Perspectives by Linda Wood

Every Voice Shines New Light

The value of an idea increases exponentially when it’s shared. From our staff, partners and grantees to the people impacted by their efforts, each perspective offers new insight into the critical issues at the heart of our work.

Linda Wood Senior Director, Leadership

Linda leads the Fund’s work to strengthen leaders, organizations and movements that are advancing social change.

Investing in Nonprofit Talent

October 30, 2017 | by

A Toolkit by Fund the People

A toolkit by Fund the People provides information that helps funders, nonprofits, and others maximize their investments in talent and leadership.

Just the other day, I sat down with a group of foundation leaders visiting from Australia. They said they want to do more to support the people working in the nonprofit sector in their country, and they were looking…

Inside Out Fundraising

October 11, 2017 | by

How to Create a Culture of Philanthropy by Treating Systems Instead of Symptoms

Five primary points of intervention for identifying problems and moving toward change.

In Inside Out Fundraising, Mark Rovner and Alia McKee are calling for nothing short of a transformation in how fundraising is valued and held in organizations. Transformation is change that is profound, radical and…

What Does It Take to Support Leadership and Effectiveness in Movements?

April 5, 2017 | by

Investing In The Movement Organization and The Movement

With so much at stake for the social change movements, Senior Director, Linda Wood writes about how we must listen to leaders about what they really need—and to work as hard as we can to help their organizations and their movements succeed.

This article was originally published by the David & Lucile Packard Foundation. The Haas, Jr. Fund recently convened two groups of grantees working on immigrant and LGBT rights in California. In the course…

A Grantmaker’s Reflections on Strengthening Nonprofit Fundraising

April 4, 2017 | by

Cracking the Code of Long-Term Fundraising Success

Senior Director, Linda Wood speaks to how the changes in Washington are impacting nonprofit organizations and fundraising.

This article was originally published in Advancing Philanthropy, Spring 2017. It is undeniable that the changes underway in Washington and beyond will touch every sector of society, including nonprofit organiza…

Fundraising Answers Are All Around Us

April 13, 2016 | by

How are some social change organizations achieving standout fundraising success?

Hint: It’s less about the latest tools and techniques, and more about organizational culture, leadership and discipline.

“Let’s find an outside expert who can help.” It’s a natural impulse in the search for answers to the chronic fundraising challenges facing so many nonprofit organizations. But what if the real answers were already a…

A Culture Shift for Fundraising

February 29, 2016 | by

What is a “culture of philanthropy”—and why does it matter?

New paper drills down on an emerging concept in nonprofit fundraising.

Three years ago, the Haas, Jr. Fund joined with CompassPoint Nonprofit Services to produce a study, UnderDeveloped, documenting the chronic fundraising challenges facing today’s nonprofits. One possible path to addr…

Making the Case for Nonprofit Leaders

May 31, 2015 | by

Approaching not just the “what” in philanthropy, but also the “how”

In this interview for the Social Velocity blog, senior director Linda Wood reflects on more than a decade of work building the Haas Leadership Initiatives, and what lies ahead.

This interview was originally published on the Social Velocity blog, here. In today’s Social Velocity interview, I’m talking with Linda Wood, Director of the Haas Leadership Initiatives. Over the past decade, t…

How to Build an Organization That Values Collaboration

November 11, 2014 | by

One nonprofit's journey

Change is hard work. And when an organization is fighting for social change and internal change, that’s doubly hard. Linda Wood shares her thoughts on this bold new report.

The Center for Community Change’s new report, Change Starts Here, should be required reading for anyone who is interested in what it will take for the social justice movement to keep innovating, expanding its impact…