Social Value Blog

From Doubt to Trust: 4 Tips for Harnessing the Power of Consultancy for Nonprofit Excellence

Submitted by Shawn Durr on September 26, 2023 - 17:31

From Doubt to Trust: 4 Tips for Harnessing the Power of Consultancy for Nonprofit Excellence

At a recent M+S presentation to a group of for-profit and nonprofit leaders, we asked attendees, “When you hear the term consulting services, what comes to mind?” The group’s answers to this question showed a surprising level of antipathy towards consultants. 

Here’s what they said:   

  • “Telling others [about] problems they already know.”  

  • How's this response for cynicism, "Make money."  

  • One person simply responded, “Expensive.”  

Bridging the Nonprofit Technology Gap: The Keystone Solutions Platform

Submitted by Shawn Durr on September 26, 2023 - 17:07

Bridging the Nonprofit Technology Gap: The Keystone Solutions Platform

In today's fast-paced digital world, many nonprofits find themselves challenged by a widening technology gap. In a nonprofit trend report from Salesforce, which tracks global trends from 1,600 nonprofit leaders, 74% of nonprofits reported that digital transformation was a “need-to-have” or “must-have.” These findings reflect a growing recognition among nonprofit organizations that embracing technology is critical to achieving and growing mission impact. 

Good Communication Requires Discernment

Submitted by Shawn Durr on September 7, 2023 - 14:28

Good Communication Requires Discernment

Earlier in my career, I taught an interpersonal communication class at a university in northern Illinois. At the end of a lesson on active listening, I asked students to share a key take-away from the lesson. One student vigorously raised his hand and said, “Oh, oh, Ms. Caribeaux, I learned that it is important to think before you speak.” I was struck by the conviction with which he made that simple statement but appreciated this profound insight.  

Effective Communication is the Currency of the Realm

Submitted by Shawn Durr on September 7, 2023 - 13:13

Effective Communication is the Currency of the Realm

Our society has come to greatly value content generation, the virtual equivalent of talking. Social media influencers can make anywhere from $10 to $10,000 per post! Listening has become a lost art. 

A 2021 LinkedIn report in which 400 U.S. companies with 100,000 employees (about the seating capacity of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum) were surveyed, cited an average loss per company of $62.4 million per year because of inadequate communication to and between employees!  

Keystone Alliance and Mission + Strategy Join Forces

Submitted by Shawn Durr on August 30, 2023 - 14:27

Keystone Alliance and Mission + Strategy Join Forces

Photos of leadership: Greg Petersen, CEO, Jean Butzen, Founder, and Judie Caribeaux, CCO

Providing Nonprofit Organizations with A Single Source for All of Their Back-Office and Strategic Collaboration Needs

We are thrilled to announce that Mission + Strategy (M+S), a nonprofit collaboration services provider founded by Jean Butzen in 2006, is joining the Keystone Alliance (Keystone) family of organizations.

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For discussion: How Many Nonprofits?

Submitted by Jean Butzen on August 15, 2018 - 09:39

For discussion: How Many Nonprofits?

This blog post is by Jean Butzen, Founder and President; you can read more about Jean and learn how to contact her here.

I read this article and found it so interesting I wanted to ask our blog readers: do you agree with its conclusions? What do you think of how it supports its arguments?

Helping Board Members Read the Signs for a Nonprofit Merger

Submitted by Jean Butzen on June 5, 2014 - 13:28

Helping Board Members Read the Signs for a Nonprofit Merger

In this age of tremendous change and economic uncertainty, I am often asked by board members if they should consider a merger strategy for their nonprofit organization. Board members who work in the for-profit sector are familiar with the signs leading up to a merger in their own business arena, but not necessarily for the nonprofit sector. Have you seen these signs?

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Two Disability Organizations, One Merger, One Year Later

Submitted by Jean Butzen on April 24, 2014 - 00:00

Two Disability Organizations, One Merger, One Year Later

See How Two Nonprofits Creatively Addressed the Challenge of the Ligas Decisions

This week marks the one-year anniversary of the merger that took place between United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago and Seguin Services, to form UCP Seguin Greater Chicago.

Success and Mergers: Five Literacy Organizations Combine Forces and Secure $487,000

Submitted by Amanda Wright on February 28, 2014 - 11:47

Success and Mergers: Five Literacy Organizations Combine Forces and Secure $487,000

The Literacy Volunteers of Tuscon could probably not have anticipated where they would end up when they made teaching basic literacy and the English language their mission back in 1961. However, the scope of positive change they’ve experienced in the last few years has been extraordinary, picking up traction as a result of being chosen by Social Venture Partners (SVP) of Tuscon, Arizona as their non-profit investee back in the Spring of 2007.

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Nonprofit Merger Secrets to Success

Submitted by Jean Butzen on September 18, 2012 - 05:08

Nonprofit Merger Secrets to Success

A review by Jean Butzen, Mission + Strategy Consulting, of a study completed in July 2012 analyzing best practices for nonprofit mergers, completed by Wilder Research and published by MAP for Nonprofits. Research examined 41 nonprofit mergers completed between 1999 and 2010.

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