Choose to Improve

BLINKIST. Blinkist is a digital learning app that distills the key insights of the world’s bestselling nonfiction books into powerful packs you can listen to in just 15 minutes or read on your favorite device. Blinkist’s expert editorial team carefully selects titles that belong on your radar, teases out the concepts the author wants you to know about, and frames them with vivid examples and data so they’re useful and fun, too. For those of us in the nonprofit world who are up to our eye sockets in alligators much of the time, finding it hard to stay on top of the latest trends and ideas, Blinkist is a godsend. It's available on iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle and Web and the "blinks" about books are available as text files (Plus Account, $49.99 per year) or both text and audio (Premium Account, $79.99/year). Finally, with a Premium Account, you can save the blinks to Evernote, which is a great way to be able to reinforce what you've learned.

CAMTASIA.  Camtasia empowers you to make amazing videos—even if you’ve never made one before. Record a video of your screen or bring in your own video footage. Then, use Camtasia’s drag-and-drop editor to easily create remarkable videos you can share with anyone. Keep your audience engaged by adding eye-catching animations, music, and captions in record time. With Camtasia, you’ll be able to produce stunning videos without being a professional video editor. Cost: $249.00

EVERNOTE.  From small tasks to major projects, Evernote is where you’ll achieve your best work, day in and day out. As one workspace that lives across your phone, tablet, and computer, Evernote is the most productive office for modern teams. Write free from distraction, collect information, find what you need, and present your ideas to the world—all more efficiently than you ever imagined, giving you more time to take your ideas from inspiration to reality. There are 4 Evernote subscription types:  (1) Basic (FREE); (2) Premium ($7.99/mo); and (3) Business ($14.99 per user/month, discounted to $7.50 per user/month for nonprofits).  Click here for guidance on picking the account type that is right for you.

FILETHIS.  Managing your personal and business financial statements can be a real challenge, even if you receive them electronically. The FILETHIS app (1) saves your bank, credit card, insurance, investment and similar statements securely in the cloud on the platform of your choosing, e.g., Evernote, Dropbox, Google Drive, Box or FileThis Cloud; (2) provides a dashboard showing your account balances and sends an email reminder when bills are due; (3) has FREE and incredibly affordable paid plans. Check out our review of the app here.

NETVIBES.  If you're striving toward inbox zero and struggling to keep up with various email newsletters, blogs and RSS feeds, you're going to love Netvibes.  For those who remember iGoogle, and were as devasted as me upon its demise, take heart.  Netvibes is iGoogle on steroids and it's FREE.  At some point, I'll make a quick video of how Netvibes works and post it here, as setting it up can be a little challenging.  But the end result is very much worth the effort expended to learn how to use the software.

NITRO PRO.  Nitro Pro is PDF software that packs a lot of punch. Its major benefit for a small organization has everything to do with improving efficiency.  With it, you can combine different types of documents, e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, into a single PDF, e.g., a board agenda packet.  It also allows you to edit PDFs and to sign them without printing them out. Other laudable features include the ability to edit and add text to PDFs, OCR documents (i.e., convert PDFs to editable text), and convert PDFs to other file formats like Word, Excel and JPG.  If you use Evernote, there is also a free add-on that allows you to send documents to Evernote. Learn more about the features, here.

NOZBE.  Busy people and effective teams get tasks and projects done thanks to Nozbe system and apps for the Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, iPad and iPhone.  Nozbe has been helping hundreds of thousands of busy professionals and organizations large and small get more done for the last 9+ years. Thanks to its intuitive apps you'll easily become a productivity ninja. You'll learn how to deal with your incoming tasks, prioritize them, manage them within projects and get them done quickly and effectively.  There several plans to choose from including one that's FREE.

SNAGIT.  Create visuals that speak louder than words A visual really is worth a thousand words. Snagit software gives you the complete tool for screen capture and video recording on Windows and Mac. Combine traditional screenshots, video recording, image editing, and file sharing. It's fast and easy to visually explain anything on your screen and at $49.95, the cost is reasonable.

TRIPLOG.  The most feature-rich automated mileage log tracker to keep track of mileage logged on your personal vehicle for your nonprofit.  The TripLog app, available on iOS and Adroid, automatically records trips and categorizes them based on your preferences. Download spreadsheets of monthly activity via TripLog web, all for as low as $3 per month, or $30 billed annually.

10 STEPS TO ULTIMATE PRODUCTIVITY, Michael Sliwinski (2019). I've written about how our small team uses Nozbe to manage collective projects and individual tasks with our nonprofit because its easy to use, relatively inexpensive for teams, and integrates with all the other products we use: e.g., Evernote, Dropbox, Gmail, Google Drive. In this short book, Nozbe's creator provides great, practical, insight on using the software to achieve greater productivity in all facets of your life. I gave a copy of the book to a young staff member and was surprised how quickly he gave up his bullet journal and embraced Nozbe.

