Nonprofit Training Resources And Blog Posts
 

A few weeks ago, McDonald’s celebrated  1 in 8 Day —a nod to the fact that  one in eight Americans  has worked at the Golden Arches at some point in their life. That 1 in 8 includes some pretty notable names: Pink  – worked multiple fast-food jobs, including McDonald’s Rachel McAdams  – worked there for three years and openly admits she wasn’t the best employee Sharon Stone  – was a “fry girl” and learned early lessons in customer service Pharrell Williams  – reportedly fired

Every year, funders publish new priority areas, refresh their websites, and update their guidelines. And every year, nonprofits spend countless hours trying to decode what those updates really  mean. But some of the biggest shifts in philanthropy don’t show up in bold headlines or revised mission statements. They show up quietly in conversations, feedback calls, funding patterns, and decisions about what doesn’t  get funded. Here are a few priorities we’re seeing funders lean

In 2021, on the first anniversary of Team Kat & Mouse , I wrote a blog post titled  “ I Have Resigned—Now What?” It was a raw and honest reflection on the first  525,600 minutes  of starting a business—not just any business, but  our business. I wrote about the angst and passion that led us to day one and carried us through that first year. From Panic to Purpose Amy and I envisioned a business with clarity and purpose. While we’ve grown doing exactly what we hoped to do, we’v

We live in volatile times. The word “unprecedented” seems to show up every single day. Nonprofits are in the crosshairs.And those who need the most are lining up for services more and more each day. Now is the time to be the leader everyone talks about. I’ve held leadership roles… After 9/11 During the Banking Crisis When the world closed during COVID And most recently, during the government shutdown The roots of Team Kat & Mouse actually go back to the early months of COVID

I went to a baby shower yesterday (cue the oohs and aahs). There were blue balloons, toddlers running in every direction, and one little girl who has no idea how much her world is about to change when her baby brother arrives. Among the adults were family members, longtime friends of the parents, and several colleagues—people who only entered the hosts’ lives in recent years but have become part of their inner circle. They’ve created a community together, one that now include

Today is  #GivingTuesday  — the global day of generosity that reminds us what community truly means. Around the world, people are coming together to lift up the causes, organizations, and missions that make life brighter for others. It’s more than a hashtag. It’s a movement — a moment that transforms compassion into action. A Quick Look Back #GivingTuesday began in 2012 when Henry Timms at the 92nd Street Y in New York wanted to create a counterbalance to the consumer frenzy

This week my husband and I watched the new documentary about the life of John Candy ( John Candy: I Like Me , on Amazon Prime). With interviews from Mel Brooks, Catherine O’Hara, Tom Hanks, Macaulay Culkin, and many others, the film captures the remarkable warmth that shaped Candy’s life and career. We came for the comedy. We left wishing we had known the man behind it—someone whose legacy extended far beyond his films. The documentary reminded me that legacy is rarely one-

“Lead with confidence” is a phrase that carries a special and somewhat ironic meaning in my house. After my wife and I got married, once we finished opening all of the presents and settling into married life, we did what so many newly married couples do: we adopted a puppy. Our golden retriever, Rosie, brought us endless joy and a crash course in caring for another living thing other than ourselves. She was also the most gentle, timid creature to ever live; scared of new situ

When I’m overwhelmed by a mountain of tasks, I always think back to my dad’s favorite saying: “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” This quote is often attributed to  Desmond Tutu , the South African archbishop and human rights activist, and it’s one of those timeless reminders that helps us keep moving forward when things feel impossible. Just to clarify: The  “elephant”  represents something big — a major goal, challenge, or project that seems impossible to tack

I wanted to share that I’m feeling distracted.   Don’t worry, though—I’m working on a personal strategy to get through it and get back to the focused approach that serves me well. Still, it’s a lot to balance: staying up-to-date on the news, keeping up with the needs of family and friends, and responding to the ever-changing challenges our clients are facing. It’s not a lack of motivation—if anything, it’s the opposite. There’s so much happening, so many opportunities and cha

