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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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
During last month’s Walk With a Consultant, we discussed some of the pros and cons of special event fundraising. I was getting ready for my presentation at the AFP Conference, and some of the questions we discussed over coffee came up again at the conference. This month, I’d love to continue that conversation, as well […]
If you’ve been involved with nonprofit organizations or the philanthropic community for very long, you know that volunteers are a critical part of the staffing in most organizations. Nonprofits need volunteers for board positions, to help with event management, and many, many other things. Volunteers are the best! A “best practice” for any organization is to […]