A dependable revenue stream that grows—ah, paradise!
Have a fundraising challenge you want to crack? Weary of doing the same old, same old yet hoping for different outcomes? Do you want the over-the-top results that come from superior strategy?
Email me with your particular problem, and I'll arrange a quick consultation offering you a practical solution you can implement. I may even use your situation to share with my readers. Names are changed, of course!
I had a delightful conversation with Tiffany a few days back regarding her environmental lifestyle organization. I was impressed with the good work her organization does and in the thoughtful way the folks there engage their community.
Her challenge is to deal effectively with success. Founded as an all-volunteer organization with a small outreach, there wasn't a payroll and programs were almost self-financing. Marketing wasn't a factor as word-of-mouth was sufficient.
Now that the word is out and their impact is being felt in the community at large, expanding to serve the entire county presents an entirely new set of issues.
It's not surprising that the founder and small group of committed volunteers really don't have the skill set to deal with the business of the organization—hiring staff, expanding programs, creating marketing, organizing fund development.
They've taken the first step in hiring Tiffany. She's more than competent. She brings executive skill and business acumen along with a true believer's spirit to her tasks.
What she's seeing now, unfortunately, is an all-too-common dysfunctional view of money among the small group of original stalwarts. The word "business" conjures up visions of overweening corporate greed rather than the requirement that all—ALL—viable organizations must have a working business model with stable positive revenue flow.
The founder sees the need to raise "money" at all as some sort of moral compromise.
- Categories:
- Executive Issues
- NonProfit Pro

Larry believes in the power of relationships and the power of philanthropy to create a better place and transform lives.
Larry is the founder of The Eight Principles. His mission is to give nonprofits and philanthropists alike the opportunity to achieve their shared visions. With more than 25 years of experience in charitable fundraising and philanthropy, Larry knows that financial sustainability and scalability is possible for any nonprofit organization or charitable cause and is dependent on neither size nor resources but instead with the commitment to create a shared vision.
Larry is the author of the award-wining book, "The Eight Principles of Sustainable Fundraising." He is the Association of Fundraising Professionals' 2010 Outstanding Development Executive and has ranked in the Top 15 Fundraising Consultants in the United States by the Wall Street Business Network.
Larry is the creator of the revolutionary online fundraising training platform, The Oracle League.
Reach Larry on social media at:
Twitter: Larry_C_Johnson
LinkedIn: larryjohnsonmegrace
Facebook: TheEightPrinciples





