2 Resolutions for 2012 Worth Making

It's that time of year — time to (once again) resolve to give up all our bad habits and become the person our mothers always knew we could be. But stick with me — this isn't another one of those "eat less, exercise more, and soon you'll be getting modeling contracts" columns.

Instead, to end the year, I have two resolutions to suggest to fundraisers. Read them over and then modify them to meet your needs and capacity once you return to work after the holiday.

Resolution No. 1: Make story time a priority
Just like we did in kindergarten, we adults like stories. And pictures make the story even better. They help us visualize the need and the good things your nonprofit is doing. In 2012, resolve to get the stories and photos that put faces and names (even if they are changed for privacy reasons) to the facts of your work.

Instead of recycling the same photos from a decade ago (you know who you are), keep a digital camera with a high number of megapixels (10.2 or better, if possible) handy, and then use it. Digital cameras make it inexpensive to take photos, so shoot lots of them. So what if you take 100 and only one is good? That's one more resource for telling your story.

And speaking of stories, start writing them down. The good, the bad, the average — your creative staff or consultants can make the decision about what's worth using. Give them options; they are bound to find a "winner." Share the great, heartstring-tugging stories about your nonprofit with fundraising staff and writers. With stories and photos, your nonprofit will come alive to donors in 2012.

Resolution No. 2: Take a chance on something new
We're not all back on Easy Street, but 2011 was a better year for many nonprofits. So it's time to diversify. Really. We have all been cautious the last few years, knowing that layoffs and cutbacks were lurking in the shadows. But in 2012, give some thought to something new you can introduce to your fundraising mix.