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Earlier this year, I served on a panel with other fundraising professionals, and this great question was posed to us: What are the top characteristics that make a good fundraiser? For me, the answer has three parts. FIRST: ‘an infinite capacity to not know what can’t be done.’ Too many people believe in what can’t […]
Guest Post by John Martin. John is a philanthropy practitioner (Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy®) with 25 years of nonprofit experience, including 19 years of fundraising & development leadership in higher education and an additional six years with a grant making charitable foundation. He teaches university courses in Fundraising & Grantwriting, Nonprofit Leadership, and Nonprofit Marketing. […]
Just last week the CEO of a dynamic charitable organization worried . . . “We don’t know if we’re going to make payroll in December!” How about you? Do you find yourself scrambling at year end just to make THIS year’s fundraising budget? Then, if you DO reach the goal, do you breathe a sigh […]
“We’ll see what happens in the next election. Talk to me after November.” “It’s probably best if we wait until the spring. I’m just not sure what will happen before then.” Maybe you’ve gotten responses like these during conversations with donors or perhaps when your team comes together to plan your next steps. These are […]
“an imaginary mischievous sprite regarded as responsible for an unexplained problem or fault” “a small imaginary creature that is blamed when something does not work properly” These words describe a gremlin. A gremlin is also that little voice in your head saying, “I can’t do this, who do I think I am?” or “I’m not […]
Most of the time we think about energy as our “get up and go”. Or maybe we look at energy in terms of the number of calories we need to go about our daily business or to exercise without hitting the wall. But, there is another way to look at energy: What is your level […]
A feasibility study is an important first step when considering whether or not to launch a campaign or substantially increase your fundraising. Chances are you’re familiar with them and have perhaps even been involved in the feasibility study process. I’ve worked on many such studies, sometimes in the form of a marketplace analysis, and have […]
Today’s post is a continuation of a series of 6 tips for “Keeping Boards and Donors Connected in Difficult Times”. Last week I talked about the first two tips to help you stand strong: Your definition of “difficult times” and determining your ‘main thing’. This week we’ll explore two more tips that deal specifically with your mission. […]
In our line of work, there will be difficult times. That’s a given. What is not a given is the way we respond to those difficulties. Recently, I had the pleasure of keynoting the Take-5 speaking series, sponsored by HoganTaylor. For three days and in three different cities, I presented a seminar called “Mission, Money, […]
You may have heard me say at one time or another that I consider my purpose as a consultant and coach to equip people for success in both fundraising and nonprofit leadership. I take this very seriously because I believe, like you, that your mission is worth the effort. It’s a good practice, both on […]