Often, our articles focus on the areas that are lacking in a nonprofit. How to improve yourself How to strengthen staff development How to engage your board members in the development process How to get your campaign unstuck, etc. But don't forget to recognize your strengths. Why not … [Read more...]
Getting The Gift Is The Easy Part
August 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Many people see major gifts as a set of $ goals that are the essence of an annual fund or capital campaign. But, that is short-sighted. The ultimate goal is to have a group of individual life-long donors. And that means understanding and utilizing stewardship best practices. Stewardship focuses … [Read more...]
Communication Feels Good
October 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment
This morning I received an email from the head farmer at my CSA (Community Supported Agriculture – a sustainability model for local farms) and was so moved that I wrote back to her. Why? Not because this is the last week in what has been a good season. Not because this is new and different … [Read more...]
Creating A Good Story
September 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment
In order to be able to make a successful ask, whether you are talking to an individual, corporate giving officer or foundation program person, you need to have a good story that humanizes the organization, its specialness, and why it is a great investment. The essence of a good story can and … [Read more...]
Knowing How to Listen
September 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment
No doubt, people have had trouble listening for thousands of years. Sure, while modern technology makes it easy to multi-task (and thereby decrease focus on the primary task at hand), I have a feeling the cave people were as easily distracted by a future hunt as you are by your wondering what you … [Read more...]
Be Positive – Scaring Donors Only Makes Donors Scarce
July 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Giving is down. That could have been the headline in any number of papers over the past month, year, even two years. The 2009 numbers that were issued by Giving USA state that while individual donations remained level last year, bequests and foundation giving was down. The estimates are … [Read more...]
Are You Growing One Plant Or A Farm Full?
July 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment
This year I am growing a cucumber plant. Contrary to my reputation as the black-thumb killer of indoor plants, it is thriving. I was staring at the 10+ flowers that promise fruit in amazement when it occurred to me that farming is like fundraising. And I don’t mean in the, “tend it and it … [Read more...]
Exuding Confidence in Life (and Asking For Support)
May 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The other day I was sitting in a board meeting as the group was looking through donor lists to pick out 5 or 6 they would personally ask for support. As one person in particular was speaking about the people he knew on the list in front of him, it struck me that he would be a strong fundraiser for … [Read more...]
How to Raise More Money in Economically Challenging Times
November 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment
If you are an executive or volunteer leader of a nonprofit agency, you know that you are approaching that season of the year when you expect to receive maybe as much as 70% of your annual philanthropic revenue. For some nonprofits, the last six weeks of the year brings in virtually all of … [Read more...]
Writing a Check (Sitting On The Other Side Of The Envelope)
November 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Yes, I know that this article is being read, primarily, by people who will spend the next two months awaiting envelopes with other people’s money. But, I think it is worth saying that philanthropy -- and the people and organizations that benefit from philanthropy-- only works when people like you … [Read more...]