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Happy new year!   Over the break, I was wishing for more time to work on my plans for 2022 amidst all of the holiday buzz.  The universe heard me, exposed me to COVID and gave me five days of quarantine.   Be careful what you wish for.   This year, instead of setting goals […]

Dear friends, As we head into the end of the year, I wanted to share some lessons that keep me from spinning off my axis.  It’s a hectic time of year and I hope that this provides some peace of mind to you (and hopefully a chuckle). So, here are Rhea’s Rules to Live By

Back when I was a little baby ED, I was moping around the office because we had not gotten a grant that I was hoping we’d land.  My CFO, who was much more seasoned and wiser than I, took one look at my face and my drooping shoulders and issued this decree. “Rhea, money should

“Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere” – Erma Bombeck I once heard a great joke about a Jewish mother who sends a telegram to her son.  It reads, “Start worrying–details to follow.” For the purposes of this entry, we’ll make it an Asian mother.

Welcome to the last month of the year or what I like to call the Superbowl of Fundraising. Did you know that over 75% of donations come in the last two months of the year? But in this last month, you should be reaping what you sowed over the last eleven months. You can’t plant

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it’s dedicated to giving thanks and eating.  For any of you familiar with Asian families, food is love.  We don’t say things like, “I love you.”  We say things like, “Have you eaten enough?  Have more.” That phenomenon might explain a lot of Asian peoples’ obsession with food.  First,

You know those rare moments in life when you meet someone new and you feel like you’ve known them forever? Enter my new BFF, Olympia Ammon. We were introduced through a mutual acquaintance and now we’re obsessed with each other.  Totally sisters from different misters and we’re inviting YOU to a hang sesh this week. Oly is a

I’ve been practicing yoga for over 20 years.  Ever since my very first yoga class in Ojai, CA, I realized that this beautiful and ancient practice was the perfect antidote to my overly anxious monkey mind.  Today, I was in my yoga class and there was this perfect swan of a woman next to me.

I always knew I had a book in me.  I thought it was the Great American Novel, but turns out it was a book on how to fundraise. Kudos to my collaborator and former student, Isabella Masucci, for her support.   You’ll hear lots more about it in the coming months, but as my nearest and

This morning, I was on my way to Erie, Pennsylvania to deliver a keynote address at the Keystone Conference.  At JFK, I stopped to get a breakfast sandwich as I waited in line, the cashier informed me that I had to order my sandwich in the back before paying at the front.  She was clearly annoyed

“I believe that love is better than hate. And that there is more nobility in building a chicken coop than in destroying a cathedral.” ― Bette Greene, Summer of My German Soldier  In my 20s, I was all for taking down The Man.  I earned my lefty stripes, worked for Mother Jones and the San Francisco

I admit that I watch a fair amount of TV. This past week, I watched the season finale of Ted Lasso (spoiler alert!–if you haven’t watched it, turn back now!) and I loved every minute of it.   One of the most incredible scenes is Nate’s with Ted where he has a full meltdown and

I’m super late to this party, but I never watched the Sopranos the first time around.  Luckily for me, the pandemic allowed for some serious binging and my husband got me to watch the whole show.  While a mob show is not usually my cup of tea (I’m more of a Downton Abbey, The Crown

When we look at people who have achieved great things in their lives, it’s easy to tell ourselves stories about why it can’t be the same for us. They’re different.  They’re smarter.  They work harder.  They’ve had more advantages.  They went to fancy schools etc. etc etc. After a certain threshold of intelligence, I believe

I’m going to blow your mind.   Ready?   The money that you raise does not come from your donors. One more time for the people in the back. The money that you raise does not come from your donors. Your donors are merely conduits through which money flows.   The money comes from the value you

Full confession: I am OBSESSED with Theranos and the Elizabeth Holmes case.  If you are not familiar, do yourself a favor and set aside a couple of hours of your life to do a deep dive.  You’re welcome and I’m sorry.   Anyhoo.  The Elizabeth Holmes case is going to trial and though we say that

Over the weekend, I watched newcomer Leylah Fernandez play her way into her first Grand Slam quarterfinal, toppling champions like Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber along the way. It was a stunning upset for an unknown 18-year-old. Aside from her incredible athleticism, it was a delight to watch because of her infectious joy. It’s time

Sometimes nonprofits can get funding because they are the new kid on the block.  With that baby-fresh smell, they can get the dollars and attention because they’re the New Hope. After a couple of years, what happens when you are not new and the funders want “innovation” and “new programs”?  This is when the tail

There’s an experiment that I read about involving sand fleas.  I really don’t know if it’s BS or not, but there’s an important lesson in here nonetheless. To wit: scientists place sand fleas in a glass jar.  Ordinarily, the fleas just jump out of the jar.  They then put a lid on the jar for three

One of my most cherished (almost) daily rituals is listening to podcasts while swimming laps.   Recently, I listened to an incredible interview with one of my favorite authors, Anne Lamott on the Tim Ferriss Show, and it’s still rattling around my brain. Of the many things she said, the one that I’ve been thinking about