Candid insights

Last month, I was honored to attend a capacity building day for participants in the Latino Community Foundation’s Latino Nonprofit Accelerator. The foundation articulates that its work—and the accelerator program itself—is guided by love. “We’ve always had love at the…

From the work we do at Candid, I’ve gained a better appreciation for how connected and small the world really is. At our trainings, there are always attendees who are shocked and delighted to see a friendly face that they…

In the nonprofit sector, you’ll often hear staff members say that they “wear many hats,” meaning they fill a number of crucial roles at their organizations. It is not uncommon for a CEO to serve as the finance team, HR…

Whether your organization is working to cure cancer, shelter or feed people, create safer streets, advocate for equality, or create change in another way, you’ve got a mission. A nonprofit’s mission is the fundamental reason it exists and defines the…

We live in one of the most remarkable eras ever, a time when a tidal wave of technologies and digital information is opening up limitless opportunities and empowering society like never before. But as innovation moves faster, we need to…

A few years ago, GuideStar’s (now Candid’s) editorial director told me, “Most of our readers are convinced that endowments are good things. If their organizations do not have endowments, it’s because they can’t justify diverting money from programs to starting…

Brands are important for more than just commercial endeavors and profit-based companies. After all, the point of a brand is to make it easier for a customer or client to connect with a company—and to make it more appealing for…

This week’s topic may be polarizing and possibly rile you up, so please stare at the nearest houseplant for a few minutes (apparently, they are scientifically proven to reduce stress). Once in a while our community gets into a discussion about…

Chances are, if you don’t have a monthly giving program, you will have to persuade others in your organization to embrace this proven revenue-raiser. The first reason alone—more money—should convince them. But, as you know, rational thinking doesn’t always prevail.…

In anticipation of its forthcoming issue devoted to Indigenous philanthropy, Alliance magazine asked three Candid employees who were deeply involved in developing the Investing in Native Communities website to share lessons from that experience. “Philanthropy has consistently under-funded Indigenous communities…

It’s been a year since we’ve become Candid ... wow! Next month, we’ll launch our first annual report so that you can see a full picture of all that’s been happening behind the scenes. I work with incredibly driven and…

What exactly is a theory of change? That’s a question I get a lot in my work with nonprofits. The short answer: It’s just what it sounds like. It’s an organization’s theory about how things are going to change as…