Four panelists were invited to give real-time feedback to members of four local nonprofits who were selected to pitch their next big projects.

Toronto Community Housing uses it. And now the Bethesda Project's Church Program has adapted it for use in one of its shelters. The participatory budgeting model is readily scalable, says guest columnist Andrew Huff.

"Why do so many nonprofits say that their services exist to support vulnerable populations?" asks Valerie Johnson in this month's column. She thinks it is a catch-all phrase that plays on stereotypes.

Your job, as a leader, is to inspire and motivate — not to add to the stigma that your clients face, says columnist Valerie Johnson.

“Whether you’re new to this discussion, whether you’re deep into the mentoring field, or peripheral to the mentoring field ... I think there will be something for everybody,” says Abigail Ellis, the organization's executive director.

Columnist Valerie Johnson says, "It’s true that people leave bosses, not jobs. And often, they’re leaving a boss that didn’t share their values."