[caldera_form id="CF591c6f3f5221c"]
You’re going to love this! I’ve built a career in fundraising by asking for gifts only after asking about asking for the gift. This donor-centric approach has brought great satisfaction to those who have chosen to contribute … and to the charities they support. That’s what it’s all about! My friend, Rachel Muir, does a […]
As professional fundraisers, we frequently deal with the prospect of being “rejected”. Over the years, I’ve spoken to hundreds of fundraisers who have told me that this fear of NO is one of the biggest obstacles to their success. No one likes to be rejected. Whether it is getting turned down by your high school crush or […]
Answer: You do. . . if you want to get better at getting better. A few years ago, I was introduced to a book by Doug Lemov called Practice Perfect: 42 Rules for Getting Better at Getting Better. It was actually my friend Barron Ryan who first recommended the book, and he’s certainly someone who […]
November marks the yearly celebration of National Philanthropy Day for various chapters of AFP all over the country. I look forward to this event every year! My home chapter, AFP Eastern Oklahoma, will celebrate National Philanthropy Day on Friday, November 3. I can’t wait to attend as part of the event team! I’m excited to […]
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 […]
I’ve been a fundraising consultant for 15 years now, and I’ve had clients who range from outstanding to frustrating (to put it mildly) and everything in between. What makes one a pleasure to work with and the other a nightmare? There is one simple trait that makes a client the best in class, and another that […]
As the new school year kicks off across the country this month, I have spent some time reflecting on my teaching experience. One student in particular stands out to me for many reasons. Her name was Mary Ruth Miller. When I joined the faculty at Oklahoma Wesleyan University in the mid 1970s, Mary Ruth Miller […]
For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been discussing some tips from a seminar called “Mission, Money, & Management: Keeping Boards and Donors Connected in Difficult Times.” This week’s tip are all about story. I love stories. If you’ve spent any time with me, you know that I enjoy a powerful story and the way […]
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, […]