Hi Reader,
As we head toward Christmas and New Years, I wanted to give you some materials that you can use to tease out improvements in your nonprofit. But we don't want you to do all the work.
In this issue, you will find four items to improve your nonprofit right now:
- Address root causes to make improvements.
- Find case studies where someone else has tried what you want to do.
- Theme your board meetings.
- Do a "thank-a-thon" at one of your board meetings where everyone pulls out their cell phone and gets involved.
I add some other interesting tidbits at the end, but let's start with good news from the West Coast.
Seattle Stepping Up for Nonprofits
While so many states and local governments treat nonprofits with benign neglect or worse, Seattle's King County is doing something different. Shaddon Braddock, its county executive, announced in late November that the county was providing "a $25 million investment to support nonprofit human services providers and the workforce that powers them." Wouldn't it be nice if this caught on? That's my holiday prayer.
Address the Root Cause
Okay, so technically this one focuses on problems, rather than strictly opportunities. But it gets at important possible improvements. We often challenge problems from an emotionally and physically far distance, arguing abstractly about what might be going on instead of actually finding out. This prompt will help you overcome that as you innovate:
Act in the role of a process improvement expert and systems thinker. I’m currently facing the following recurring problem: [describe the issue in detail with background context]. Assist me in conducting a Root Cause Analysis to understand and resolve this issue at the source. If appropriate, urge me to find and go to the gemba where the issue is arising, rather than sitting in a conference room or office far from ground zero. Remind me during this interaction that I can use my cell phone with AI, so that I could actually visit the site of the issue.
Start by helping me clearly define the problem—include when, where, and how often it occurs. Guide me in gathering the relevant data or patterns around this issue. Then, use diagnostic frameworks (like the 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagram (Ishikawa), or Pareto Principle) to explore possible contributing factors.
Once we identify the most likely root cause(s), recommend practical, realistic solutions to address it—both immediate fixes and long-term preventive strategies.
Bonus: Share an example from a similar situation or industry to show how the same method worked elsewhere.
(Adapted from Zane Kahn's Superhuman (May 29, 2025).)
Find the Wheel Someone Else Already Invented
You have limited time and resources. You can't do everything. Neither can your team. So ask help from AI in finding you organizations that have successfully implemented what you're interested in doing:
Act in the role of a nonprofit expert. I am interested in [specify the area of interest, skill, or initiative you want to develop] and its application in the business world. Perform deep research and provide a selection of case studies from different nonprofits where this knowledge has been applied successfully. These case studies should include a brief overview, the challenges faced, the solutions implemented, and the outcomes achieved. If you can't find pertinent nonprofit case studies, substitute with case studies from small or medium sized for-profit enterprises (SMEs). Each case study should help me understand how these concepts work in practice, offering new ideas and insights that I can consider applying to my own nonprofit. (Modified from Zain Kahn's Superhuman Newsletter (May 22, 2025))
Theme Your Meetings
Try selecting a unifying theme or “big issue” for each board meeting, and build the agenda around that topic. For example, one meeting might focus on a strategic opportunity, another on a major threat, another on program impact. This allows deeper analysis of important matters, as opposed to skimming many topics. Nonprofit boards have found value in dividing agendas into sections like “Hindsight, Insight, Foresight”—covering past performance, current analysis, and future strategy. Similarly, experts suggest repeating a critical theme over several meetings (if needed) until it’s thoroughly addressed. The result is more focused, future-oriented discussions rather than routine updates.
Do a "Thank-a-Thon"
Devote a short segment of a meeting to stewardship by having board members collectively thank donors. For example, pass out a list of recent first-time donors or major contributors and have each board member hand-write two thank-you notes, or set up phones and have the board make thank-you calls on the spot. Even reluctant fundraisers can participate since it’s not asking for money—it’s expressing gratitude. This exercise has been used successfully to engage boards in fundraising: writing thank-you notes or calling to thank donors are simple first steps that get board members comfortable with outreach. It also tangibly boosts donor relations, as supporters are often delighted to get a personal thanks from a board member.
Both can be true
I love this chart on Reddit, which notes emotionally intelligent dualities. We don't have to be all one or all the other.
Learn about "Filter Bubbles" and other "Freakpages"
Sometimes you want to learn something truly new, like why you're hearing more and more news that agrees with you. That's a Filter Bubble, by the way, but there is so much more here.
Two things I'd like as holiday gifts from you this week:
- Tell me what you're working on, since I focus future issues based on what I read in your emails.
- Forward this email to someone you know who wants to improve their nonprofit. Let them know how much value you get from a little shot of realistic positivity each Monday morning.
If you have received this email from someone, thank them! Then use this link to sign up for free.
I wish you all the best during the holidays!
Ted
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Founder and CEO Risk Alternatives, LLC 202.758.7572 (cell) 608.709.0793 (office) Website
Author of Managing Your Nonprofit for Resilience
We help nonprofits thrive by providing practical tools and support to address uncertainty and improve risk management.
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P.S. I know that I'm overdoing the white space on this newsletter. I will find the solution shortly.
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