The Front Porch
​Blue Ridgers know the front porch to be more than a place. It’s an experience where ideas are shared, people are challenged, questions are answered, and stories are shared. This “Front Porch” blog is a virtual place to gather.Â
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What I Learned On My Summer Vacation
I went away for a little while, right after I retired from United Way. I had several reasons: to make sure my successor had the space to lead without any of her staff trying to do an end run around her; to visit some spots in one of my favorite regions in the world,...
When Grant Writing Equals Grant Winning!
(Republished from Grace-Anne Alfiero's Arts in Action Blog) As a non-profit consultant that makes a majority of my income from preparing grant proposals for clients, I am often asked what constitutes a winning proposal. The quick answer is this, a formula that needs...
Get That Grant!
Often my colleagues and I are asked “What’s the best way to receive funding from Allegany Franciscan Ministries?” Our reply is always the same, and is appropriate for most funding sources: have a clear understanding of our organization and be sure to articulate the...
Leaders Control the Switch
We are always in unprecedented times, are we not? Every political election seems to out-crazy the one before it. And the crazy tone of humanity ramps up accordingly. Civility seems to be vanishing. That's where leadership comes in -- OUR leadership. Leaders set the...
Climb the Mountain!
So are you ready for a challenge? The first principle in setting goals is to set BIG goals. Leadership expert Jim Collins calls these "Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals." Often we find ourselves in a rut. We've spent time identifying a goal that is appropriate for our...
How NOT to Do It
In the early 90’s, I landed an internship at a progressive non-profit agency in New York City that served as an incubator to musicians, performance artists and multi disciplinary artists. I both loved and hated my experiences there. It was where I was first introduced...