Building Bridges - The TANGO Blog
TANGO’s mission is to build bridges between the nonprofit sector and the business sector. The mission is based on the belief that the interests of the sectors are capable of being aligned, and that communities do better when their interests are aligned.
More about the TANGO Blog
An alignment of interests is not the same as a merger of interests. Each sector is responsible for different tasks within a community, both sets of tasks are necessary conditions for community stability, and each sector should be allowed to perform the tasks for which it is best suited without undue interference from the other. However, recognizing the equally important role each sector plays in the community, the sectors should support each other, and doing this will require a bridge over which information, ideas, problems, solutions, and goals are exchanged freely in both directions. |
The principles upon which the bridge will be built are the TANGO Founding Principles appearing at the beginning of our textbook, The TANGO Nonprofit Method. This Blog is one component part of the bridge we will be building, and it will be both a platform and a portal to identify relevant information, ideas, problems and solutions and to discuss them openly and critically. Finally, our roots are in the business sector, and we will bring “business-like” rigor to our commentary. We will be frank and clear so as not to be misunderstood, while always being respectful. We also invite counter-opinion from those who disagree. Having said this, our critique of nonprofit sector organizations will be based on the following rigorous standards and principles: |
ONE: Tax-exempt status is a privilege conferred by federal and state legislative acts. Tax exemptions and tax deductions reduce public tax revenue, and, as such, indirectly subsidize nonprofit sector operations.
TWO: The governing boards and management teams of these organizations must adhere strictly to high fiduciary standards when expending and managing the funds and assets of the organizations they serve. Moreover, as fiduciaries of financial and other assets dedicated to a public/charitable purpose, nonprofit governing boards have a higher level of responsibility than do our elected officials who are not held to fiduciary standards when they exercise their voting authority over public assets.
THREE: Nonprofit governing boards have a duty to develop a set of measures and metrics to gauge both internal operating functions and the social impact of their organizations. The applicable measures and metrics should be prepared in conformance with the fiduciary standards mentioned above consistent with applicable benchmarks, data, and known industry standards.
FOUR: Organizations should report prominently and candidly the results of operations relative to the measures and metrics. The fiduciaries governing boards of these organizations must have the courage to report poor measures and metrics, not unlike the manner in which publicly traded business organizations are required to do so – even if over the objections of management.
FIVE: Nonprofit Organizations should not misuse the emotional appeal of their mission. The emotional appeal of a mission statement should be subordinate to the measurement and metric outcomes.
Partners Perspective – The Connection
A Training Perspective on Employee Retention Michele Kilmczak, MA, LMSWDirector of Training & Grant Management In the midst of the COVID pandemic, the Great Resignation is having a considerable impact on many organizations. Recruitment poses its own challenges,...
The Nonprofit Sector’s Special Sauce
Over the last three months we completed our first two trainings of individuals from diverse backgrounds for placement on nonprofit boards of directors in their communities.
A Training Perspective on Employee Retention – The Connection
In the midst of the COVID pandemic, the Great Resignation is having a considerable impact on many organizations. Recruitment poses its own challenges, but convincing people that your organization is a great place to work is a lot easier than convincing them to stay.
Combating Cybersecurity Challenges in a Hybrid Work Environment – Kyber Security
Combating Cybersecurity Challenges in a Hybrid Work Environment Michael L. GiuffridaPresidentKyber Security The Covid-19 pandemic has forever transformed the way we work. The transformation has been so drastic, sudden and unexpected that many organizations have yet to...
The TANGO Principles at Age Five
Jack celebrates his 5th anniversary with TANGO by recalling five principles for the philosophical underpinnings of the teaching system TANGO is building.
Welcome to the Nonprofit “C” Suite: Preparing Today’s Business Leaders for Nonprofit Board Service
As our readers and members know, TANGO is built on and around the proposition that businesses and nonprofits are equally important to their communities in general and should embrace each other culturally and economically,
5 Key Objectives to Keep in Mind When Evaluating your Telecom Spend in Nonprofits
5 Key Objectives to Keep in Mind When Evaluating your Telecom Spend in NonProfits Written By: Cate Heaman Principal/CEO Executives of Nonprofits and Corporations face pressures from every direction: balancing the budget, sourcing funds, finding, and maintaining talent...
Building Bridges Nonprofit Week 2021
With Building Bridges Nonprofit Week 2021 quickly approaching, Jack highlights his past articles leading up to our first TANGO nonprofit conference with the Building Bridges theme.
Helping nonprofits beat Connecticut unemployment taxes
Helping Nonprofits Beat Connecticut Unemployment Taxes! Written By: Mac Smith Partner - 501(c) Services The COVID-19 pandemic has left the national unemployment insurance system in taters. Before the pandemic hit, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that 22 states...
Why Nonprofit Newspapers are Held to Higher Ethical Standards than their For-profit Counterparts
Jack Horak discusses how it is required that nonprofit newspapers’ content be educational — cover both sides of issues so that readers can form their own judgments with respect to the issues of the day.
Want More Content Like This?
For all the latest news, events and nonprofit related content, become a member and receive our montly Trends Newsletter. membership is free for all nonprofit organizations.