Nonprofit AF

Vu’s new book comes out on October 14th. Pre-order your copy today!

Posted on June 9, 2025June 21, 2025 by Vu

[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, Bookshop, or Amazon. If you plan to order several copies, use Porchlight for significant bulk rates.

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!

I’m back! Nonprofit OnlyFans, a book deal, and other news!

Posted on September 2, 2024September 2, 2024 by Vu

[Image description: A happy, adorable corgi dog, wedged in a tree trunk, looking down at the viewer. The tree has yellow leaves, suggesting Autumn. Image by huoadg5888 on Pixabay]

Hi everyone, I’m back from my break. I’ve missed you all, and I’ve missed ranting and shaking my fist about various things each week. Also, I need to get back to the grind, because my plan of starting a Nonprofit OnlyFans during the summer did not work out. Apparently, only three people wanted to pay $6 a month to hear me read grant award letters while dressed in button-down shirts from Ross Dress for Less: “‘Dear Unicycles for Tots, congratulations, the review panel has decided to provide your organization a three-year unrestricted grant of $50,000 per year. Thank you for your work.’ Mmm… yeah… unrestricted …oooh… multi-year…”

During the break, I had time to reflect, usually in my hammock while eating handfuls of Kirkland Signature semi-sweet chocolate chips, and I want to make some changes in my work and my personal life. Here are a few things that might affect this site:

Vital and invisible as air: An appreciation of nonprofit professionals

Posted on September 12, 2023September 12, 2023 by Vu

[Image description: A grassy hill, linted with pine trees, standing before a mountain. This was taken by me on a trip to Mt. Rainier. I had altitude sickness and could barely breathe!]

Hi everyone, last week was my kids’ first week of school. This always brings bittersweet emotions as I watch my little ones find their lines, reconnect with their friends, and increase a notch in their confidence and independence. I know the days of them holding my hands as we walk to their classes each morning are numbered, as are the moments when they turn around to wave to me before they disappear behind the walls and doors of their school. It’s beautiful. But also heart-wrenching, when I let myself ruminate about the unforgiving passage of time.

But this post is not about my kids. While dealing with the logistics of school starting, I was filled with appreciation for the nonprofits and nonprofit professionals in our sector. Kiet, my younger one, asked when his “art classes” will start up again. This is an after-school program run by a local organization here. Last year, I dropped by the program, and the wonderful staff were leading creative games and having the kids express themselves by drawing on little squares of paper.

Unspoken words and unwavering actions: Lessons I’ve learned from my father

Posted on June 12, 2023June 13, 2023 by Vu

[Image description: The silhouette of an adult and a child, holding hands, walking toward the horizon, during sunrise or sunset. Image by Harika G on Unsplash]

Hi everyone, this coming Sunday is Father’s Day, so I thought I would write about my dad and what I’ve learned from him. The last few weeks, he has been staying with me. He had been living in Vietnam, and some health concerns sent him back to the US. Because of the pandemic, I hadn’t seen him in four years. Living with him the past three months, which I realized I hadn’t done in 20 years, has been fun, though I’ve had to make some adjustments. When he got back, the first thing he asked me was about a giant wooden beam he told me six years ago to guard. I had given it to someone else, I don’t even remember who. “You shouldn’t have done that. You’ll need that wooden beam someday.” I guess it doesn’t matter what cultures fathers are from, they will want to hoard pieces of wood and reprimand you for not doing so.

Keeping the fire lit: Reflections from my trip to Aotearoa New Zealand

Posted on October 10, 2022October 16, 2022 by Vu

[Image description: Driftwood on a beach in Aotearoa New Zealand. Foam block letters attached to the wood spell out “DO GOOD.” In the background is the ocean and a lot of clouds. I took this picture with my phone.]

Hi everyone, this post may be rambly not not very deep due to my travel-induced exhaustion, so apologies in advance. But first, October 10^th of this week is Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the US, and we should all be reminded that less than half a cent of every dollar in philanthropy goes to Indigenous-led organizations. So to all those funders out there who are releasing statements about this day, please give more money to Indigenous communities. Everyone else, donate to Indigenous-led orgs and mutual assistance efforts and read this article by an Indigenous colleague for more actions you can take.

I just came back from a whirlwind speaking trip to Pueblo Colorado, Halifax Canada, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Monterey California. It’s been three weeks on the road and I finally just got home. It’s the longest I’ve been away from my kids, and I had some irrational fear that they wouldn’t recognize me, and they’d be weirdly formal when I got back and be all like, “Hello, Father. Would you care for some crumpets?” I don’t know why they’re British in this scenario. Luckily that did not happen; they just hugged me and immediately asked for presents.