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“That board meeting was a waste of time.” “We haven’t gotten anything done in months!” “I can’t wait for my term to run out.” Have you ever had similar thoughts before, during, or after a board meeting? You’re not the only one. There are countless well-intentioned board members who are stuck in “survival mode” and are missing out […]
I call these my “Big Three” when it comes to fundraising: Relationships Mission Long-term objectives In my years of fundraising, I learned some simple truths. Good fundraisers realize that fundraising is all about relationships, not transactions. It’s about the long-term, not the immediate crisis of the week, month, or year. And mostly, it’s about the mission, not about […]
I say Yes! Here’s why Top performers, no matter the field, continually sieze opportunities to build their skills and enhance their professionalism. In my work, Certified Fund Raising Executive is the standard of excellence. I first invested the time, effort, and money to achieve the CFRE designation in 1999. CFRE International grants the credential to over 5,500 development professionals worldwide who meet […]
Something I’m asked about a lot when it comes to fundraising is the endowment fund. These permanently restricted gifts can be a complex aspect of fundraising to understand, but the following steps can help an organization establish and appropriately utilize an endowment fund. #1. Understand what endowment really is: Endowment funds are permanently restricted gifts […]
During my time at the 2017 AFP International Conference on Fundraising, I had the pleasure of sitting down to talk with someone who I’ve long admired for her work as a fundraiser, author, and development professional. Amy Eisenstein and I have been colleagues for many years, and you’ve likely heard me mention her before. At […]
As we come to the end of June, we’re faced with a stark reality: 2017 is halfway through! That thought might prompt excitement, panic, relief, or some other emotion in you as you consider what it means for your organization. The midway point is a good time of the year to evaluate our progress. Self-evaluation is […]
This year’s AFP International Conference in San Francisco was one of the most personally and professionally rewarding that I’ve been to in several years. As a fundraising professional, you can often get good content from philanthropy experts online with just a few clicks. This content is usually free and easily available, but there is nothing like […]
Whether your #1 issue this month is about fundraising, governance, executive leadership, or a related topic, I’d love to grab a coffee with you and talk it through. Join me on Wednesday, June 21 for Walk with a Consultant. We’ll meet again at Shades of Brown Coffee and spend time discussing the obstacles that stand […]
In 2009, I created a workshop called 7 Reasons Campaigns Fail, and How to Avoid Them. Recently, as I looked over some of my notes from those early sessions, I was struck by this truth: the #1 reason campaigns fail is the same today as it was back then! What is the #1 reason? It […]
What if you could develop a style of leadership that positively influences and changes not only yourself, but also those with whom you work and interact? You can! It’s called Energy Leadership. Last September, I wrote about the 7 levels of energy and how they impact your life. (If you want a refresher, you can read […]