This fall, I contributed to CausePlanet.org, a great web resource for busy nonprofit professionals and leaders. The site features a range of customized information for the nonprofit leader: interpreted books, articles from thought leaders, worldwide news and resources. The new year will begin a series of articles by La Piana Associates. Once a month, we will present a topic related to our consulting work in nonprofit leadership, strategy, and organizational management. Read the articles at www.causeplanet.org and let us know what you think.

The BBC reports, regarding the scandal involving Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich:

On the day of his arrest, investigators released transcripts of conversations between Mr Blagojevich and others intercepted by court-authorised wiretaps.

In the conversations, the Democratic governor allegedly discussed offering Mr Obama’s Senate seat in return for a well-paid position at a non-profit organisation or a group affiliated with trades unions, according to the affidavit.

In the past we have doubted the governor’s honesty but now we can question his sanity as well. Doesn’t he know about the hundreds of leadership roles at nonprofits for which boards are seeking experienced executives like himself? Maybe he could run a Chicago homeless shelter or a Southern Illinois land trust. With his connections, the governor could easily expect to snag one of the top jobs, paying as much as $66,000, the average nonprofit executive director salary in the region (according to SimplyHired.com).

Do you think maybe he wanted more than that?