[Image description: Protestors on the streets of Seattle, holding various signs, including ones that say “Defend Democracy,” “When cruelty becomes normal, compassion looks radical,” “True Americans love and support our immigrant friends and family,” “Education not deportation,” and a few American flags. Image taken by Vu]
Hi everyone. Thank you for all your support when I announced the publication date of my new book last week. I really appreciate it, especially as I was overwhelmed with a feeling of inadequacy upon submitting the manuscript to my editor. Apparently, self-doubt and even dread are common in the book-writing-and-promoting process, but all your encouraging messages and pre-orders have been very helpful, so thank you.
This weekend, I attended Seattle’s No King protest. I went because I felt terrible about everything. Over the past few months, there has been one crisis after another. The ICE raids in LA and everywhere, the assault of Senator Padilla, the assassination of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman, the continued attacks on trans people, the ongoing support of genocide. Right before the protest, I had read about the deportation of 160 Southeast Asians, including 93 to Vietnam, where I grew up. Many of these people have been in the US since they were children or have never even set foot in Southeast Asia.
[Image description: Cover of Vu’s book. It says “Reimagining Nonprofits and Philanthropy: Unlocking the Full Potential of a Vital and Complex Sector” in plain text, with a stroke of paint at the upper left corner
Hi everyone, after months of being holed up in my room writing every weekend, and muttering and cursing to myself, I’m excited to announce that my book will be released on October 14th!You can pre-order your copy at Elliott Bay Book Company, Barnes and Nobles, or Bookshop.
You may have some questions, so here are some FAQs:
What’s the title of the book?
Reimagining Nonprofits and Philanthropy: Unlocking the Full Potential of a Vital and Complex Sector. The title, I know, is usually not my feisty burn-it-down brand, but the publisher advised a simple, easy-to-understand title in order to broaden its reach, including college and grad school curricula.
What’s it about?
It’s kind of a book I wish had been available when I was just starting my career in the sector, a no-BS, equity-grounded guide that synthesizes all the main points I’ve been ranting about over the past couple of decades, but organized into cohesive chapters on fundraising, boards, leadership, advocacy, hiring practices, work culture, data, DEI, philanthropy, and other stuff. Each chapter takes on archaic or ineffective mindsets and practices and offers alternatives and examples. (It’s not a collection of blog posts!)
Are there pictures of baby animals?
Sadly, no, there are no pictures of baby animals in this book at all. Or any pictures. It’s just words. Lots and lots of words. Please take this into consideration when deciding whether to purchase this book.
Will there be some sort of book launch event?
Probably. That requires work, which I don’t like. But everyone is telling me I need to do it for marketing purposes. Holy hummus, I guess I need to start marketing! Oh god, I don’t know anything about marketing!
Will you be going on a book tour?
I’m working on that, but I hope so. I want to do a book/standup-comedy tour in 2026. The sector could use more laughter during these horrible times. Be on the lookout for announcements of tour dates.
How can we support you?
Pre-ordering the book will be helpful, as it shows a strong demand. Also, please reach out to Stacy at NWBspeaking@gmail.com if you’re interested in booking me for a keynote or if you’d like to collaborate on the book tour. And, if you’re a funder and you’d like to help by sponsoring the tour, please let Stacy know.
Now that your book is almost done, are you finally going to start working on Nonprofit The Musical?
This tour will likely consume me for all of 2026. I’m hoping to work on a TV show next. Then maybe the musical. We do need more representation in mainstream media, so I hope more folks will work on different cool projects.
Thanks everyone. You’ve been so encouraging throughout this process. I’m excited for you to read this book, and I look forward to seeing you in person soon!
[Image description: A cute grey-striped cat, standing next to what looks like a blue curtain, looking upward. Image by Daga_Roszkowska on pixabay]
Hi everyone. Before we get started on today’s topic, happy Pride! To all my colleagues who are lesbian, gay, (fellow) bisexual, trans, genderfluid, intersex, nonbinary, queer, asexual, questioning, or any combination of the above and other identities, you’re awesome. Thank you for being who you are. Please take time to celebrate you and the joy you bring to this world.
A few months ago, right after the elections, I met with a couple of board members of a progressive family foundation. It was a nice change of pace. In a world where the default is foundations deciding strategies and nonprofits are forced to apply for funding if they aligned, this foundation was trying to figure out how to transfer strategy-setting and decision-making authority to communities most affected by injustice. This is especially important now, when this administration is aiming to inflict as much harm and cruelty as it could to them.
[Image description: Some stairs with colorful art surrounding them. The steps have bold red letters in Spanish that say “engrandece al mundo. Hazlo bello. Y cuando te hayas ido, deja que la tierra te extraño,” which roughly translates to “Make the world greater. Make it beautiful. And when you’re gone, let the earth miss you.” Photo by Sifan Liu on Unsplash.]
Hi everyone, if you’re free on June 5th at 10am Pacific Time, my friend and colleague, Ananda Valenzuela, will be leading a FREE virtual workshop called “Exploring Power Dyamics and Principled Accountability.” It’ll be bilingual in English and Spanish. Register here.
Last week, I attended a production of “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/ When the Rainbow is Enuf” by Ntozake Shange, directed by Michelle N. Matlock. If you’re in the Seattle/Tacoma area, check it out; it plays until June 8th.
Led by an all-women-of-color cast, the interwoven pieces combine poetry, monologues, singing, and dancing, vividly illuminating the challenges women of color—especially Black women—face, while highlighting their strength, joy, and unbreakable spirit. I hadn’t heard of it before and went mainly to support a friend who was one of the performers. I left with a reminder of how powerful and instrumental the arts are for society—especially during these horrible times.
[Image description: A dandelion growing out of some dried, cracked mud. Image by klimkin on Pixabay]
Hi everyone, happy AANHPI (Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander) month. If you’re free this Wednesday May 21st at 9am Pacific Time, here’s a great free virtual panel featuring Asian women entrepreneurs discussing the intersection of business and social justice.
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I hope you are hanging in there despite the daily bouts of chaos and cruelty. With everything going on, it’s easy and understandable to fall into despair. But we need to remind ourselves that amazing things are happening daily. There are stories of hope, community, and resistance. Good people are fighting back against injustice every day. Here are a few good things that have taken place recently. Thank you to colleagues and to Zann Zsuzsannika (on Facebook), who let me know of them:
Omaha Nebraska has its first Black mayor, as Democratic candidate John Ewing Jr. defeating a transphobic three-term Republican candidate. He won by double digits.
In Montana, 17 Republicans crossed party lines to join Democrats in defeating a horrible Anti-Trans bill that would have criminalize gender-affirming care for transgender youth, including classifying doctors, nurses, and parents as felons.
In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul signs a bill that would force fossil fuel companies to pay for the damage they cause to the environment.
Salt Lake City and Boise leaders, in response to Republicans passing laws to prohibit the Pride flag from being flown on government property, creatively found ways to fly the flags anyway, by redesigning the flags and voting them in as official flags. Brilliant.
I am sure there are plenty more good news. Please list any additional ones I missed in the comment section. Let’s remind ourselves that good people are fighting against cruelty and injustice every day, and are winning!
