The arts might be great for inspiration, but Sartre had it wrong. Over the last 12 months two of my partner’s brothers died. One in September 2024, the other in August 2025 (as in, last month). In both cases, my partner was in charge of the administration of their estates. These were her two favorite siblings, flawed in their own ways like any human, but ultimately good, … [Read more...] about Have People and Write Stuff Down
Change
Consequences — If They Cut Funding, You Go Nuclear (or Go Home)
It’s a game of chicken. If your arts organization yields, everyone loses. Gerrymandering has been in the news of late. It’s a word I didn’t know until my eighth-grade history teacher, Mr. Ubick, gave us all a list of dangerous yet goofy-sounding political terms and phrases. “Gerrymandering” was at the top of a list that included “jingoism,” “filibuster,” “pork-barrel,” … [Read more...] about Consequences — If They Cut Funding, You Go Nuclear (or Go Home)
A Strategic Plan for Your Flailing Nonprofit Arts Organization Is Just a Waste of Time
As Kate Larsen so brilliantly puts it, a strategic planning session is not the same thing as a strategic plan session. I’ve contributed to them. I’ve written them. I’ve defended them. And more than once, I’ve been burned by them. But still, it’s always the first thing every board chair tells every consultant that their company really needs one. A strategic … [Read more...] about A Strategic Plan for Your Flailing Nonprofit Arts Organization Is Just a Waste of Time
For Nonprofit Arts Organizations, It’s August and the Fan Is Clogged with S**t
Big protests about the war and immigration, but the arts? Just a little Monday night shindig. Before that, a subtle announcement. In early 2024, we laid out the problem and gave you a path. In late 2024, we gave you discussion prompts and rules to help you figure out the answers on your own. And now, in late 2025, we show you that not only can success happen when you … [Read more...] about For Nonprofit Arts Organizations, It’s August and the Fan Is Clogged with S**t
SUMMER RERUN: Advocacy for the Nonprofit Arts Sector is Currently Meaningless
Lost amid a string of inside-baseball phrases and ideologies, officials have little idea as to why they would possibly fund institutions that serve themselves first. This article was originally posted in April, but things have only managed to get worse. For further evidence of that, click here and read an article that came out about a month later: "NO. JUST NO." With … [Read more...] about SUMMER RERUN: Advocacy for the Nonprofit Arts Sector is Currently Meaningless