Dick, after a decade of being a journalism program officer (first at Ford and now at the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation - two ends of the size and process spectrums) I recognize all the symptoms you rightly describe, not only at CPI (I have been pitched for support by four of those CEOs and had a front-row seat at the CPI/ICIJ divorce) but at way too many other nonprofit orgs. Without exception, while not the only problem, a weak board is ALWAYS one of the big problems. Funders need to look closely under the organization’s hood and, when feasible, offer to fund capacity, board development, strategic plans… whatever can help make an otherwise promising organization more stable and successful. At the risk of public obsequiousness, I recommend your book, Elements of Nonprofit News, all the time, both to funders and to newsrooms. Your road map works. A shame that CPI and others may not have taken it to heart.
This analysis is thoughtful, thorough, smart, and instructive. “We do an often excellent job in our business of scrutinizing the activities of others. The fate of the Center for Public Integrity should remind us that we need to be equally rigorous in holding ourselves to account.” Amen.
Dick, after a decade of being a journalism program officer (first at Ford and now at the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation - two ends of the size and process spectrums) I recognize all the symptoms you rightly describe, not only at CPI (I have been pitched for support by four of those CEOs and had a front-row seat at the CPI/ICIJ divorce) but at way too many other nonprofit orgs. Without exception, while not the only problem, a weak board is ALWAYS one of the big problems. Funders need to look closely under the organization’s hood and, when feasible, offer to fund capacity, board development, strategic plans… whatever can help make an otherwise promising organization more stable and successful. At the risk of public obsequiousness, I recommend your book, Elements of Nonprofit News, all the time, both to funders and to newsrooms. Your road map works. A shame that CPI and others may not have taken it to heart.
As a relatively new startup in the throes of discussions about building a strong board, this was so enlightening and educational. Thank you!
This analysis is thoughtful, thorough, smart, and instructive. “We do an often excellent job in our business of scrutinizing the activities of others. The fate of the Center for Public Integrity should remind us that we need to be equally rigorous in holding ourselves to account.” Amen.
Sobering, and sad.
Thanks for this revealing, balanced, important post. Accountability matters.