Many of us, especially in business settings, are afraid to admit we don’t know something. We worry that it is a sign of incompetence or weakness. I disagree. Actually, I believe that when you don’t know the answer, owning up to it is important to establishing trust with your coworkers and clients, the media and your donors...
If you spend any time in nonprofit resource development, you will or should develop a desire to step up to major gift solicitation. Major gift fundraising is the highest level and is not easy. Many professionals are engaged in major gift fundraising, but like a pyramid, very few excel at the highest level for a long period spanning multiple organizations...
Remember your first job? Most people do. In my case, each of my early jobs—from working as a musician while in college to my time as a pension fund executive overseeing billions of real estate assets under management—played a role in getting me to the next step in my career. Here are some lessons I took from early jobs that I still use today...
Congratulations to all the volunteers recently elected to serve a new term on your favorite nonprofit’s board of directors. You’ve obviously shown your service to this nonprofit, and your new position recognizes your hard work. Now what? Well, that depends on how your nonprofit’s board is structured. Hopefully, you’ve been given a good job description…
The word I hear lately more than any other is "uncertainty." Here in the U.S., every four years on Jan. 20 there is a change of power. It comes with the awesome privilege of being part of this great democratic experiment called the United States of America. In my lifetime as a voter, there have…
President Donald Trump signed an executive action on Monday reinstating the so-called Mexico City Policy, which bars international non-governmental organizations that perform or promote abortions from receiving U.S. government funding. "The President, it's no secret, has made it very clear that he's a pro-life president," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at his…
Whatever you do, don’t assume that your board members know what they are doing. Chance are high that they don’t. Your capital campaign gives you a wonderful opportunity to train them. The stakes are high, and you can develop a small training program just for them. Consider this three-part approach...
With new leadership in Washington, D.C., the future of health care is up in the air, and that spells uncertainty for consumers and clinics like Volunteers In Medicine. "It is extremely unnerving, it's so concerning to me," says Ashley Evans of Volunteers In Medicine. "I've seen so many proposed plans." Says Will Wallace, "As far…
If a coalition of philanthropic leaders have their way, more San Diego nonprofits will be heading into the shark tank. There’s a growing movement to build a stronger social entrepreneurship ecosystem in San Diego. Supporters envision more nonprofits pitching ideas to potential backers, pursuing money-making ventures aimed at addressing social problems and seeking investment in…
Madison, Wis., has long leaned on philanthropy. When John Nolen had a vision of a city built on an isthmus, it was a small group of philanthropists led by John M. Olin who ponied up the $2,500 to publish the unique architectural plan. Since then, nearly everything people love about Madison has been built at…
