Advocacy is a loaded word in the nonprofit context. And when nonprofit leaders, advisors, and others discuss the role of nonprofit advocacy, there are often misunderstandings, tension, and conflict. Some will say all 501(c)(3) organizations must advocate for their mission. Others will say that not all 501(c)(3) organizations should engage in advocacy depending on their […]
Author: Gene Takagi
Nonprofit Resources of the Week – 7/4/26
Emanuel Leutze, Washington Crossing the Delaware (1851). Collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Public domain. Nonprofit Resources of the Week curates timely articles, tools, and commentary to help nonprofit organizations, their leaders, and their advisors stay informed about legal developments, sector trends, and emerging issues affecting the nonprofit and philanthropic ecosystem, including […]
2026 Leading with Intent Survey
BoardSource’s survey in connection with the upcoming Leading with Intent report remains open to responses through August 31, 2026. Leading with Intent (LWI) is BoardSource’s signature research initiative on nonprofit board leadership since 1994. BoardSource provides data and trends on board composition, structure, practices, and leadership dynamics across the sector. We are pleased to share that the […]
Nonprofit Resources of the Week – 6/27/26
Nonprofit Resources of the Week curates timely articles, tools, and commentary to help nonprofit organizations, their leaders, and their advisors stay informed about legal developments, sector trends, and emerging issues affecting the nonprofit and philanthropic ecosystem, including those related to equity, climate change, and resilience. The series also seeks to share tools, perspectives, and sources […]
California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation: Charitable vs. Public Purpose
A California nonprofit public benefit corporation must state in its articles of incorporation that it is organized for one of the following purposes, as defined by state law: Unfortunately, the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law (NPBC Law) doesn’t spell out the differences between a charitable purpose and a public purpose. Some nonprofits have opted […]
Nonprofit Resources of the Week – 6/20/26
Nonprofit Resources of the Week curates timely articles, tools, and commentary to help nonprofit organizations, their leaders, and their advisors stay informed about legal developments, sector trends, and emerging issues affecting the nonprofit and philanthropic ecosystem, including those related to equity, climate change, and resilience. The series also seeks to share tools, perspectives, and sources […]
A Deeper Examination: Mission
Is it fair to assume that the board members of a charitable nonprofit all understand their organization’s mission? After all, why would they have been elected or willing to serve unless they understood and had some important feelings about the mission? Of course, board members have a fiduciary duty to know and act on their […]
Nonprofit Resources of the Week – 6/13/26
Nonprofit Resources of the Week curates timely articles, tools, and commentary to help nonprofit organizations, their leaders, and their advisors stay informed about legal developments, sector trends, and emerging issues affecting the nonprofit and philanthropic ecosystem, including those related to equity, climate change, and resilience. The series also seeks to share tools, perspectives, and sources […]
Do Nonprofit Board or Staff Members Know Best?
Generally, it seems like tension between staff and board members has risen over the past few years. Under corporation laws, the board sits atop the corporate hierarchy and possesses the ultimate power to determine the direction of a nonprofit corporation. Yet, it’s reasonable to ask whether this makes sense when the board of a typical […]
Nonprofit Resources of the Week – 6/6/26
Nonprofit Resources of the Week curates timely articles, tools, and commentary to help nonprofit organizations, their leaders, and their advisors stay informed about legal developments, sector trends, and emerging issues affecting the nonprofit and philanthropic ecosystem, including those related to equity, climate change, and resilience. The series also seeks to share tools, perspectives, and sources […]