Problem Solving is what leaders do. But how can we be sure we’re solving the right problem? Who solves the problem? And how can we do it better? Subject experts weigh in on these questions and provide a suggested structure and methodology for nonprofit leaders. Additional contributions from the CEOs of Community Solutions, Tostan, Share Our Strength, Simprints and DREAM.

Bold moves in a crisis are critical. Subject experts address how bias, noise and context impact decision-making and the steps you can take to improve yours. Additional insights on decision making are offered by the CEOs of Komen, American Cancer Society, ideas42, MasterCard Inclusive Growth, StrongMinds and the American Heart Association.

This chapter addresses the role of a Board Member, the importance of the relationship between the Board Chair and CEO, maintaining financial stability in the midst of continuing crisises, and how to successfully bring change to your organization. CEOs featured include the Ford Foundation, , Metropolitan Museum of Art, Habitat for Humanity, BoardSource, Humanity United, Girls, Inc. and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Two things leaders must do to be effective communicators is be intentional and be organic. This chapter draws heavily on experts who provide tips on using language effectively, asking the right kind of questions that promote authentic dialogue, and the importance of context and place to communication. Among the organizations featured are Kiva, B Corps, the WISE Fund, Ronald McDonald House Charities, GiveWell and Year Up.

The key to being a good leader with a strong, engaged team comes down to the three Cs: caring, coaching, and connection. This chapter provides examples of what leaders and managers are doing, as well as what they have learned over the past 3 years. Among the CEOs featured are New Story Charity, Kessler Foundation, St. Jude (ALSAC), and CECP.

Racism is an underlying force that pushes society in a certain direction. Organizations can start to work against the stream by ensuring they focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. This chapter offers insight from experts in the field as well as viewpoints on inclusion from leaders at ProInspire, YMCA, PolicyLink, Hispanics in Philanthropy, Amani Global Works, NTEN, and others.

With how fast things change in the world, the most important thing a nonprofit can do to ensure its survival is to adapt—and that can only happen if technology is at the heart of the organization. The chapter examines what sets tech nonprofits apart, data for social good, best practices for delivering your program virtually, and more. Some of the nonprofits mentioned are DataKind, Beyond 12, SIRUM, Fast Forward, Khan Academy, and Games for Change.

You may have all the technological bells and whistles, big donor money and efficient systems, but if you don’t have trust, transparency, and teams, you won’t get very far, and you won’t get much done. We examine this with subject experts as well as the CEOs of One Love, Freedom Fund, LaunchCode, Sesame Workshop, and Street Business School.

It’s easy to get excited about shiny, new ideas. Innovation makes people feel hopeful. But how much does innovation matter if organizations can’t figure out how to scale—meaning to grow and replicate—their ideas to increase their impact? Some of the best practices are offered here from the leaders of Spring Impact, Mulago Foundation, LavaMaeX, Rippleworks, New America and Vision Spring.

Fundraising is obviously a huge topic, but we’ll talk about a handful of important developments here, including the impact of COVID-19, the importance of branding, the acceleration of online giving, AI and fundraising, major gift solicitation done virtually, virtual and hybrid galas, cryptocurrency, and timeless advice. Contributors include Against Malaria Foundation, Classy, CharityBuzz, Tiltify, Giving Block and She’s the First.

Impact investing came from a recognition that the way we were traditionally solving the world’s problems, through government efforts and philanthropy alone, was insufficient for the nature of inequality and climate change and all the other issues we’re facing around the world. This chapter will provide readers with a snapshot of this field through the the lens of the CEOs of the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), ImpactAssets, US Impact Investing Alliance, Kapor Capital, Blue Haven Initiatve, and the Acumen Fund.

As the landscape of giving continues to change, it’s worth examining initiatives that are gaining traction. One common thread is a general shift toward democratizing and decentralizing the way funds are raised, distributed, and used. Topics covered include Giving Circles, Mutual Aid Societies, Pooled Funds, Collaboratives, Social Impact Bonds and Donor-Advised Funds. Leaders from Philanthropy Together, One for Democacy, Social Finance Black Benefectors, JDRF, and GiveDirectly are included.

Philanthropy is concerned with creating a fair, just, and equitable society. While that often means challenging the system and working to address its flaws, we nevertheless do work within the parameters of that system. And that system, of course, is capitalism. Today’s thought leaders suggest we reimagine the system if we want to ultimately accomplish our goals. The ideas in this chapter are offered by the CEOs of the Hewlett Foundation, Omidyar Network, Kickstarter, the Roosevelt Institute, Global Citizen Year and JUST Capital.

To create deep, lasting social change is an incredibly complex task. No one person or organization can do it alone. To truly tackle issues such as poverty, health disparities, education gaps, and more will take serious reconfiguration of policies, power structures, and processes. In other words, systems change. The best thinkers on systems change from institutions such as Collective Change Lab, New Profit, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, Catalyst 2030 and Think of Us weigh in.

In 1999, a teenager and a relatively simple piece of technology that allowed file sharing, rocked the music industry. It has become known as the “Napster Moment.” Many organizations in the Philanthropic and Nonprofit sector are experiencing their Napster Moment right now. And so are many of its leaders. This chapter poses questions about your organization and your own leadership. Please pause and reflect upon them.