Two unrelated incidents in my professional life have me fixated on the issue of government support for arts and culture.  One, the class I'm currently teaching at Drexel took up in discussion and research the topic, and as I had hoped, had strong and intelligent opinions.  And two, I'm presently working on a project involving a municipality and its performing arts center.  First the class -- Among many aspects of government funding for arts and culture, I posed the idea of a culture "czar," a secretary of arts and … [Read more...]

Every now and then a book in the field of governance and leadership that speaks with almost-alarming clarity and truth comes along.  The Allure of Toxic Leaders by Jean Lipman-Blumen is one of these remarkable works.  It's almost creepy reading this book, as it describes situations I've experienced.  Understandably she focuses primarily on corporate examples (Jean is a professor in the Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University), but a transfer to the not-for-profit sector is obvious, and clearly … [Read more...]

I'm currently working on a project that involves examination of what organizational and governance structure best provides incentives for success.  What I'm finding is painful, as the 2008 Great Recession has drained so much of the altruistic resource of our noble NFP workers.  They are being expected to do the work of many others, and receive pay cuts, or no raises in return.  They are made to feel thankful for having a job at all.  As I was once told decades ago, when I asked for a raise, "you don't do this for the money, … [Read more...]