Choosing your CRM database is only the first step…

It takes a lot of work and research to decide on the right database for your organization, especially now that companies offer Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) systems that can integrate fundraising, online donation and store activities, communications, volunteers, program management, and more.  As hard as it is to wade through database options, the real work is truly making good use of them.  Once you take the plunge, it is vital to keep in mind that you not only are moving data from your old system, you are figuring out how to use the CRM capabilities to create new administrative and potentially programmatic SYSTEMS and functionality. The power of good CRMs is that they can simplify time-consuming activities while providing easy and accessible analysis and reporting…putting your staff in the position to make data-supported decisions and to focus on relationship-building. 

11 Tips for Your Next Evolution: Building an Engaging and Effective Strategic Plan Process

I recently sat down with Stephanie Seliga of the Just Garden Project, a program that was adopted by Seattle Tilth this year. Over a couple hours we talked about their efforts to build a new vision and strategic plan for the organization now that it is part of the Seattle Tilth family. It felt good to be able to share the insights and lessons from my own experience co-leading GRuB’s evaluation and evolution of its vision, mission, values, and strategic goals. Our conversation also reminded me how important it is to create a strong process and to involve the right people. Here are a few tips for those of you who might be starting your own evolutions.

Why “Soft-Skills” Belong in Sustainability Education: A Visit to The Evergreen State College Organic Farm

When I first started on the path toward Sustainability Education and The Good Food Movement, I focused on building tangible skills and knowledge -apprenticing to learn to farm and taking classes in agroecology, soil science, nonprofit management and other academic content. During my second year of undergrad at The Evergreen State College , one of my favorite professors, an ecologist and farmer named Pat Labine, pulled our class together to teach us group dynamics and facilitation skills. She rightly demanded that we improve our communication and collaboration as integral parts of our learning and future work.