The view from Nonprofit Street in 2011—our top-rated posts

By Katy Snyder, JVA Consulting

Last year was a busy year on our blog, and we saw some themes emerge in the types of topics that were most popular. We thought we’d share some themes that we saw this year with you, and give you a chance to let us know what you’d like to see in 2012.

Guest blogging. Our most-read story of the year was our guest blogger contest, in which six nonprofit professionals submitted blogs. Readers voted, and Abby Landmeier emerged victorious, winning a one-year JVA Training Subscription for her blog on young nonprofit professionals and the economy. Click here to read the rest of the entries in our guest blogger contest.

Celebrity foundations (or really anything about celebrities). Our second most popular story last year is also one of our all-time most popular stories: Leona Helmsley’s foundation to support more than dogs.

How to love organizing your nonprofit

By Amber Alarid, JVA Consulting

Our February 14, 2012 Executive Director Breakfast Club focused on "How to Love Organizing."

On February 14, 2012, JVA’s Executive Director Breakfast Club tackled all things organization. Guest speaker Julie Gutman, founder of Simplify Me, LLC joined JVA and our group of nonprofit executive directors to talk about personal organization (desks, email, files and more), while JVA’s own Ashley Kasprzak led a discussion about organizing your nonprofit at the board level.

Ask Amber: Getting the nonprofit job that you want

By Amber Alarid, JVA Consulting

In January, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reported that the nonprofit sector has added more jobs than the for-profit sector over the last 10 years. So what does this report mean for job seekers?

How your nonprofit can use Pinterest

By Katy Snyder, JVA Consulting

Where can you learn how to use a sock to curl your hair, check out what your neighbor had for dinner last night, and look at pictures of baby pandas? Why Pinterest, of course! While there are endless uses for Pinterest, you are probably wondering how it can help your nonprofit. I agree that its applications to the sector are not immediately clear. My initial reaction was to think that we’ve already invented enough ways to waste time, why add another? But, like most other converts, I was hooked once I actually checked it out.

First of all, Pinterest is much simpler than Facebook or Twitter. And while neither Facebook nor Twitter is rocket science, Pinterest doesn’t require any hastags or personal information. You simply post pictures (or in the language of Pinterest, “pin”), and if you feel like it, comment, on pictures that others have pinned. The more interesting or visually stimulating your picture, the more people will like it or, “repin” it. If you have your Pinterest page well-aligned and connected to your other social media, the connections you make on Pinterest can lead to real business.

How to use Pinterest for your nonprofit

Like other social media tools, you want to strike a balance between promoting your products and services and providing interesting content. As social media marketer John Hadon says, “Pinterest is not a place to blatantly promote your organization.”

How to Love Organizing: Tips on making it all a little more manageable

By Amber Alarid, JVA Consulting

Professional Organizer Julie Gutman of Simplify Me, LLC addresses JVA's Executive Director Breakfast Club on Valetine's Day, sharing her ideas on How to Love Organizing.

If organizing your stuff causes you stress, either because you find it to be a daunting task or you worry you spend too much time on it, there is help. Developing a strategy that works for you—and motivating yourself to stick to it—is the key to eliminating the clutter in your life.

Ask Amber: Is there a way to respectfully disagree with a senior colleague or boss?

By Amber Alarid, JVA Consulting

It’s bound to happen: A coworker or superior says something that you don’t agree with. As a young professional, it’s important to learn how to dispute something in a professional, constructive manner. Just because you are young does not mean your ideas are not valid and helpful.  Make sure to contribute positively to the team, but do not hesitate to speak up when you have a valid argument.

What does Generosity Day mean to you?

By Katy Snyder, JVA Consulting

A day late is better than not all, right (although I am not sure if that saying goes for Valentine’s Day…)? We know we are a little late with our message, but we at JVA Consulting wanted to thank all of our clients, friends, mentors and colleagues for what they do to make the world a better place. On a daily basis, JVA gets to work with groups that are in the trenches, doing what we think is the most vital work that can be done—nonprofit work. From soup kitchens to those working with the elderly, the homeless, students, immigrants and refugees, we want to thank you for what you do to make our community better.

In the spirit of generosity, we wanted to open up this blog to you so that you can tell us who (or what) you are grateful for. We’d also love to hear how your nonprofit celebrated Generosity Day this year. Let us know by leaving a comment below.

And most of all, THANK YOU!