she makes available on her web site: a technology checklist for nonprofit leaders, a checklist for building online communities, and a one page web site checklist. They are the work of a fine people focused technology evangelist. Posted: 7/23/05; 7:21:52 PM #

Stanford Social Innovation Review: Forum: The Ratings Game

For years, I have been deeply skeptical of universal, numerical ratings of nonprofit organizations. Then, when money started pouring into such metrics, I started to grow increasingly alarmed, since we tend to pay attention to the things we measure, even if the measurements are bad. That's one level of problem when we pay too much attention to web site hits, but when we start making nonprofit ratings systems too important, then the whole sector is in trouble. Back in December, at the Stanford Social Innovation Review Forums, in a post titled The Ratings Game, Bruce Sievers said as much. The conversation that followed has been great. Posted: 7/23/05; 7:16:52 PM #