Ask Rhea! is a monthly fundraising advice column for nonprofit sector leaders, boards, and workers struggling to make their work sustainable. Rhea Wong is a fundraising expert, professional coach, the author of Get That Money, Honey!, and host of the Nonprofit Lowdown podcast. 

Welcome to “Ask a Nonprofit Expert,” our sector’s go-to advice column for the toughest nonprofit challenges. Read personalized advice from seasoned field leaders who have built thriving, equitable, justice-centered organizations. 

As a special benefit, our Leading Edge members can submit anonymous questions. We’ll publish answers to common questions to strengthen our entire community’s capacity. 

Gathering in Support of Democracy is a column exploring the essential connections between gathering, community, and democracy building. Because a strong democracy requires strong connections—and also, strong friendships. Venu Gupta is the CEO and founder of Solidarity Futures. She has been energized by the power of collective action since high school. 

This column lifts up hope and bright spots during difficult times—the forward movement and tangible signs of progress toward a democracy that enables all people to thrive.

Inside the States explores the policy dynamics unfolding under state capitol domes. Blending emerging trends, behind-the-scenes context, and stories of cross-sector collaboration, this column equips nonprofit leaders to engage strategically at the state level, where so much of our civic future is being decided.

This column provides timely, research-driven analysis from democracy experts on why protecting American democracy requires protecting civil society, and how nonprofits can navigate this moment, stand in solidarity together, and continue our mission-oriented work.

How can we achieve a sustainable food production system that values the actual cost of labor, acknowledges history, and minimizes environmental harm? The New Harvest is a storytelling advocacy project that showcases New York’s local farming and food systems. The project looks at how farmers, educators, and land stewards respond to and develop solutions to current political, environmental, and social challenges.

In Notes from the Frontlines, Deepa Iyer highlights the stories, needs, and solidarity of organizations on the frontlines of the struggle for a multiracial and equitable democracy in the United States.  

Deepa Iyer is a South Asian American writer, lawyer, and activist. Each column explores how organizations are responding to crises in the current political landscape—and what the entire nonprofit and philanthropic ecosystem can do to support them.

What are the unseen mechanics, inherited myths, and emerging possibilities within philanthropy and wealth work? Informed by real-world practices across movements, funders, and resource leaders, this column examines how resources flow—or don’t—through our social change ecosystems, and how communities are building alternative models of trust and accountability.

Reimagining Philanthropy explores transformative and decolonized approaches to philanthropy that can shift our sector from traditional top-down models toward more equitable, community-centered practices. 

This column explores the heroic leadership myth and its costs: burnout, stalled teams, board dependency, and organizational fragility. It reframes resilience as an institutional design challenge—not a test of executive endurance—and guides boards and funders to reward real sustainability.

State of the Movements tracks the heartbeat of social movements—offering frontline stories, strategies, and tools for building power. From worker organizing to climate justice, it shares stories and strategies of movements shaping our future—and shows you how to stay engaged, connected, and powerful.