Leadership plays an important role in every fundraising activity. Foundations and corporate sponsors want to interact with the CEO and board members. Donors want to know that leadership will spend their gifts wisely. Volunteers need to be embraced in a culture that values their work and supports their interests. And of course leadership plays a pivotal role in empowering any nonprofit’s most important asset: its employees who depend on leadership to both meet/live the mission and make sure they are paid regularly.

Leadership is at its most effective when we integrate three essential elements: vision, culture, and communication. Nonprofit leaders can create an organizational culture and work environment that is more conducive to fundraising, and specifically (or selfishly from my perspective) grant seeking success.

How? By following best practices, of course. Here are three tips based on national nonprofit Standards of Excellence. How does your nonprofit compare?

1. Lead through…