Building Bridges - The TANGO Blog

TANGO’s mission is to build bridges between the nonprofit sector and the business sector. The mission is based on the belief that the interests of the sectors are capable of being aligned, and that communities do better when their interests are aligned.

More about the TANGO Blog

An alignment of interests is not the same as a merger of interests. Each sector is responsible for different tasks within a community, both sets of tasks are necessary conditions for community stability, and each sector should be allowed to perform the tasks for which it is best suited without undue interference from the other.

However, recognizing the equally important role each sector plays in the community, the sectors should support each other, and doing this will require a bridge over which information, ideas, problems, solutions, and goals are exchanged freely in both directions.

The principles upon which the bridge will be built are the TANGO Founding Principles appearing at the beginning of our textbook, The TANGO Nonprofit Method.

This Blog is one component part of the bridge we will be building, and it will be both a platform and a portal to identify relevant information, ideas, problems and solutions and to discuss them openly and critically.

Finally, our roots are in the business sector, and we will bring “business-like” rigor to our commentary. We will be frank and clear so as not to be misunderstood, while always being respectful. We also invite counter-opinion from those who disagree. Having said this, our critique of nonprofit sector organizations will be based on the following rigorous standards and principles:

ONE: Tax-exempt status is a privilege conferred by federal and state legislative acts. Tax exemptions and tax deductions reduce public tax revenue, and, as such, indirectly subsidize nonprofit sector operations.
TWO: The governing boards and management teams of these organizations must adhere strictly to high fiduciary standards when expending and managing the funds and assets of the organizations they serve. Moreover, as fiduciaries of financial and other assets dedicated to a public/charitable purpose, nonprofit governing boards have a higher level of responsibility than do our elected officials who are not held to fiduciary standards when they exercise their voting authority over public assets.
THREE: Nonprofit governing boards have a duty to develop a set of measures and metrics to gauge both internal operating functions and the social impact of their organizations. The applicable measures and metrics should be prepared in conformance with the fiduciary standards mentioned above consistent with applicable benchmarks, data, and known industry standards.
FOUR: Organizations should report prominently and candidly the results of operations relative to the measures and metrics. The fiduciaries governing boards of these organizations must have the courage to report poor measures and metrics, not unlike the manner in which publicly traded business organizations are required to do so – even if over the objections of management.
FIVE: Nonprofit Organizations should not misuse the emotional appeal of their mission. The emotional appeal of a mission statement should be subordinate to the measurement and metric outcomes.

May 2025 – Founders Forum by Rollin Schuster

I want to thank the TANGO community (members and partners) for all you do to make our world a better place. I created TANGO to corral support for the sector. We will hit 2000 nonprofit members any day now, a growing community for sure! So, thank you again for all you do to improve things for the next generation to come…whenever that may be!

read more

2025: Cause for Concern or a Call for Action?

Social media updates emerge on a near daily basis regarding the freeze or cancellation of government funding and the weaponization of the IRS through legislation (for example, HR 9495) or executive action to target the tax-exempt status of certain nonprofits.

read more

April 2025 – Founders Forum by Rollin Schuster

As President and Founder of TANGO, and The TANGO Foundation one of my favorite “duties” is giving away money! But let’s be real here…I’m not simply giving away cash for the fun of it. We are making strategic investments, often referred to as Impact Investing.

read more

March 2025 – Founders Forum by Rollin Schuster

February has been a busy month, our travels have taken us from the frozen tundra of New England and the Capital Region of NY to the warming breezes of Georgia. The one common thread we’re seeing as we travel to speak with our TANGO members is “the times are different now…and we as nonprofits need to look at things differently.

read more
Ben Bronz Academy Membership Showcase March 2025

Ben Bronz Academy Membership Showcase March 2025

Ben Bronz Academy helps students with learning challenges that include dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, executive functioning disorder, ADD/ADHD, Asperger’s syndrome (and other autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and processing & working memory difficulties.

read more

February 2025 – Founders Forum by Rollin Schuster

February has been a busy month, our travels have taken us from the frozen tundra of New England and the Capital Region of NY to the warming breezes of Georgia. The one common thread we’re seeing as we travel to speak with our TANGO members is “the times are different now…and we as nonprofits need to look at things differently.

read more

Want More Content Like This?

For all the latest news, events and nonprofit related content, become a member and receive our montly Trends Newsletter. membership is free for all nonprofit organizations.

Membership is complimentary to all Nonprofit organizations thanks to the generosity of our corporate partners.

With over 1,900 nonprofit organizations throughout New England, TANGO has become a powerful community helping nonprofit organizations reach their mission.

Join Today

Location

Connecticut

29 South Main Street, Suite 300
West Hartford, CT 06107

877-708-2646

Powered by
Join Today