Are You a Nonprofit Fundraising Leader?

It is rare that I use my weekly blog to promote a meeting, but if you are a nonprofit leader in fundraising and marketing, simply put, you cannot afford to miss this meeting.

Next week in Kiawah Island, S.C., a group of leaders in the nonprofit fundraising and marketing world will be gathering to tackle the tough issues facing our industry today at the DMA Nonprofit Federation Leadership Summit.

If you have not already registered to be there, you need to do so ASAP. At this special summit, designed to be a small setting, you will have the opportunity to discuss best practices on tackling the barriers to growth and how this affects both short-term objectives and long-term strategic initiatives. Please join me to:

• forge and strengthen business relationships
• exchange ideas and gain valuable insights from peers and colleagues
• explore the most innovative and effective ideas for making progress

This summit happens just once a year, so do not miss this chance to come together with your colleagues and hear new fundraising ideas and approaches from the most authoritative voices in the industry.

There are discussions over 1.5 days with fundraisers and marketers from Food For The Poor, Disabled American Veterans, American Red Cross, ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, ChildFund International, The Humane Society of the United States, March of Dimes, America Heart Association, World Vision, Operation Smile, Special Olympics International, Feeding America, Food & Water Watch, ASPCA, Alzheimer's Association, Ducks Unlimited, Mercy Homes for Boys & Girls ... and many more.

Here's a link for the agenda: https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/tab1.aspx?EventID=1487194

We'll be having very involved discussions around:

• Overcoming external barriers: Discussing the new realities, new economics and new challenges facing nonprofit organizations from the post-recession economy to privacy zealots and threatened government regulation of big data to changing demographics. How can your nonprofit be equipped to thrive in this changing environment?
• Overcoming internal barriers: If learning to navigate the new realities of a post-recession economy, new policies and the debates watchdog organizations (and media) are having over our effectiveness vs. efficiency aren't enough, we are also having to balance those challenges with the challenges we face internally. Many of our organizations have become used to a certain level of unrestricted income that our fundraising programs have historically produced. Fear — of the economy, of the unknown, of failing — results in a dependency on best practices and "safe bets" at the expense of what might completely "move the dial." Finding the right level of risk taking can't be limited to modern technique, but a deeper commitment to changing — easier said than done. And pressure to meet short-term organization needs prohibits organizations from investing in strategies and initiatives necessary to ensure long-term financial health and sustainability. We will discuss both challenges and solutions.
• Changing the way we lead: It is increasingly challenging to find and retain the right mix of internal talent, agencies and consultants to meet the needs of our ever-changing fundraising world. And organizational structures, silos and sacred cows are barriers that must be identified and overcome. We can't be satisfied with "this is the way it's always been done." How can we think differently about the way we set goals and measure success; how we work with consultants (or clients) and affiliates (or headquarters); and even how we might partner with other nonprofits (or consultants) to increase efficiencies, leverage expertise and generate revenue that may be the way to a sustainable future? Can we think outside the box to identify models that work, models to develop and models to consider for maximizing all available resources to position our organizations for success?

Register here to join in the summit.