You cannot control leadership transition, but you can control how you deal with it and you can be prepared for it.
This is crucial. Your organization will never grow if your top leader cannot embrace fundraising and understand it's a large part of the job.
Relationships can be magical when nurtured. Be sure that you are focused on the right professional relationships to ensure success for you and the worthy cause you represent!
At the 2014 Bridge Conference, Wounded Warrior Project's Steve Nardizzi took on the charity watchdogs and media, saying nonprofits should manage to their missions, not to misguided assumptions about overhead ratios.
How are you going to approach fundraising? From the Magnificent Side or from the Dark Side?
So many organizations carry volunteers who are burned out, tuned out and left the organization mentally some time ago. You need to say goodbye to them with grace and praise, plus begin to recruit fresh blood ASAP. You also must do everything possible to love your volunteers and know each person well enough to understand each individual's needs and wants.
Be sure that your organization's plans — overall through its strategic plan and with the fundraising plan as well — are grounded in valid needs.
Nonprofits know they must emotionally connect with their constituents. Now, for-profit brands are focusing on emotional marketing, or as Fast Company calls it, "sadvertising."
Fundraising is a complicated arena because it requires multiple relationships, balancing priorities. But sometimes — like retaining donors — we miss the opportunities right at our feet.
I now see the beauty in finishing second, as many teams never receive a plaque or trophy for their efforts. The goal of sports should be to teach good sportsmanship. Children and adults like to be recognized for their efforts, regardless of outcome. The coaches, umpires, parents of players, fans and others volunteer their time to promote a spirit of good will and enjoyment so all can enjoy. As for the young players, by promoting a fun environment for them to enjoy, they might grow up to be future volunteers and donors for many organizations. We need to make baseball and any activity fun for children. The future of philanthropy depends on it.
