The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program aims to achieve two socially worthwhile goals: Reduce the debt burden on recent college graduates and entice people to enter traditionally low-paid public service careers...
In every way they can, nonprofits make the "ask." The message is: We help people. We mend the holes in the social safety net. We educate. We feed. We shelter. We care. But do they? Or do they, by the nature of their funding, contribute a bit to the tearing of that net? Nonprofits are notorious for paying low salaries...
Distance from groups that are unlike ours is more difficult to close. People who are viewed as โtoo differentโ from us can completely shut down our ability to connect with them. For most Americans, the homeless fall into this psychological no-manโs land...
I was thinking of an old friend and colleague, Henry โHankโ Rosso, recently when I was doing research on fundraising. I decided to look at Rossoโs obituary. On Feb. 1, 1999, Hank died at the age of 81 in Petaluma, Calif...
We are big on not attending the same professional conferences year after year. Take a break from your routine and attend a new conferenceโmaybe one outside of your nonprofit sector. This year, Iโm taking a break from AFP to attend a different conference and I plan to be back at AFP next year...
Motivating everyone to get involved is critical. Last weekโs blog was about cause marketing. This weekโs blog is somewhat similar, but is about a company (hint: the name is in the title of the blog) that is aligning their brand with the idea of community involvement...
I know that recognition is the most impactful approach for motivating fundraisers as I have worked in peer-to-peer fundraising for over 25 years. I should have known that this would be the key area of impact for my grandson. I just didnโt make the connection until recently...
Each day we work hard to promote our specific organizations and promote our profession. Without a chance to view other organizational activities, this could lead to tunnel vision and singular focus. If you are fortunate, you will be able to witness concepts in our profession placed in action by other organizations also dedicated to enhancing our profession. I recently took advantage of an invitation to attend a special event, and I am very glad I did...
I truly believe the profession involving fundraising and nonprofit management is a calling. You must be honest, ethical, committed and dedicated to service before yourself. I am proud of being a fund raiser. Just like any profession, there are some members that give the profession a bad name, but they will come and go.
Last year, I gave you five priorities for success in 2016. I called them โDive the Five.โ This year, Iโve expanded my thinking a bit. I give you โSeven is Heaven.โ I promise if you focus on these fundamental areas, you will hear the angels begin to sing and your mission will take wing. Some of these areas will seem familiar, but the way you employ them may need to be tweaked in order for you to survive and thrive...