Earlier this year, Sharon, Amy, and I had the honor of presenting at a conference on the value of partnerships in the nonprofit sector. The concept of partnership pops up a lot - and we all like to say we leverage partnerships to achieve our missions. But what does it really mean to build a strong partnership? Like it or not, in a challenging fundraising environment, partnerships are now more important than ever. Our ability to work together and share resources can help us st

An old boss of mine once shared a quote that has stuck with me for years. It came from General George S. Patton: “A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.” I live my life by this philosophy. Much of my success comes from my ability to  move  — to be decisive, to course-correct when needed, but to never stop moving forward. That quote came to mind just this week when one of Team Kat & Mouse’s  clients spent  way too much time

It’s a rainy weekend here in South Florida as we watch the tropics and cross our fingers that the brewing storms don’t come our way. The rain makes for a dark and dreary day — the perfect kind of day for one of my favorite pastimes: getting totally lost in a book. As a child, I loved reading fairy tales — not the clear pastel fairy tales of Disney, but the dark and haunted tales of the Brothers Grimm. As an adult, my taste usually leans more toward historical fiction… but I s

In past blogs, we’ve talked about the “Busy Party”—that gathering where folks stand around comparing how busy they are, when in reality they could just get back to their desks and keep getting less busy.. These days, I’m sad to report the Busy Party has been replaced by the  Exhaustion Party. I’m tired of hearing bad news. I’m exhausted from hearing “no.” My brain hurts from the rapid-fire, ever-changing information. Unlike the Busy Party, this one I get. And let me be clear:

Nonprofit work has never been easy. But in times of economic uncertainty—rising costs, donor hesitancy, funder pivots—it can feel especially daunting to keep your mission funded and your team grounded. You’re not imagining it. We’ve seen this before, and we’re seeing it again: Foundations tightening payout rates during market volatility Major donors slowing commitments Corporate sponsors scaling back Program costs rising while reimbursement rates stay flat Still, I want to of

It’s college football season, which means Saturdays are filled with rivalries, tailgates, and plenty of school spirit. Here in South Florida it might be easy to assume that everyone around here is (or wants to be) a Florida Gators fan. But we all know that isn’t the case. You’ll find Seminole fans like my family, Miami Hurricane fans, alumni cheering for schools up north, and plenty of people who proudly wear their colors no matter how far they’ve strayed from campus or wheth

Yup, that is him A long time ago, while working at a nonprofit here in Florida, I met a nice young man…let’s call him Robert. He had a sparkle. He was smart. But most of all, he was curious. He asked thoughtful questions with genuine interest, and that curiosity set him apart. Eventually, we both moved on from that organization, but we stayed in touch—celebrating milestones with quick “congrats” on social media. Robert was just one of the many amazing young people I’ve had th

If you’re a parent like me, August brings with it a certain kind of chaos: new backpacks, earlier alarms, and the ever-complicated task of figuring out who’s bringing snacks to baseball practice (a real weak spot of mine). But even if you’re not sending kids back to school , this time of year still tends to mark a mental shift. The lazy days of summer start to give way to structure, routine, and planning. And in nonprofit life, that usually means one big thing: budget season.

I was reading an article recently about  taking  a punch — the kind you might get if you accidentally struck up a conversation with someone’s boyfriend in a bar.  The author suggested signing up for a Muay Thai or boxing class. As someone who hits the gym regularly and has taken my share of boxing classes, I can tell you: the punches many fundraisers have taken in recent months are far beyond anything you learn at Title Boxing. I believe in the saying  “this too shall pass”  

Yesterday was the first day of school for students here in South Florida. Parents and school supply lists have been rushed to Target, Walmart, OfficeMax, and Amazon. For some families, this outing is anticipated with joy. It’s a time to pore over new backpacks and try out a fancy style of gel pen for the first time. For parents, there may be memories of a new Trapper Keeper. For students, it may be a chance to redefine their style with new sneakers or jeans. For other familie