Nonprofit Training Resources And Blog Posts
 

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 These days, I’m sad to report the Busy Party has been replaced by the Exhaustion Party.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

Sharon and I recently wrapped up a four-part fundraising workshop series in partnership with NonProfits First in West Palm Beach. Over the course of eight weeks, we shared stories from our professional experiences—highlighting successes (and the lessons behind them) across four key areas of fundraising: corporate partnerships, individual giving, foundation grants, and events and sponsorships. Each session was lively, practical, and, we hope, empowering. Attendees left with a

Long ago and far away, someone told me a story about frequency. I share it now because, although it was a long time ago, the truth remains the same: one outreach is not enough . Picture this. You’re sitting by the window at your favorite café with a good friend, deep in conversation about life, work, and everything in between. You’ve just ordered a refreshing flavored iced tea when a well-dressed woman walks by and waves politely in your direction. You notice her briefly bu

Thinking about year-end in July? Really?! It’s odd to think about when we’re just coming out of the 4th of July holiday, but Q4 will be here in no time. Suddenly, calendars are packed, deadlines pile up, and the urgency of year-end giving kicks into overdrive. We’re finalizing donor appeals, launching Giving Tuesday campaigns, and closing out every grant report we possibly can before the holidays. But here’s the truth: if you wait until October to get serious about Q4, you’r

This morning, my youngest child drove off to start the first chapter of her adult life. She has a job and apartment waiting for her in a...

"History is entirely created by the person who tells the story." - Lin-Manuel Miranda At Team Kat & Mouse, we know that great...

As the heat rises and inboxes slow down, it’s easy to feel like summer is the slow season for fundraising. Donor meetings get postponed. Grant deadlines seem sparse. Your colleagues are out of the office, and even your most responsive board members might be replying from the beach (if at all). It’s tempting to call it the “summer slump”—and many nonprofits do. But here’s the thing: summer doesn’t have to be a slump. It can be one of the most strategic seasons of the year—if y

Back in May, I wrote a blog about hope and shared a story about a former salesperson who once worked with me. During the 2008 banking crisis, one of the best salespeople I’ve ever known came to me in a panic. Banks were folding, clients were canceling left and right, and she thought she had lost her magic. She’d been up all night and just needed to talk. During our conversation, we discussed how the realities of the world called for different—and more intentional—tactics: har

Bringing Fundraising Success to Your Community: The Team Kat & Mouse Approach In the ever-evolving landscape of nonprofit fundraising, adaptability and innovation are key. Since our inception in 2021, Team Kat & Mouse has been at the forefront of empowering nonprofit organizations with the tools, tactics, and training necessary to not only meet but exceed their fundraising goals. Our Journey So Far Founded by seasoned nonprofit professionals Sharon Kitroser and Amy Mauser, Te

Our team received a call from a prospective organization. The mission was amazing, but it seemed the world was weighing heavy on this...