December 2, 2016

Resource Type: Risk eNews

Risk Aversion Conversion

The topic of risk-taking was front and center in a recent Wall Street Journal article, “Risk-Averse Culture Infects U.S. Workers, Entrepreneurs” by Ben Casselman. According to the author, the risk-taking, dream-chasing spirit is dwindling in the hearts of American workers and business...

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December 2, 2016

Resource Type: Risk eNews

Uncommon Sense

During the past fifteen years many workshop attendees have commented that risk management is “common sense.” I’ve agreed with this assessment on countless occasions. I’ve also shared my view that moving beyond the limited view of individual experience—by tapping into...

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December 2, 2016

Resource Type: Risk eNews

Say Something!

As an advisor to nonprofits striving to better understand and cope with myriad risks, I spend a lot of time trying to come up with practical solutions to complex problems. As anyone who’s worked with the Center knows, we don’t...

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December 2, 2016

Resource Type: Risk eNews

Normalcy

When a member of my family questions my somewhat eccentric father about a recent purchase, Dad’s standard response is “normal is boring.” Family members have learned that there is no point questioning any acquisition—whether it’s a vintage motorcycle found on...

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December 2, 2016

Resource Type: Risk eNews

The Opposite

One of my favorite episodes of the sitcom Seinfeld is called “The Opposite.” In that episode, which aired in 1994, Jerry Seinfeld persuades his friend George Costanza that George’s natural instincts frequently lead him astray. George decides to take Jerry’s advice and “do the...

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December 2, 2016

Resource Type: Articles

Do board meetings have to be open to the public?

In some states there are laws known as “Sunshine laws” that require groups to open their meetings to the public, however, these laws generally only apply to governmental or quasi-governmental groups. Unless the nonprofit is a governmental entity, there is...

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December 2, 2016

Resource Type: Articles

Managing Restricted Grants: Routine or Risky Business?

The article below was adapted from Mission Accomplished: A Practical Guide to Risk Management for Nonprofits, published by the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. For more information about NRMC's book, click here. (Mission Accomplished has been replaced by Enlightened Risk Taking:...

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December 2, 2016

Resource Type: Articles

May board members be reimbursed for their expenses?

There are no laws that would prevent a charity from providing compensation to board members for their board service, but the majority of public charities do NOT compensate their board members. More typical is for board members to be reimbursed...

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December 2, 2016

Resource Type: Articles

The Nitty Gritty of a Risk Committee

“Let’s form a committee!” is the frequent battle cry of nonprofit leaders facing a complex problem for which there are no obvious, immediate or cheap solutions. When more than one brain is needed to ponder a perplexing problem, forming a...

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December 2, 2016

Resource Type: Risk eNews

New Year, New List: Establish a Risk Management To Do List

It’s a new year, and here at the Center we’ve got a whole year’s worth of tips and trainings for you. Our web site currently features a new issue of Risk Management Essentials kicked off with an article by Melanie Herman, Executive...

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