Frank Abdale

Changing Nature of Conferences

8/11/2009 11:36:00 AM

Technology has changed everything – including the purpose and format of meetings! No one has to travel to get information anymore, all the information we need is at our finger tips at our desks or laptops. The real value in coming together is sharing in the collective wisdom and creativity of fellow attendees. Rethinking conferences also means rethinking the roles of presenters and moderators.

Term Limits for Executive Directors

7/15/2009 2:41:00 PM

Lots of people talk about term limits for board members, and even the President of the United States is limited to eight years of service, but no one seems to consider term limits for Executive Directors of nonprofit organizations. Let’s face it - once you have decided that this is the job from which you will retire, there is a natural tendency to make sure that the boat never rocks. Consciously or unconsciously, one tends to play it safe in order to survive.

Old Dog / New Trick

4/29/2009 3:48:00 PM

I just finished the Interim Executive Leadership training at New York’s Support Center for Nonprofit Management. It was a great experience. There’s nothing like a new tool in the toolbox to reinvigorate your marketing efforts, stimulate your creativity and expand your horizons. The session was incredibly informative, well run and reflective of the general level of excellence that defines all the Support Center’s work.

Economic Recovery

4/13/2009 1:23:00 PM

There is so much talk about the economic recovery package that it can be hard to decipher exactly where the opportunities lie. Check out http://www.fieldstonealliance.org/ for a concise overview and http://www.recovery.gov/ for more detailed information.

Emotional Challenges of Leadership in This Economy

4/7/2009 2:18:00 PM

Leadership in this economy poses more emotional challenges than at any other time in my experience.

Budget Cuts

3/30/2009 8:03:00 PM

"I've made many sacrifices, but I have never compromised." - Karl Lagerfeld Budget cuts are everywhere and no matter how one approaches the process, it is a painful and challenging operation. A big temptation is to institute across-the-board cuts that require every department to cut the same percentage. This can be the easiest approach and appear to be the most democratic but it can also lead to decisions that are ultimately not in the organization's best interests.

NonProfit Bankruptcies

2/23/2009 12:44:00 PM

There was an article in the New York Times on Friday, February 20, 2009 about an upturn in nonprofits using Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy laws. It was interesting and somewhat depressing but my main reaction was “Why isn't this article in the Business Section?” It would be if any other economic sector was being profiled.

About Our Logo

2/13/2009 9:09:00 AM

Based on a contemporary Buddhist symbol our logo represents the convergence of altruism and pragmatism and the unstoppable wave of positive energy that occurs when both these principles meet in equal measure. This concept - the equal balance of altruism and pragmatism - is at the core of all our services. Too much focus on the the altruistic can lead to decisions that ignore financial realities or other necessary components of a healthy organization.

Operating in Difficult Times

2/3/2009 8:26:00 AM

Running a successful organization is a challenge even in the best of economic times, but these days it can be considerably daunting. However, difficult times can offer tremendous opportunities for leadership, if we can remain forward looking, unafraid and generous despite the fear and paralysis around us. Difficult times distill us to our essence and test our determination and commitment. Without money to throw at a problem we are forced to confront challenges with a different