Case Study: Arts Organization – Strategic Plan
This case study describes how a strategic plan helped a nonprofit arts organization establish and accomplish its long-term goals. The organization came to NESC after a funder told them they needed a strategic plan to grow their organization. NESC started by interviewing the staff, board, and key stakeholders to understand what
Roundtable: Tips for Finding the Right Nonprofit Executive Director
Hiring the right executive director is perhaps the most important decision that a nonprofit Board can make. The search process behind this decision can be long and unruly; or it can be thorough and productive. By breaking down the process into tasks and conducting them with integrity, search time can
Roundtable: Branding – The Mark of a Strong Nonprofit
Branding and marketing are not synonymous. Great marketing – in both for-profit and nonprofit organizations – starts with strong and consistent branding, which is then reinforced by the organization’s people, programs, and communications. Think of it this way: a brand is an organization’s identity – the essence of what you are.
Roundtable: Are Your Board Meetings Time Traps?
Do people arrive late? Skip meetings? Do members come unprepared? Is precious meeting time spent on unproductive items? With board meetings at the center of most members’ nonprofit experience, efficient and rewarding sessions are paramount. Naturally, Board Chairs want each member to leave feeling time was well-spent, and even eager
Roundtable: Nonprofit Governance – Who’s in Charge?
Mixed messages due to ill-defined roles damage board productivity. The #1 obstacle to successful governance is board and staff not knowing who is in charge of what, according to Nancy Falls, author of Corporate Concinnity in the Boardroom. Beyond the obvious – the Board guides and Management operates – NESC has
Case Study: Food Bank for Westchester — Board Development
Started in 1988 with one man and a van, the Food Bank for Westchester (FB4W) has grown to be the supply and support center for 227 front line hunger relief programs throughout the county. The organization collects, warehouses, and distributes 10 to 12 tons of food a day, providing 95
Roundtable: What Does It Mean To Be Mission-Driven?
While a corporation’s success is measured by its bottom line and stock value, a nonprofit organization’s success is measured by its ability to achieve its mission. A nonprofit’s mission statement establishes its purpose with both passion and conviction. It should be the foundation upon which all plans and decisions are
Case Study: The Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra — Organizational Analysis
The Challenge For many years, the Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra (and its affiliated Junior Orchestra) operated as The Ridgefield Symphony Youth Orchestra, an arm of the Ridgefield Symphony, offering youngsters, through high school ages, a chance to receive quality orchestral training and to perform publicly. Increasingly, however, the Youth Orchestra
Case Study: Bergen County — Municipal Shared Services
The Challenge Bergen County, New Jersey, is exploring and promoting ways that municipalities may cooperate and share activities as a means of generating savings and thereby moderating residential tax burdens. NESC was engaged for two projects concerning shared services by the Public Works Departments of contiguous municipalities within Bergen. The
Case Study: Outreach Project — Branding & Marketing
The Challenge Outreach Project, which has been providing drug and alcohol services in the New York metropolitan area since 1980, stands out as a leader in the provision of adolescent residential services, services for women and children, and treatment services for diverse populations. In addition, it now operates the largest