Rick Cohen

After almost 8 years as the executive director of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), Rick Cohen became Nonprofit Quarterly as NPQ's national correspondent in 2006.  Prior to joining NCRP, he was vice president of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) in charge of strategic planning.  He also served as vice president under Jim Rouse at the Enterprise Foundation (now Enterprise Community Partners), directing Enterprise's field programs.  Rick has also worked in the public sector as Director of Jersey City's Department of Housing and Economic Development and served as a consultant to numerous government agencies and nonprofits.  He began his professional career as a planner with Action for Boston Community Development, one of the nation's original anti-poverty agencies.  Rick has also authored or co-authored three books and numerous articles and op-eds for professional journals and newspapers, testified at Congressional committees and roundtables, and appeared on radio and television including the CBS Evening News, the ABC Evening News, the British Broadcasting Company, Fox News (including "the O'Reilly Factor"), CNN's American Morning, the Public Broadcasting System ("Religion and Ethics"), National Public Radio ("All Things Considered", "Morning Edition", and "Marketplace"), and others.  In 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006, Rick was named to the NPT Power & Influence Top 50 list by The Nonprofit Times.  In addition to Rick's regular columns in Nonprofit Quarterly magazine, the NPQ Newswire, and NPQ's Cohen Report (http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org), he also writes investigative pieces for the Blue Avocado (http://www.blueavocado.org/).  In 2010, Rick won the gold National Azbee "news analysis/investigative" award of the American Society of Business Publication Editors (for his Youth Today article on the Promise Neighborhoods program and minOnline's Editorial and Design Award for Freelance Editorial and Design (for his Blue Avocado series on the demise of the Vanguard Public Foundation).

Biden’s proposed budget vilifies wealth and threatens philanthropy

The president’s war on donor-advised funds imperils the flexibility and innovation that help truly effective philanthropy thrive.

“I Thirst”—Would You Offer Him a Drink?

How Jesus’s Good Friday words call on us across the millennia, encouraging us to engage in charity to alleviate suffering.

Child wearing medical mask in front of closed playground representing school closures and learning loss from COVID-19 pandemic.
A Donor’s Guide to Understanding the Great School Shutdown and Pandemic K-12 Learning Loss

There are promising solutions to the learning loss puzzle, but donors need to overcome the “urgency gap” between current recovery efforts and what needs to be done.

People working together to build fundraising capacity.
Capacity-Building Investments: Accountability as an Act of Love

“We all want human flourishing and the common good. Money helps, obviously, but if you want your donor dollars to go further, add the secret sauce of capacity building.”
—Dr. Kimberly Thornbury

Microphone in courtroom indicating call for mandatory donor disclosure violates first amendment
The Call for Donor Disclosure: As Unscientific as It Is Unconstitutional

A new study discloses the political alchemy of progressive claims, showing there is no empirical evidence to support the demand to violate the First Amendment by revealing donor names.

Going My Way
SMART goals make for better, more realistic fundraising.
Get smarter by setting SMART goals

Blockbuster goals might (theoretically) bust fundraising blocks, but SMART goals are (actually) far more effective.

Nonprofit staff aligning their messaging and mission statement to ensure consistency and hitting fundraising target.
On message, on mission

If your nonprofit is going to fulfill its purpose, your staff need to think and speak clearly and consistently about its mission.