BEN DELANEY'S NONPROFIT MARKETING HANDBOOK: THE HANDS-ON GUIDE TO MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS IN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, Ben Delaney (2014). The definitive guide to marketing and communications addressed specifically to small nonprofits.  If you have little formal knowledge of marketing and need to tell your nonprofit's story, solicit donations, sell services and recruit volunteers, this book is for you. I especially like its checklists and actional tips designed to make your marketing efforts more effective.

EVERNOTE ESSENTIALS, Brett Kelly (2016). The definitive and continuously updated guide to Evernote, one of the best software tools available for becoming more productive.

FIND YOUR YELLOW TUX: HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL BY STANDING OUT. Jesse Cole, in-demand speaker and baseball ringleader, shares how you can achieve amazing things by doing the unexpected. Using examples from his life and the lives of his heroes—P. T. Barnum, Walt Disney, and MLB owner Bill Veeck—Cole shows how to reinvigorate your goals, reignite your passions, and excel in business and beyond.The time to break the mold is now—with Find Your Yellow Tux, you'll discover how to find joy and success in everything you do. And I believe there is a great message here for how we treat donors.

THE FIVE-MINUTE JOURNAL. The simplest way to start your day. Using the science of positive psychology to improve happiness, The Five Minute Journal focuses your attention on the good in your life. Improve your mental well-being and feel better every day. Also complain less, appreciate more. The Five Minute Journal helps you cultivate gratitude. It changes how you feel, alters the actions you take, and therefore the results you will create...negativity be gone! Finally, keep a journal. With a simple structured format that takes just 5 minutes, The Five Minute Journal is simple, quick, and effective. Whatever your excuse for not keeping a journal is, this journal will eliminate them.  

FORCES FOR GOOD: THE SIX PRACTICES OF HIGH IMPACT NONPROFITS, L. Crutchfield and H. Grant (2012). If you're small and striving to grow as a nonprofit, then this is a must-read.  The message:  Becoming a high-impact nonprofit is not simply a matter of building a successful organization and then scaling it up site by site. Rather, it is by working with and through organizations and individuals outside themselves that successful nonprofits are able to achieve real impact.

THE FUNDRAISING HOUSEPARTY: HOW TO PARTY WITH A PURPOSE AND RAISE MONEY FOR YOUR CAUSE - 2ND EDITION. Morrie Warshawski (2007). This is quick read with a lot of practical advice and something I have used successfully to grow the base and raise money from individuals.

GETTING THINGS DONE: THE ART OF STRESS-FREE PRODUCTIVITY. David Allen. Since it was first published almost fifteen years ago, David Allen’s Getting Things Done has become one of the most influential business books of its era, and the ultimate book on personal organization. Allen has rewritten the book from start to finish, tweaking his classic text with important perspectives on the new workplace, and adding material that will make the book fresh and relevant for years to come. This new edition of Getting Things Done will be welcomed not only by its hundreds of thousands of existing fans but also by a whole new generation eager to adopt its proven principles.

THE "HOW TO" GRANTS MANUAL: SUCCESSFUL GRANTSEEKING TECHNIQUES FOR OBTAINING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE GRANTS. David G. Bauer. I was first introduced to this book as part of the Resource Development Professional training that I received through the Council for Resource Development many years ago.  Since then, there have been many new editions of this book, and, although it is pricey, it is worth every penny in terms of the sound advice on grantseeking that you will find in its pages.

HOW TO TURN YOUR WORDS INTO MONEY: The Master Fundraiser's Guide to Persuasive Writing. Jeff Brooks. This is short book packed with insight on writing fundraising letters, grant applications and case statements. If you want to quell the urge to write corporate communications and, instead, learn donor communications, start here.

THE LITTLE BOOK OF NOZBE, Productive Wizard (2015). The definitive guide to using Nozbe like a pro.  

MAKING MEETINGS WORK: ACHIEVING HIGH QUALITY GROUP DECISIONS, John E. Tropman (2003). Everything you need to know about organizing engaging meetings, including preparing agendas, controlling what happens behind the scenes prior to and after meetings, and managing conflicting values and personalities.  Well worth its somewhat hefty price.

MAKING MONEY WITH DONOR NEWSLETTERS.  Tom Ahern (2012).  Tom Ahern, one of the world's foremost authorities on donor communications, reveals the secrets behind highly successful and shockingly lucrative charity newsletters. Inside this fast and practical guide, you'll find all the training and checklists you need to succeed even if you're a novice, even if you don't consider yourself a professional writer.   

