LIBRARY RESOURCES & BLOG
This area is filled with how-to articles, engaging conversations, and tons of examples of Catalytic Thinking in Action including actual planning sessions. Much to explore and learn from!
(This is part 2 in the continuing story of Creating the Future’s Philanthropy R&D Lab. For Part 1, click on this link.) If you’ve been following our adventures at Creating the Future, you know that a big part of what makes this work effective is back-casting – reverse engineering the future we want for our … Read more
Is your organization suffering from “if we just had….” syndrome? If we just had rich board members… If we just had another fundraiser…. If we just did a conference… As a board member, former Executive Director, and sometimes consultant/facilitator, I have experienced this syndrome firsthand. My bookshelves are heavy with the latest and greatest advice … Read more
Reality check: No one cares about your organization. If that’s a bit of an overstatement, it’s not by much. Yes, if you are the founder of a social enterprise, you obviously care a lot about the organization. And if you’re the owner of a socially conscious business, or the CEO of a traditional nonprofit – … Read more
Creating the Future’s Philanthropy Lab held its first meeting in October of 2011. And that means it is way past time that we keep folks in the loop about the work that team is doing, to begin to engage some of the big questions we are sinking our teeth into – and to see if … Read more
I grew up with the expectation that I should strive to financially support myself and my family all by myself, regardless of what my partner might earn. Why? Death, divorce, disability, disease, you name it. Life is risky. Anything can happen and often does. My work ethic was my personal safety net to insure me … Read more
This April will mark the 3 year anniversary of Creating the Future’s immersion courses, where consultants have gathered from around the world to learn how to help their clients change the world. People sometimes scoff when we say that. We’re all so used to learning about fundraising or marketing or boards – the means for … Read more
When social change efforts use the word “partner” to describe their funders, saying things like, “We are seeking a partner to help fund this effort,” what does that say about us as organizations? And what does it say about our efforts to create a community that is whole and vibrant and healthy? Words contain so … Read more
Since the post on Turning Donors Into Friends Who Care was featured in Creating the Future’s March newsletter, I’ve been reminded again and again of the message in this video clip. Friendship (and hence FriendRaising) is not about making friends so that they will help us. In our real lives, friendship is not a means … Read more
Reading the definition of governance from dictionary.com, it’s no wonder leaders struggle with effectiveness. Authoritarian control may be what we need from governance in parts of the world that are wildly out of control – the many areas of the world that are ripped apart by violence and instability. But in the vast regions of … Read more
As Creating the Future begins scaling up its programs, we have always known that demonstration projects would be part of that work. If our mission is to transform the work done in the entire social change arena (nonprofit orgs, social enterprises, socially conscious businesses, etc.), to ensure those efforts are making a notable, visible difference … Read more