Join My Summer Nonprofit Reading Club!

If you’re lucky enough to be planning a family barbeque at the park or in the backyard or a trip to the Santa Cruz boardwalk or even a Hawaiian beach this summer, doing some heavy reading is probably not on your agenda. But if you do decide to keep your nonprofit brain and drive stimulated between bites of baby-back ribs or grilled portobellos, check out a few of these reads. In between visits to nonprofits around Santa Clara County and learning the ins and outs of my new role at SVCN, I’m trying to set aside some time for research and reading. So, I feel compelled to share. Sorry not sorry! New and Thought-Provoking (article, paywall) The Chronicle of Philanthropy lifted up the insightful and poignant voices of nonprofit leaders of color in its most recent newsletter. New and Informative (report, for purchase) Giving USA recently issued its Giving USA 2019 Report, which can be downloaded or ordered. This resource maps the state of philanthropy nationally and provides critical data that should help you with your fundraising strategy. It ain’t cheap--find another nonprofit buddy and share the cost. Consultant Elizabeth Zeigler wrote a Cliffs Notes version of the report if you want a quicker read. You’ve Always Wondered About Bitcoin, Right? (article, free) The Nonprofit Tech for Good blog provides a simple explanation of blockchain and bitcoin technology and why it’s relevant for nonprofits. People are Talking About It (book, free at the library) In Winners Take All, The Elite Charade of Changing the World by Anand Giridharadas pulls the curtain back from the world of “social entrepreneurship” and “impacting investing.” Ghiradharas observes that business elites might “believe they are changing the world when they may instead--or also--be protecting a system that is the root of the problem they wish to solve.” Not in the Mood for Reading (videos, free) Check out these Top 10 TED Talks for Nonprofit Leaders, curated by Classy.org. I really liked the talk on leadership by leadership consultant Roselinde Torres, who says, “Great leaders dare to be different. They don’t just talk about risk-taking, they actually do it.” Happy summer and happy reading!