THE MIRACLE MORNING: THE NOT-SO-OBVIOUS SECRET GUARANTEED TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE (BEFORE 8 AM).  Hal Elrod (2012).    What's being widely regarded as "one of the most life changing books ever written" may be the simplest approach to achieving everything you've ever wanted, and faster than you ever thought possible. 
What if you could wake up tomorrow and any—or EVERY—area of your life was beginning to transform? What would you change? The Miracle Morning is already transforming the lives of tens of thousands of people around the world by showing them how to wake up each day with more ENERGY, MOTIVATION, and FOCUS to take your life to the next level. It’s been right here in front of us all along, but this book has finally brought it to life.

THE NONPROFIT DASHBOARD: USING METRICS TO DRIVE MISSION SUCCESS, Lawrence M. Butler (2012). Instructions for creating an organizational dashboard on the status of programs and their overall direction.

THE NONPROFIT WEBSITE DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION GUIDE: An e-book, available for $4.50 here, providing complete and straightforward instructions on building a nonprofit website from the ground up, including (1) purchasing & registering a domain name, (2) finding the right website builder & host, (3) organizing the site based on constituent needs, (4) designing the site, (5) developing page content, and (6) measuring & monitoring site activity. Within each of the foregoing sections, there are both screenshots of, and links to, nonprofit websites illustrating the points discussed. Each section also contains a simple checklist to streamline the design and construction tasks.

RECRUITING A STRONGER BOARD, BoardSource (2015). A straightforward, accessible, and affordable ($30) compendium of practical tools for streamlining and improving the effectiveness of the board recruitment process. 

REMOTE: OFFICE NOT REQUIRED, Crown Publishing (2013). Remote work increases the talent pool, reduces turnover, lessens the real estate footprint, and improves the ability to conduct business across multiple time zones, to name just a few advantages. As Fried and Hansson explain the challenges and unexpected benefits of this phenomenon, they show why--with a few controversial exceptions such as Yahoo--more organizations will want to promote this model of getting things done.

THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE (25TH Anniversary Edition) 2013, by Stephen Covey.  There's a reason 7 Habits has sold more than 5 million copies and been translated into 32 languages. Serious work has obviously gone into it, and serious change can likely come out of it--but only with constant discipline and steadfast commitment. As the book makes immediately clear, this is no quick fix for what's ailing us in our personal and professional lives. There's nothing simple about his approach to becoming an effective person. The first three habits alone--which have to do with personal responsibility, leadership, and self-management--could take years to master. Yet the last four are unattainable, the narrator insists, if you can't acquire the personal security--the "inner core," says Covey--that presumably comes from a mastery of the foundation.

SIMPLE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS: SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING FOR THE ONE-PERSON SHOP 2019, by Pamela Grow.  Lose the “fits-and-starts” fundraising model so prevalent in our sector and get on a plan. Discover how to create the donor-focused fundraising systems that move your organization forward — even in a crisis. Covering: Nonprofit Storytelling, Foundation Grants, Fundraising Planning, Multichannel Fundraising Appeals, Donor Newsletters, Nonprofit Annual Reports, Starting Your Monthly Giving Program, Selecting Your CRM, and more.  This is hands-down the first thing anyone new to fundraising and communications should read, a wonderful, straightforward, nuts and bolts approach that tells you exactly how to begin to build an effective fundraising operation. And at just 117 pages, it's a quick read. If you're feeling lost, START WITH THIS BOOK!

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING WORKBOOK 2017, by Jason McDonald .  With this workbook you can learn to market your nonprofit on Facebook, LinkeIn, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest and other social media platforms. It contains videos with step-by-step instructions, worksheets that guide you step-by-step to social media success and other free tools. It is far and away the most helpful and up-to-date resource on social media marketing that I have seen. I found the $9.99 Kindle version to be excellent.

STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR DYNAMIC TIMES. (3rd Edition) This is a really excellent resource for doing strategic planning properly. It's easy to read and contains practical examples and advice that's withstood the test of time. I've been using this book successfully with nonprofit organizations and boards for nearly 20 years.

THE TAO OF POOH, Benjamin Hoff (1982).  A primer on being happier and more productive by understanding the philosophy of Taoism through the eyes of Winnie the Pooh.

TRYING HARD IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH: HOW TO PRODUCE MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS FOR CUSTOMERS AND COMMUNITIES, Mark Friedman (2015).  The primer on Results-based Accountability as a framework for performance management.

UNCHARITABLE: How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential, Dan Pallotta (2013).  A manifesto on why overhead spending is a poor measure of nonprofit performance and how it came to be so widely accepted.

WHY BAD PRESENTATIONS HAPPEN TO GOOD CAUSES, Andy Goodman (2009).  FREE PDF download of a short but incredibly insightful book on improving your PowerPoint presentations.