Organizing Okies, a nonprofit organization, has launched a greenhouse project in Oklahoma to combat food insecurity by teaching residents how to grow their own food. The initiative aims to establish a greenhouse in every county, with volunteers educating the community on gardening and donating the produce to local food pantries.

Non-profit investors face unique challenges. Explore key practices—from clear objectives to holistic risk management—that support long-term investment programs. Explore now »

Dylon Boone, a senior at St. Xavier High School in Louisville, Ky., has started the nonprofit Touch of Terra to help homeless people in memory of his mother, Terra, who died unexpectedly in January. Boone has raised more than $12,000 and has organized the assembly of 500 backpacks filled with hygiene products and clothing, which will be distributed to Wayside Christian Mission on Thanksgiving.

Be assertive in your leadership by being directive, speaking with conviction and leading with both authority and empathy to increase your chances of a promotion over leaders who are quiet, conflict-averse and reluctant to make tough calls, writes executive coach Joel Garfinkle. Improve your presence as a leader by being more enthusiastic, asserting yourself with respect and letting senior leaders see you engaging in difficult conversations and addressing issues head-on, Garfinkle advises.

Get your audience excited about the topic of your presentation (even if it's a dry subject) by working to infuse your voice with enthusiasm and a feeling of purpose, writes public speaking coach Gary Genard. Practice by thinking about how you'd convey your information to a friend or family member to infuse some excitement and think "about listeners and what they really need from you in this presentation," Genard advises.

Small nonprofits can feel overwhelmed by GivingTuesday, but Rhea Wong emphasizes the importance of leveraging existing supporters, using multiple communication channels, segmenting donors effectively and making giving easy. Wong also highlights the potential of GivingTuesday to engage major donors by creating triggers and signals for deeper relationships.