NGO Oversight

How to Own a Due Diligence Miss Without Letting It Own You

How to Own a Due Diligence Miss Without Letting It Own You

Pholus Advisory | 09/10/2025
Every experienced leader eventually faces it: a missed signal during due diligence that later becomes a liability. Sometimes it’s a concealed relationship. Sometimes it’s a partner with undisclosed debt, a founder with political baggage, or a “compliant” supplier that turns out to be an operational risk. Whatever the oversight, what…
How to Tell If a Local Business Is Just a Shell for Moving Someone Else’s Money

How to Tell If a Local Business Is Just a Shell for Moving Someone Else’s Money

Pholus Advisory | 07/16/2025
Not every business is what it claims to be. Behind storefronts, digital platforms, or community ventures, some entities exist primarily to transfer, obscure, or clean money for other actors. These businesses are operational in form but hollow in function—designed less to sell a product or service and more to facilitate…
How to Spot Founders Who Only Pretend to Align with Donor Priorities

How to Spot Founders Who Only Pretend to Align with Donor Priorities

Pholus Advisory | 02/16/2025
Donor priorities—whether tied to governance, inclusion, sustainability, or transparency—are not just ideals. They shape how funding is allocated, how outcomes are measured, and how partnerships are judged. Yet in many settings, especially in fragile or transitional environments, some founders learn to mimic these priorities without embracing them. They speak the…
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