John Klein
Founder of Trilithon Partners, Cary, N.C.
Trilithon Partners, a privately-held consulting group, serves for-profit and nonprofit companies, providing advice that focuses on their relationship with consumers.
What can nonprofits do to improve their fundraising or operations?
Nonprofits need to recognize they are no different from their for-profit brethren. They have a product or service they are trying to support in a competitive market. They serve a constituency that fulfills their needs. And that need should be communicated in a relevant and creative way so that their constituents provide financial support.
What makes an effective leader?
In the nonprofit world, an effective leader knows his or her assets are human capital. Humans are served by her mission. Humans are employed and volunteer to support her mission. And humans connect to the mission through their hearts and heads, and complete that connection with their wallets.
What changes would you like to see in the charitable sector?
I would like to see a balanced view between how nonprofits leaders see input and contributions made from those in the for-profit sector, including employees and board members, and how those contributions are offered. The push-pull of influence – while natural within this setting – should be put aside for the greater interests of the charity or nonprofit organization.
