Open Questions: The Ross Collective Blog
Sharing insights and stories on nonprofit strategy, racial equity and leadership
My Toughest Consulting Gig—and the Surprising Lessons It Taught Me
Four lessons from a horrible experience
Four steps to assess risk and language in our heartbreaking times
We are receiving questions from clients about how to go forward now. Specifically, we are hearing that, given the attack on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Federal level, some organizations are feeling pressure to change their messaging or strategies. Here are four steps to assess risk and language in our heartbreaking times.
Four Keys to Weather Current Nonprofit Financial Challenges with Resilience
Across the nonprofit landscape in 2025, organizations are facing a perfect storm: federal funding uncertainty, volatile markets, and donor hesitation. At Fairlight Advisors, we've had a front-row seat watching our clients navigate these choppy waters. Here are four keys to financial resilience.
With authoritarianism here, will your organization have the courage to speak up and lead?
We each need to be leaders who will use our privilege and power to tell the truth about the threats to healthcare, education, climate, the legal system, racial justice, universities, and so many other parts of our society.
Three Key Questions to Keep Your Strategic Plan Relevant in Uncertain Times
Adaptive leadership is necessary to keep your strategic plan relevant in uncertain times.
Three strategic, powerful steps for leaders in this hard moment
Compassion, connection and loudly sharing about the good work you’re doing.
Celebrating Five Years (!!!) as The Ross Collective
Five organizations that have inspired us.
How effective scenario planning enables responsiveness and flexibility
Some key steps to scenario planning
Guiding a loving, compassionate way forward in a very hard moment
Information on our brand refresh and new website.
Three Ideas for Collective Strength - and Resistance - Right Now
How to stay the course towards justice at this challenging time
How to Handle Toxic Board or Staff Members: A Crucial Tip for Leaders
Leadership is standing up to toxic people - in order to build a positive organizational culture
Four Steps to a Productive Board Retreat that Drives Positive Organizational Change
Many nonprofit boards are currently seeking to shift their focus and practices. You may be working alongside one of them!
Some words for tough days like this one
How we’re processing this tough day - and resources from other challenging times in the past
How getting angry about financial inequity has focused and energized our work
How do we build a nonprofit sector and nonprofit consulting sector in which each person is well-resourced and thrives?
Why we need to move towards love right now - even though it’s not easy
How can you widen your circle to beam love to those with different perspectives and experiences?
What recent events teach each one of us about making change
What potential energy may be on the other side of your leadership shift?
How to upgrade organizational culture even when you're not at the top
Five steps for team culture change
Four key steps to face government funding shifts with energy and courage
This post shares four steps for leaders from nonprofit organizations to manage shifts in government funding.