Reading for Leading Change-October 2026

We recommend these recent articles as you seek out new inspiration and innovative approaches to nonprofit leadership and social impact.

Who Will Raise the Money When the Money Raisers Are Gone?

Every nonprofit chief executive knows how hard it is to hire and retain a good development director. Senior nonprofit fund development professionals are retiring, younger professionals aren’t entering the field, and mid-career professionals are burned out. This Stanford Social Innovation Review article argues that the problem is not simply a talent pipeline issue; it’s a culture problem fueled by unrealistic expectations, pressure to meet quotas, and an overly transactional approach to fundraising. The author, Mark Dobosz, recommends that nonprofits address the fund development talent crisis by building healthier fundraising cultures that prioritize relationships, purpose, belonging, professional development, support for mid-career staff, and the transfer of institutional knowledge from retiring fundraisers.

Curious Leadership: Building a Culture of Curiosity

We love Scott Shigeoka’s curiosity toolkit, which offers practical tools for addressing some of the challenges facing today’s workplaces, including loneliness, disagreement, and lack of trust.

Shigeoka says that curiosity is an essential capacity for navigating the uncertainty, complexity, and disconnection shaping the modern workplace. His toolkit encourages us to replace assumptions and quick judgments with genuine interest, open-ended questions, deep listening, and a desire to understand perspectives different from our own.

We recommend his simple, practical tools for leaders, boards, and teams looking to strengthen relationships, navigate differences, and create the shared understanding and trust needed for meaningful collaboration and sound strategic decision-making.

What have you read lately that helped you lead your organization? We’d love to hear about it.