By: Greg Cantori, President & CEO, Maryland Nonprofits and the Standards for Excellence InstituteLast month I had the pleasure of welcoming the 2012 class of Licensed Consultants to Baltimore for three days of extensive training in how to work with organizations seeking to implement the Standards for Excellence® code.  Planning my remarks, I decided to tell the story of my first week on the job at my previous position at the Downtown Sailing Center…Our summer Junior Sailing Camp was in full[…]

Cartoon CreditIn July 2012, Sally Patterson then Interim President & CEO of the Standards for Excellence Institute and Maryland Nonprofits was interviewed by Joce Sterman of ABC2 News about nonprofit organizations that claim zero fundraising expenses. But in this Chronicle of Philanthropy article entitled, “Nonprofit Inquiry Thrusts Fundraising Costs into the Spotlight,” Suzanne Perry discusses that the current issue isn’t low cost fundraising but expenses that are too high when compared to the[…]

Garth Brooks sings about his less-than-reputable buddies in his popular country song, “Friends in Low Places.” It is hard to determine whose reputation appeared more sullied in Mr. Brooks’ recent headlining activities – himself or the nonprofit hospital which he sued for apparently not following his wishes.Recently, a jury in Oklahoma ordered the Integris Canadian Valley Hospital, to which Garth Brooks had made a $500,000 donation, to refund his contribution plus punitive damages because the[…]

The ethics field lost a giant last week when Rushworth Kidder, President and Founder of the Institute for Global Ethics in Rockport, Maine passed way in Naples, Florida.While I am sorry to say that I never personally met Rush, I was an avid reader of his publications and works and I often cited a quote from his writings.  My favorite Rushworth Kidder quote was:“…because nonprofits have an obligation to do the right things-often wrenching choices among competing priorities, and having to ask what[…]

I had a pang of sadness and nostalgia recently when I read that the Helena Rubinstein Foundation would soon be closing its doors and ceasing operations.  You see, growing up in the seventies in suburban New Jersey, the Helena Rubinstein Foundation was the one and only foundation that ever crossed my conscientious because Helen Rubinstein was recognized on Channel 13, my local public television station as the underwriter of Sesame Street and other children’s shows.   I wasn’t aware of any other[…]

The Boston Globe (Khazei OK’d hiring brother at nonprofit, 8/22/2011) reported that Democratic primary Senate candidate Alan Khazei, former president and chief executive officer of the nonprofit, Be the Change, approved a consulting contract for his brother, Lance Khazei, a Hollywood writer, for his Be the Change work on media strategy.  According to the article, Lance Khazei received $50 per hour to work on establishing a Los Angeles office. Alan Khazei, stated that the compensation was “such a[…]

How much pressure is too much? I am aware of churches and other faith based organizations that include a list of those families who have made financial commitments to the congregation in each week’s bulletin or order of service.  This may or may not feel like too much pressure, but surely many of us would bristle over the idea of listing all the individuals or families that haven’t made pledges to the financial health of the organization—as a kind of charitable black listing. So how do we ensure[…]

One of my friends once told me that she was never upset when she had to pay library fines because she supports and loves her local library.  Perhaps it is a very small price to pay for the ability to borrow such a variety of great books and not have to actually purchase these books and publications.  This is completely appropriate as long as my friend does not incorrectly assume that she can actually take a tax deduction for the library fines she’s paid.  Certainly, she can make tax deductible[…]

It is possible to implement Best Practices for your organization’s management and governance.Six months into 2011, the gyms that were so packed by well-meaning individuals with lofty New Year’s resolutions for getting in shape are now back to normal attendance levels. Many of us may also feel the year is now “old hat” and that we’ve lost the window of opportunity to start the exciting new initiatives and resolutions that are often geared toward the new year.I’ve had the great opportunity this[…]

With the airing of 60 Minutes investigative report on Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea and CEO of Central Asia Institute, a recognized 501(c)3, we are once again confronted with controversy in the nonprofit sector. Here is an organization with a very compelling and important mission - building schools and educating girls in impoverished central Asian communities - and charitable contributions that would be the envy of the vast majority of the nonprofit sector. It is unfortunate that[…]