We’ve been hearing about “El Niño” for months, and sandbags, K-rail and umbrellas have been in great demand. For fundraisers, there are possible El Niño “seasons” (deviations from the normal or expected patterns) year-round. We can’t predict them all, so always being ready for the unexpected has to be more than a cliché; it must be our typical operating mode...
When I started my company 27 years ago, I had the idea that giving someone a gift would make that person do what I asked. If I dangled that carrot, the horse would go for it. Now I know that idea, when applied to humans, is just as insulting and wrong-minded as it sounds...
You probably have your own event horror stories. Unless your organization already has a prominent signature event, or a committed bunch of talented volunteers willing to do the grunt work for you, events are generally a losing proposition. ...
While I am not much for making resolutions, this is a natural time to think about how I would like to be different one year from today. Whether you view New Year’s resolutions as necessary or overhyped, here are a few things you can pick and choose from as you think about the impact 2016 will have on your career as a fundraiser...
OK, I’m going to tell you something that will blow your mind: You already have major-gift donors who have given you gifts but are not part of your major-gift program. In every donor file we have reviewed, we found major donors who are not part of the organization’s major-donor caseloads. So, where are these donors?...
I cannot believe it, but another year has come and gone. They say the older you get, the faster time flies, and I agree. We cannot do anything about the past, but we can prepare for the future and hope for the best. In preparation for 2016, I will suggest 16 ideas to get you…
“Sometimes opportunity knocks, but most of the time it sneaks up and then quietly steals away,” wrote columnist Doug Larson. I’ve found this to be true in my life and in my career as a nonprofit leader. Thinking back on my mentors, I realize I have a confession: Each one quietly offered me more than I took advantage of...
The crux of Russell Conway's famous essay, “Acres of Diamonds,” actually translates to one of the greatest secrets of fundraising ever revealed. It’s been my experience that virtually every organization fails to fully mine the innumerable diamonds hidden within its own database. So how can you find “Acres of Diamonds” within your own organization? Focus on developing a positive, forward-thinking attitude...
Your major donor has given in the last month or so, and you now are turning your attention to the donors on your caseload who have not given so far this calendar year. This is good. But you may be missing an opportunity to ask your major donor for another gift. “What?” you say. “Ask again? I can’t do that! It would not be right.” Well, let me present a different point of view...
Along with the familiar red kettles, the Angel Tree program has become one of The Salvation Army’s highest profile Christmas efforts. In my position at The Salvation Army’s Divisional Headquarters in Indianapolis, I was able to witness this miraculous program firsthand when it came to central Indiana for the first time this fall....
