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The beginning stages of a capital campaign can be an exhilarating and scary time. You know you have a burning need – for a new building, a new program, a new position – and the possibilities you [...]

The short answer? Very. When it comes to planning and executing your nonprofit’s event, the mix of sponsors can be the difference between failure, success, or wild success. Developing those [...]

I believe that a well-told story is one of the most effective ways to illustrate an important point. Here’s a good one to get us started: Westby Associates is often asked to assist in executive [...]

START MANAGING THE 3 PHASES Under the best circumstances, grant writing can be a complicated and mysterious undertaking. It’s also an essential undertaking for most nonprofits. So how do [...]

I love to garden, it’s in my blood. Growing up in [what used to be] the outskirts of Boise, Idaho, my family depended on our large garden to provide 90% of the produce we ate during the year. But [...]

Those who know me have probably heard me say “I can’t afford politics.” That is to say, I can’t afford to express a viewpoint that polarizes my clientele. This, I acknowledge, has the [...]

I see a lot of slippery slopes. And I don’t even ski. The slippery slopes I encounter are a metaphor for uncertain leadership.

Sir Isaac Newton is largely credited with the phrase that says he was able to see further because he “stood on the shoulders of giants.” The expression is intended as a nod to past generations [...]

As a former sports columnist I could not resist the opportunity opine on the Tom Brady air affair. It is germane to this space because it transcends sports. It is an opportunity to talk about [...]

So a chicken and a pig get lost on a hike in the woods, and by the time they make it back to the trail head they’re both starving. They see a restaurant just up the road and decide to stop. [...]