Stickney Murphy Consulting LLC

07/27/2023

In keeping with my obsession with The Bear, I’ve been engrossed in the book that I spied Richie reading in one of my favorite episodes of Season 2, Forks. As Richie begins to find his purpose, he can be seen reading a book with a bright yellow cover and I had to know what it was! It turns out that it’s book that deeply resonates with my leadership philosophy. "Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect" by Will Guidara, a renowned restaurateur and co-founder of the Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park, offers profound insights that are universally applicable, including to the nonprofit sector. Unreasonable Hospitality: A Deep Dive into Transformational Leadership for Nonprofits Sarah Murphy

In keeping with my obsession with The Bear , I’ve been engrossed in the book that I spied Richie reading in one of my favorite episodes of Season 2, Forks. As Richie begins to find his purpose, he can be seen reading a book with a bright yellow cover and I had to know what it was! It turns out tha...

07/26/2023

Effective communication is more than just a tool—it's a cornerstone of community-centric practices. It's about creating an environment where everyone feels heard, valued, and engaged. Today, let's explore how nonprofit leaders can adapt their communication styles to accommodate the needs of key stakeholders and foster a more inclusive, collaborative, and effective organization. Community-Centric Communication: A Guide for Nonprofit Leaders Sarah Murphy

Effective communication is more than just a tool—it's a cornerstone of community-centric practices. It's about creating an environment where everyone feels heard, valued, and engaged. Today, let's explore how nonprofit leaders can adapt their communication styles to accommodate the needs of key st...

07/25/2023

Strategic planning is a crucial process that guides a nonprofit's direction and decision-making. Yet, it's often overlooked! Today, let's delve into how a community-centric nonprofit can embark on a strategic planning process that is inclusive, effective, and truly reflective of the community it serves. Mastering the Art of Strategic Planning: A Community-Centric Approach Sarah Murphy

Strategic planning is a crucial process that guides a nonprofit's direction and decision-making. Yet, it's often overlooked! Today, let's delve into how a community-centric nonprofit can embark on a strategic planning process that is inclusive, effective, and truly reflective of the community it ser

07/24/2023

In the world of social impact, we often find ourselves focusing on the mission, the people, and the change we're making. And while these are undoubtedly the heart and soul of our work, there's another crucial component that we must not overlook: the annual budgeting process.

07/21/2023

The terms "grant writer" and "grants consultant" are often used interchangeably. However, these roles, while both crucial to securing funding, have distinct differences in their scope and approach. Understanding these differences can help your organization make the most of your fundraising efforts and maximize your impact.

The terms "grant writer" and "grants consultant" are often used interchangeably. However, these roles, while both crucial to securing funding, have distinct differences in their scope and approach. Understanding these differences can help your organization make the most of your f

07/20/2023

Setting sail on the journey of creating a social impact organization is an exhilarating adventure! One of the first exciting decisions you'll encounter is choosing the right structure. This choice is like finding the perfect ingredients for a recipe—it needs to blend well with your mission and help you create a delightful impact. Today, we'll explore four enticing structures for social impact organizations: registering as a 501(c)(3), seeking fiscal sponsorship, registering as a nonprofit corporation without 501(c)(3) status, and operating as a collective without a corporate structure. Navigating the Landscape: A Guide to Social Impact Organization Structures

Setting sail on the journey of creating a social impact organization is an exhilarating adventure! One of the first exciting decisions you'll encounter is choosing the right structure. This choice is like finding the perfect ingredients for a recipe—it needs to blend well with your mission and hel...

07/19/2023

The Bear Necessities: A Lesson in Leadership and Workplace Culture If you're anything like me, you've not only binged FX's prestige television show "The Bear" more times than you can count, but you also can't stop thinking about it. It's more than just a show; it's a masterclass in leadership, workplace culture, and the human condition.

If you're anything like me, you've not only binged FX's prestige television show "The Bear" more times than you can count, but you also can't stop thinking about it. It's more than just a show; it's a masterclass in leadership, workplace culture, and the human condition.

07/18/2023

As leaders in the nonprofit sector, it's crucial to stay informed about events that could potentially impact our operations, even if they seem unrelated at first glance. One such event is the ongoing contract negotiations between United Parcel Service (UPS) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The outcome of these negotiations could have far-reaching implications for nonprofits across the United States, and it's essential that we understand why. Why Nonprofit Leaders Should Be Paying Attention to UPS-Teamsters Contract Negotiations

As leaders in the nonprofit sector, it's crucial to stay informed about events that could potentially impact our operations, even if they seem unrelated at first glance. One such event is the ongoing contract negotiations between United Parcel Service (UPS) and the International Brotherhood of Teams

07/17/2023

Direct Mail Fundraising: An Oldie but a Goodie Sarah Murphy In the digital age, direct mail fundraising might seem like a relic of the past. But don't be fooled! Despite the rise of online fundraising, direct mail remains a highly effective strategy for many nonprofits. In fact, studies show that older donors, who often have more disposable income, are particularly responsive to direct mail. Below are ten things you can do to craft a successful direct mail fundraising letter!

In the digital age, direct mail fundraising might seem like a relic of the past. But don't be fooled! Despite the rise of online fundraising, direct mail remains a highly effective strategy for many nonprofits. In fact, studies show that older donors, who often have more disposable income, are parti

07/15/2023

Nonprofits aren’t getting back to you because they don’t have the funds: a response to “Why I Stopped Donating to Your Organization.” Sarah Murphy

Today, we're diving into a recent OpEd by Theodore Wagenaar , a passionate philanthropist who has some strong opinions about how nonprofits should interact with their donors. While Mr. Wagenaar's perspective is valuable, it's important to remember that there's always more than one side to a story

06/20/2023

Reimagining Funding Processes: Centering BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ Led Organizations

BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ led organizations are inherently of, by, and for their respective communities. The leadership, staff, and often the constituents of these organizations are primarily from the communities they serve. Yet, they are frequently asked by funders to describe how they develop relationshi

06/17/2023

Dismantling Barriers in Arts Funding: Addressing Systemic Inequities in Grant Applications

At Stickney Murphy Consulting, we are privileged to work with an incredibly diverse range of arts organizations, many of which are led by individuals from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. These organizations contribute immensely to the rich tapestry of our cultural landsca