Posted on Monday, 8th September 2008 by chris wignall

We are partway through the process of evaluating our applicants from this funding cycle. It has been a large learning experience. In a few weeks I will post some of what we’ve learned in the hope of becoming better at it next time around. One of the challenges at times in our discussions has been [...]

Tags: Catalyst, Resources
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Posted on Saturday, 6th September 2008 by chris wignall

The word Catalyst gets used in several nonprofits and ministries. One that I can recommend is the Catalyst conference and all the ancillary elements they’ve added. I’ve enjoyed their podcasts for a couple years and am disappointed that I won’t be available to accompany a group from our area to Atlanta next month to see [...]

Tags: Catalyst, Resources
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Posted on Wednesday, 27th August 2008 by chris wignall

I am learning quite a lot about the roles and responsibilities of board members. I’m realizing how very important an effective board can be to the long term work of an organization, and conversely, how crippling a poor board can be. In evaluating grant applications one of the factors we consider is the effectiveness of [...]

Tags: Leadership, Resources
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Posted on Friday, 22nd August 2008 by chris wignall

I seem to talk to a lot of Executive Directors of nonprofits who claim to enjoy fundraising. Without questioning their integrity, I doubt most of them. I suspect that what they really enjoy is talking about their organization, telling the stories of their team and the people they serve. When it comes to the moment [...]

Tags: Resources
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Posted on Tuesday, 19th August 2008 by chris wignall

A quick list of websites and blogs that I find helpful: Strive! is the best organization I’ve come across for helping boards learn to function in ways that don’t drive themselves, staff, volunteers, donors, and clientele to desperate frustration. You should subscribe to their monthly GEMs and buy Jim Brown’s book. Mission Based Management by [...]

Tags: Resources
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Posted on Friday, 15th August 2008 by chris wignall

Last week I recommended a book on microfinance. After a really good meeting on Wednesday with Opportunity International – Canada I was sent this article that breaks the idea down into a pretty manageable chunk while also exploring the edges of the approach. Microfinance is going to be a key piece to our strategy.

Tags: Catalyst, Partners, Resources
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Posted on Wednesday, 6th August 2008 by chris wignall

Two books are strongly shaping our approach to our philanthropy as we enter our September funding cycle (draft proposals due August 15th): Out of Poverty by Paul Polak, founder of International Development Enterprises. and A Billion Bootstraps by Phil Smith and Eric Thurman, who have had ties to Opportunity International. These two books, combined with [...]

Tags: Catalyst, Partners, Resources
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Posted on Friday, 1st August 2008 by chris wignall

In my role with Catalyst I am responsible for the distribution of a much larger budget than most people or families will give over decades. In my private life the scale is much more modest. In both cases, I want to make the most impact with the resources I have. For smaller private donors there [...]

Tags: Philanthropy, Resources
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Posted on Thursday, 26th June 2008 by chris wignall

I am trying to catch loose ends before I leave for a project with Medical Ministry International in the Dominican Republic tomorrow morning. Point form here we go: -I am very excited about the time with MMI. They (Leanne Graham in particular) have been amazing in the process of making arrangements for this trip after [...]

Tags: Partners, Resources
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Posted on Monday, 23rd June 2008 by chris wignall

Here’s the list of participants in the synchroblog on “What is missional?” I’ll post my thoughts later today. Alan Hirsch Alan Knox Andrew Jones Barb Peters Bill Kinnon Brad Brisco Brad Grinnen Brad Sargent Brother Maynard Bryan Riley Chad Brooks Chris Wignall Cobus Van Wyngaard Dave DeVries David Best David Fitch David Wierzbicki DoSi Doug [...]

Tags: Resources
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