Note: This guest post is adapted from a recent article by Kim Klein, one of the nonprofit community's most clear-eyed thought leaders (and a terrific fundraising trainer). Having heard many concerns about the new tax law, I found Kim’s perspective to be helpful. Regardless of your political views -- I generally agree with Kim; perhaps you … [Read more...]
Why fundraising consultants will never replace development staff
Note: This guest post is from Alyson Molloy Hussey, a development consultant and former development director. Thanks, Alyson! A lot of organizations – maybe yours? – are perpetually looking for development staff. In Boston, where I work, there seems to be a shortage of professional fundraisers. While conducting their staff search, … [Read more...]
It’s all about implementation
How many times have you participated in a really productive learning experience – a class, workshop, or webinar – and thought to yourself, “This is terrific stuff. I’m going back to work and I’ll start using it immediately.” And then you didn’t. Why not? Let us count the ways: lack of buy-in from peers, unexpected deadlines, … [Read more...]
My big fundraising failure – and what you can learn from it
In October, I rolled out a fundraising appeal for our new Training, Facilitation, and Consulting Certificate Program with Marlboro College. We had launched the week before and – after a decade of dreaming and a solid year of planning – I was SO EXCITED to see it all come together. I wrote a fundraising pitch, sharing my excitement. … [Read more...]
Year-End Fundraising: Give People What They Want
President Harry Truman once famously said, “The secret of raising children is to find out what they want to do and then encourage them to do it. “ I think that’s great advice – and so did my kids! Note to self (and to you, too): Apply the same advice in your outreach to donors. Year-end fundraising: Beyond the tried-and-true As … [Read more...]
What Do I Do Now? The Facilitator’s Guide to Intuition
Note: This guest post is from Katherine Golub, a personal coach and consultant. To learn more about her work, visit CoreBrillianceAcademy.com. Thanks, Katherine! Have you ever facilitated a meeting where things start to feel off, and you aren’t quite sure what to do next? At those moments, do you wish it was easier to figure out … [Read more...]
Board Fundraisers — What’s on the Menu?
Have you ever spent time with a three-year-old child? As a parent, grandparent, sibling, babysitter, teacher…whatever your role. If the answer is “yes,” then you undoubtedly learned the following strategy. It’s not useful to ask a young child, “What socks do you want to wear?” Instead, you offer a specific, limited set of … [Read more...]
How to Claim Your Trainer Power
In Tucson, where I lived for many years, there’s a popular line of t-shirts based on the Mexican card game loteria. My favorite, El Mundo, features a picture of Atlas balancing the world on his shoulders. He’s the same fellow, sculpted in bronze, who towers over Rockefeller Center in New York City – knees bent, biceps bulging, head … [Read more...]
How I Started My Consulting Business
In 1993, I sat down with my boss – the last boss I’ve ever had – and said, “I’m giving you two year’s notice.” To his credit, he didn’t laugh. He looked at me, a little confused, and said, “What are you talking about?” “I’m starting a consulting business,” I said, “and I’m going to do it a little at a time.” “OK,” he said. “Tell … [Read more...]
Who is Your Board Fundraising Spark Plug?
Imagine the following scene. The lonely staff fundraiser – let’s call this person Executive Director or Development Director – sits alone in a very small room, thinking about a very large fundraising goal. “Hello, board!” the fundraiser cries out. “Are you there?” A long pause. Nobody answers. “We need to raise a lot of money. … [Read more...]
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