Note: This guest post is from Sheree Allison. Thanks, Sheree! In our small community, you’ll find Executive Director Happy Hour in the back corner of Olivier’s Wine Bar. It’s anything but happy, as nonprofit CEOs swap bizarre tales of boardroom misbehavior. These stories effect nearly every nonprofit. Mariette, one of the EDs, often … [Read more...]
Training for movements, not just organizations
In 1980, a few weeks after Ronald Reagan was first elected president, I answered a classified advertisement (remember classified ads?) in my local newspaper. The first word was Activist. I can’t remember the rest of the ad, but the idea was that I would be paid to work for social justice. I was adrift and anxious about the future, and … [Read more...]
Challenging your assumptions about donors
Note: This guest post is from Alyson Molloy Hussey. Thanks, Alyson! I recently consulted with an organization that was planning a very cool cultivation event. Of course, the Executive Director wanted the group’s most generous donor to attend. When we discussed this at our weekly meeting, they seemed skeptical about the donor. “I am … [Read more...]
Three types of change — and how to manage each type
What’s your comfort level with change? Do you embrace new stuff – especially unexpected new stuff? If you’re involved with nonprofits, you’re in the change business, like it or not. Nonprofit organizations exist to heal the sick, address threats to the environment, build affordable housing, end oppression, create transformative art, … [Read more...]
Doing board service differently: Couples sharing a board seat
Note: This guest post from Christal M. Cherry of The Board Pro is part of an ongoing series on rethinking nonprofit boards. Thanks, Christal! More than sixty-four million people in the US serve on nonprofit boards. They make life-changing decisions that impact all of us. Does the current board model yield the best results? As society … [Read more...]
Eight ways to improve board fundraising
Note: This guest post is from Sabrina Walker Hernandez. Thanks, Sabrina! Here’s a question I hear repeatedly: How do I get my board members engaged in fundraising? (Cue the frustrated sighs from executive directors, CEOs, and development staff.) You’ve got options! Here are eight strategies you can use, right now, to improve board … [Read more...]
Who is your fundraising about?
For a long time, the dominant fundraising strategy has focused on creating better donor experiences. The concept of donor-centered fundraising was popularized by Penelope Burk and others. When donors feel connected and empowered, according to this theory, they are more likely to give, give again, and give more … which raises more money … [Read more...]
How to build a gift chart: A fundraising exercise
What’s my favorite fundraising tool? That’s easy: show me a gift chart. If you’re like me, you need to understand how many donations, at what amounts, are needed to reach your goal. If the information is presented in a visual, easy-to-understand way, that’s even better. A gift chart can be used to: Test the feasibility of … [Read more...]
A fundraising recipe: Optimism, creativity, persistence
I once chaired a capital campaign that lasted seven years. That’s seven years of planning, designing, strategizing, and adapting. We completely rebuilt our facility in two phases, which required many, many conversations with architects, designers, and contractors. Seven years of fundraising equals a LOT of asks. In fact, some … [Read more...]
Not all money is created equal
What’s the best mix of income for your nonprofit? How can you build sustainable revenue streams that make you resilient and self-sufficient? You’ve got lots of options – that’s the good news – but not every option is relevant to every organization. Consider the following facts and principles. Where money comes from Broadly … [Read more...]