Guest post by Phil Buchanan, president of The Center for Effective Philanthropy

This is the second in a series of six blog posts, which were originally featured on the CEP Blog.

It has become an article of faith that the “boundaries are blurring” between nonprofits and companies, and that this is inarguably positive. But what we need, today, is a clarifying – not a blurring – of what differentiates the sectors.

The proponents of boundary-blurring are often business school faculty, and they’ve been at it a while. Harvard Business School (HBS) Professor James Austin predicted, hopefully, more than a decade ago that, “We’ll see the stark differences between NPOs and business diminish, revealing a new world of integrated, rather than independent, sectors.” (Note: I feel compelled to say that I took a course with Professor Austin while a second-year student at HBS and he was among the best professors I had during my time there, but I disagree with him on this issue.)

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Guest blog post by: Emily Yu, director, Social Innovation, Case Foundation

What happens when you bring funders and grantees to the same table to talk about power dynamics in the public, private, and charitable sectors? Mike Goorhouse set out to address this very question during this "Connections" session the following quote:

“The giving/receiving process is fundamentally a relationship, one which deserves to be respected in its own right. Both giver and received must work to create the basis for mutual respect and appreciation.  If this is not true the whole thing is a shame.”

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Guest post by: Trish Tchume, director, Young Nonprofit Professionals Network

In Ai-jen's work, three core principles guide her:

1. Believe in the power of a story.
2. What feeling do you want people to walk away with?
3. Remember the importance of love.

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Guest post by Peter Drury. director of development of A Child's Right.

Here’s what happened over lunch today: Catalyze, Epiphany, Lead!

Catalyze
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel warmed up Sunday's luncheon crowd by addressing leadership that convenes and catalyzes government, business and philanthropy to work together to change our communities – rather than to ponder platitudes, to take our time, or to sabotage community success due to our collective log jams or impasses.

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Guest post by Jeannie Fox, deputy director of public policy at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits

Early risers to this morning’s first session of the Public Policy Action Institute titled, "Building Authentic Left-Right Coalitions" were treated to a conversation as stimulating as the Starbuck’s coffee being served. Three panelists, aided  by a skilled facilitator, attempted to outline the goals, process and rewards of building diverse coalitions of unlikely allies.

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