Is there one single narrative that can entirely define your organization, its mission and your donor experiences from both sides of the giving equation? Doubtful. One thing I don’t doubt, though: Storytelling is important. In fact, emotionally compelling storytelling is the foundation of every successful fundraising program...
Have you ever been splashed by Shamu? You are among the last generation that ever will. Earlier this month, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment Inc. announced some huge news: It will stop breeding captive killer whales. Not only that, but it's ending the theatrical orca shows. The changes mark a staggering change in the company’s business model.…
Every year I organize our neighborhood Easter egg hunt. I stuff and hide more than 600 eggs, and love watching kids run through the field searching for them. The excitement they feel when finding an egg is the same rush I get when I discover something actionable in a client data file. It got me…
Millennials are different, and, by 2017, they may have the largest buying power in the U.S. Nonprofits can’t just prepare, they actually must change to embrace them...
If you're in the business of advocacy, chances are you're a passionate individual. You think globally and act locally. You care about having your voice and the voices of those you advocate for heard above the fray. Whether you're lobbying, litigating, educating or organizing for your cause, there's one common factor that all groups have…
There’s a difference. Most people are used to events. Those are fundraisers. They’ve seen them, been to them, even helped plan them. They're galas and raffles, dinners and golf tournaments, 5Ks and bake sales. They’re transactional in nature, and in every community on any given day, there’s one happening. But fundraising is a different thing.…
This week, I was at the Association of Fundraising Professionals International Fundraising Conference in Boston. Many sessions were worth the time away, but there was one, in particular, to remember. Three people took the stage. These three helped launch, build and grow organizations such as Amnesty International, Greenpeace International, Planned Parenthood, Sierra Club, Heifer International and more...
When I embarked on my own in fundraising consulting I had only one client that I served as a sole practitioner. I soon realized that I was missing the synergy of a team. Collaboration is important. We all have different skills. So, as we developed our team, we also looked for redundancy. We didn’t want just one person with a unique set of skills. We wanted backup...
With the presidential election fewer than eight months away, fundraisers, once again, are faced with the uncertainty of whether political giving this year will impact contributions to their respective organizations. It’s only natural for nonprofit executives and fundraisers to be nervous about how the 2016 presidential campaign will impact contributions to their organizations...
Stop for a moment, go to a quiet place and focus on the problem your organization is dealing with. It could be homelessness, drug addiction, abuse of people or animals, the effects of humankind on the environment—whatever it is, focus on it...
