Note: This is a guest post from our thoughtful colleague Joseph Tumolo, CAP®. Joe helps fundraisers, nonprofit leaders, and board members grow their major and planned gift programs. Visit him online at www.joetumolo.com. Thanks, Joe! Sometimes I hear nonprofit managers wrestling with the questions, “What if we invest in training our … [Read more...]
What’s your relation to preparation?
Last month, I facilitated a train-the-trainer workshop for the faculty of the Center for Nonprofit Leadership, a program of California Lutheran University. It’s a lively network of skilled consultants, academics, and nonprofit staff who support and train their peers. For the icebreaker, I used one of my favorites – the continuum … [Read more...]
The Big Ask: Training Your Board to Pitch in Public
Note: This guest post is from our colleague Crystal Middlestadt at the Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training. GIFT publishes the Grassroots Fundraising Journal (one of our favorite publications) and organizes Money for Our Movements, North America’s largest gathering of social justice fundraisers. Thanks, … [Read more...]
Making Decisions? A Simple Facilitation Tool
A few years ago, I sat down with my colleagues Nancy Wasserman and Stephanie Lahar to discuss ways to work together more intentionally. We’re friends, we’re consultants with different (but complementary) expertise, and we all run our own one-person businesses. Nancy suggested a very basic exercise. She wrote three columns on a flip … [Read more...]
Fundraising Training, Step by Step
Name one important skill you mastered the first time you tried it. Perhaps you can find an example or two, but let’s face it – we become good at things by learning basic principles, followed by lots of practice. Fundraising is no different. It’s a skill to be mastered. If you want your board, staff, or any group to master … [Read more...]
In Praise of Non-Planning
When it comes to training and facilitation, how much of a planner are you? Do you just show up and wing it? Or do you design every step of every agenda in exquisite detail? As you'd expect, people land along this continuum. When it comes to training (and most anything else in life), you can make any style work. The same principle … [Read more...]
Using Fundraising Parties to Engage Reluctant Board Members
As we roll into spring – and party season! – we’re offering two exercises to help you create and host profitable house parties. Last month, we shared a simple activity, Planning a Fundraising House Party, that you can use to create a party plan calendar. Do this exercise first. Today’s post features a follow-up exercise, Fundraising … [Read more...]
Party Time! A Fundraising Party Planning Exercise
As we turn forward the clocks (well, most of us), perhaps you’re anticipating longer days and spring weather. Fundraisers have seasonal clocks, too. As the weather warms and the days get longer, I hope you’re thinking what I’m thinking – it’s almost party season. And you can use parties to raise serious money. Yes, you can … [Read more...]
Ask Now! Two Exercises to Get You Out of the Office and Talking With Donors
The month of December can make or break your entire fundraising year. And, as I am sure you know, the most effective way to raise money is ask for it in person. Combining these two facts yields a pretty basic, straightforward question: How many donor meetings have you scheduled this month? Not enough, right? Sorry, no … [Read more...]
Tearing Up Money (and other tricks for addressing the money taboo)
Several years ago, at the beginning of a fundraising workshop, I took out a $20 bill and passed it around, asking, “Is this real currency?” Everyone examined the bill and agreed that yes, it was the real thing. Then, to the amazement of the group, I ripped it up. The pieces floated to the floor like confetti. Silence – a long, … [Read more...]
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