LESSONS FROM THE GROUND – WHAT ANTS TAUGHT ME ABOUT BUILDING COMMUNITY

I was sitting in the park recently watching ants swarm around a spilled puddle of thick greenish soup on the pavement. What a marvel.

They came first for the liquid itself – dozens, then about 200 – before tackling the small bits of meat and vegetable scattered around it. Some carried pieces ten times their size. Others directed traffic. All moving with quiet, relentless purpose.

It struck me: this is exactly what we do in nonprofit work. Building something that lasts.

RETENTION MATTERS, HOW ABOUT CHURN?

When looking at retention, which is fundamentally a ‘gain or growth’ metric, we see the proverbial glass half-full. Customers come in and stay with a company. 
 
If we look at it more aptly as churn though, where customers are leaving a company, then we see it as a ‘loss’ metric. This reframing alone increases urgency. 

LEADING WITH PURPOSE THROUGH CONSTANT CHANGE

How do you lead when the ground keeps shifting beneath you?  
 
Today’s non-profit leaders face an impossible tension: stakeholders demand stability while circumstances require constant reinvention

GRATITUDE AS CATALYST: REIMAGINING THE FUTURE OF PHILANTHROPY 

Gratitude is not just a feeling. It is a lifeforce. When honored properly, it becomes a powerful catalyst for philanthropy. 
Yet in many nonprofit and healthcare foundations, gratitude is still treated as an afterthought

US-Canada Nonprofits: Challenges and Opportunities of Working Together in 2025

Nonprofits across the US and Canada continue to rise to the challenge, despite continued economic uncertainty and political polarization. S. Sutton & Associates is here to help you to develop strategies that can turn crisis into opportunity.

The Transformative Power of Artificial Intelligence in Philanthropy

In the realm of philanthropy, the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is nothing short of transformative. It’s altering the way charitable organizations operate, how donors engage, and how pressing social issues are tackled.

The Role of the Environmental Scan in Strategic Planning

Your organization may be preparing to develop a strategic plan, whether to provide direction to a fledgling nonprofit, to breathe new life into an established organization, to respond to the rapid changes in technology, or to disruptions in funding, leadership, or the competitive landscape.

Deconstructing the Logic Model

A logic model is a program planning tool that helps an organization, social business or group define important factors to launch a new program, product, or service.

Leaning Into the New Normal: A practical guide on lessons learned from 2020 to make 2021 your best year ever

As we start the new year with hope and renewed energy, on behalf of all at S. Sutton & Associates Inc., I would like to thank you for your amazing support and friendship throughout the year.

The Leadership Model of Philanthropy

Philanthropy is focused, not on symptoms, but on root causes.

Emerging Trends Shape the Donor’s Perception and Approach

The changing philanthropic landscape affects the way donors perceive and approach giving

Lessons learned from early-stage grantmaking organizations.

After conducting extensive interviews, the Center for Effective Philanthropy has thoughtfully distilled an insightful guide that offers advice on leadership