More people than ever are committing themselves to serving their communities and changing the world. Whether you’re aiming to protect the environment, support the arts, or help people in need, understanding how to set up a solid nonprofit organization is a great foundation for being as effective as you can be.

Read more: Starting & Building a Nonprofit: A Practical Guide

In a discussion recently on LinkedIn, I asked a group "why do you think executive turnover is so high in the nonprofit sector and what can we do to help the leader stay in one spot for longer?" The response I got was interesting - the majority of the respondents felt that high turnover was good because it was a chance for the organization to have new ideas infused and to not get stuck in a rut. Despite all the opinions of this nature I couldn't help but see the collateral damage of high leadership turnover: low staff morale, inconsistent culture, lack of trust in the organization's leadership, high financial costs of finding replacement etc. I know that organizations need a continuous flow of fresh ideas but I could not see how turning over the CEO every 4-5 years could be a good thing.

Read more: The Costs of High-Turnover in Nonprofit Leadership

Fundraising has become an essential element to schools, scouts, sports and cheerleading teams, youth sports leagues, and other community groups in both small towns and major urban areas. The need for fundraising has become of greater importance than ever before for a variety of needs ranging from playground equipment, uniforms, and trips, to primary funding to support and maintain many types of programs and curriculum.

Read more: 7 Steps To Your Fundraising Success