Ah, Board committees. Now, we get knee deeper into confusion. So, keeping the Board focused on governance is challenging work. Keeping the committees focused on governance seems at times almost impossible. A few observations from the field. Just like with Board of Directors, Board committee’s need position descriptions and expectations. Now, I won’t recommend specific […]
Last week, I noted how all-volunteer and small staffed organisations must engage in governance at the Board level. I pointed out that one of the first steps is to secure commitment to change. Some groups may not want to change and need to wrestle with the question of “what does not changing mean for our […]
Board governance is challenging work. It is especially difficult for smaller organisations. Even more so in all volunteer organisations. When organisations lack staff including an Executive Director, it is the Board of Directors who often fills in the “gap” of responsibility regarding getting the day to day activities of the organisation done. Board members may […]
This past weekend, I embarked on an event that frightened me. Literally and figuratively. You see, several months ago, I entered a lottery. And, the drawing was for a chance to run up Mt. Washington in the Mt. Washington Auto Road Race. I got in. At the time, it seemed fabulous. Then as reality dawned, […]
Twenty-two years is an awfully long time. I can’t believe it has gone by that quickly. And, it all happened by pure chance or maybe little small choices all along the way. Now, I find myself a CFRE and have my Masters in Fundraising and Philanthropy. Years, years ago, I got my start as a community […]
Feeling listless, stressed, in a funk? Snap out of it! I have been in the field of fundraising for a long time. And, I know that sometimes (maybe a lot of occasions), development work can be hard and draining, and sometimes you end up in a funk. Well, here are some great ways that YOU […]
Let’s cut to the chase. I know, and you know that one of the biggest things that stop us from being effective in our fundraising is fear. Good old, heart pumping, nail biting, fear. Recently, I had a conversation with some folks, and I asked them the question, “what is your number one concern around […]
Do these phrases sound familiar to you? “I never have enough money!” “Money goes out faster than it comes in!” “Money doesn’t grow on trees!” How often have we heard these phrases growing up? Well, if you were like me, probably a lot. As a child, these were the messages that I subconsciously learned about money, […]
Research has shown that people like to talk about themselves. And, there is a reason why. It stimulates areas of the brain. It makes them physically feel good to talk about themselves – stimulating the same areas in the brain that sex, cocaine, and good food does. And, we all know what good food does […]
Recently, I had some conversations with a former co-worker. Her outlook and atmosphere had changed so dramatically that I had pause and ask, what is different. Well, she set me on the course of all of her “research” on the importance of human body language. And, I realized that there was profound applicability for me […]
Let’s get rid of our printed newsletter and just send an e-newsletter. Our donors don’t like personal solicitations. We are only going to send out one appeal a year because we don’t want to send too much mail to our donors. I hear statements like this all the time. And, I wonder if we are […]
Are you looking at your donor retention rate? It seems like this is old hat in the field, but yet, it is such an important metric to be measuring in your development office. The question is, are you? It is more expensive and difficult to obtain a new donor than it is to keep a […]
I enjoy asking for gifts. I like to connect a donor with a mission and see magic happen. Indeed, when you ask one for a gift, the giver gives. When I have broached this topic as of late, I see faces cringe and heads nod, “no.” The body language says it all. But, what is […]
The fundraising audit is a major step in fundraising planning. When you think about planning, you think about where are we, where do we want to be, and how are we going to get there? The fundraising audit helps you to determine, where are you. And, it is probably the most important step of the […]
Why good grant applications fail. Yes, every grant you write will not be funded. That is a reality. I know, you and I both wish that they were, but that’s not always the case. According to The Fund Raising School at the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy, these are some concrete reasons why foundations decline […]
How are you looking at your fundraising rate of return? It is critical that you develop a variety of ways to measure your performance and report these results to the board. In doing so, you are ensuring appropriate stewardship of your resources through demonstrating that your fundraising is efficient and effective. While it does cost […]
With some nonprofits, there seems to be a disconnect. These groups have operated using the same fundraising methods as they did twenty years ago, perhaps with the same leaders leading the organisation. They fail to look at national giving trends that show individuals giving more than 70% of all contributed income and only 15% made […]
What are the first steps to your grant planning? First you need to document your funding priorities with custom tailored cases for supports that can be used to match up to a funders priority. Once you have outlined your needs, the next steps are to do some detailed research to identify potential funding sources. It […]
Yes, I have a motive, and it is a bequest. As a young woman with no children, I have already created my estate plans. Yes, I have. And while those I love will be taken care of as they should. There is a time after they are gone when my assets held in trust will […]
When developing a fundraising plan, I am often asked whether or not, I can skip the development audit analysis. And, I arguably say “no!” A fundraising audit is probably the most critical stage of the entire planning process looking at where an organisation is now, where it has been, and where do they want to […]
This week, I had a conversation with one of my very first clients. And, I wanted to share their success story. You see, too many groups don’t want to invest in donor acquisition because they know that they will lose money – in the short-term. Who intends to invest in that, particularly if you are […]
Younger donors don’t give as much. You can chase the Millennials and the generation whatever’s, but if you don’t take into consideration the family life cycle, then you are misdirecting your energies. What is the family life cycle I hear you ask? Wills and Gubar (1966) identified nine distinct life cycle stages of a family. […]
We are all so very guilty of appearing to listen to someone, but yet already forming a reply in our head.. You know, you are sitting with a donor and rather than listening, you are rehearsing what your response may be. Are you missing some critical information when you don’t listen intently? Sure! It is […]
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that the number of people dying in the United States will double in the next forty years. WOW! Hard to read, but surely reality. And, sometimes reality is stark. The Baby Boomers will soon be facing retirement, old age, and eventually death. And, Baby Boomers will have more […]
