How many times have you tried to research foundations, corporations, organizations, associations and individuals only to find out that these entities are not accepting new proposals? In fact, they have not accepted new proposals for quite some time...
F. Duke Haddad
We all have to start somewhere in our careers. When I started my career as development director at the University of Louisville, I felt unprepared. I had very little guidance from a rookie boss, and I was desperately trying to feel my way...
When you have been in the nonprofit profession for a number of years, you interact with many colleagues. I am blessed to have known and continue to know colleagues who have impacted me during my career. One special person who I admire for a variety of reasons is Ernie Vargo, II, CFRE, in Indianapolis...
Have you ever given thought to your nonprofit’s internal communications? Every day, you communicate several times to a variety of people within your organization, using various communication methods. Are these communications effective?...
I am continually amazed at the growing number of nonprofits without an nonprofit succession planning program. This scenario applies not only to the CEO position but other key administrative positions. I am also referring to chief development officers. Running an effective nonprofit is difficult enough without having succession planning issues...
I have been writing articles and blogs for many years. I love to promote having a nonprofit career and to share information with others. The by-product of writing is the variety of questions asked of me in a given month. These questions represent a wide range of topics...
Like all of us in this industry, we are invited to many nonprofit special events every month. These events represent breakfasts, luncheons and dinners that contain elements of meetings, seminars, lectures, receptions and other activities...
Having worked and consulted with multiple nonprofit organizations through the years, I have studied each nonprofit to see if they have four-star success in a variety of areas. In a perfect scenario, each major element of the nonprofit would be constantly analyzed to see if they incorporate four-star material...
I have been involved in many nonprofit job searches through the years. At times, I have had many quality candidates for a position. At other times, I couldn’t find a quality candidate for a position. Some searches were relatively fast and others painfully slow...
I recently attended a coffee and conversation event set up by my staff. The purpose of the event was to educate, thank and inform donors in a special and warm way. The event numbers, by design, was small and intimate in nature...
Organizations need to enhance their nonprofit marketing efforts. There are a variety of reasons why they do not achieve this objective. Greater attention for nonprofit marketing must begin today...
What does it mean to be a cheerful giver? I am sitting in my hospital development office, and I am asked to come to the front desk. I see a woman that I have never met before, and she asked to come to my office...
I love to make presentations. In order to make a successful nonprofit presentation, you must understand how to properly prepare in advance. I do extensive research on the topic to present...
Our professional know-how drives organizational missions. Skillsets like creativity, resilience, adaptability and the power to create meaningful connections with donors are what truly distinguish effective fundraising professionals. The question is do we go to work, share our talents and go home each day?...
I have worked with many nonprofit boards in my career. In my role as an executive or consultant, I have witnessed many examples of dying boards. In some cases, nonprofit board members were tired of serving. In other cases, leadership on the board had simply dried up without replacement steps...
