The big ask captivates us. “If she would only give us the $1.5 million. . . ” “If that company would only be our event’s title sponsor. . . ” The big ask is so captivating, in fact, that it’s tempting to start there. “Let’s go ask and see what they say!” is the trill…
Category: Uncategorized
Too Nice
In your team’s culture, are you too nice? Too nice to discuss: alternative strategies from the one a colleague is proposing? missed opportunities? goals we didn’t achieve? ideas that go against “what we’ve always done?” new ways of working together? Being nice makes teams run smoothly. Until being too nice doesn’t.
Leading Volunteers
What’s the reason our institution utilizes volunteers? What’s the point? The purpose? If we expect our volunteers to provide the definitive answers to these questions, we may want to re-think our role. As advancement professionals who engage volunteers, our first duty is to understand clearly why they are being asked to volunteer. Our second duty…
3 Ways We Make Decisions
Why are we reducing our direct mail solicitations from 4 per year to 3? Why are we no long conducting a phonathon to interactively engage donors and invite their gifts? Why are we continuing to plan for the next gala? Why are we no longer printing our magazine and only creating a digital version? Why…
What Should We Do Now?
The economy is in recession. We’ve experienced a natural disaster. Our institution just endured a difficult leadership transition. The latest downturn in the stock markets has hit our community especially hard. What should we do now? Whenever real or perceived crises hit, it is not uncommon for advancement professionals to urgently ask this question. Too…
Blah, Better, Best
Ineffective gift officers will (perhaps) spend time with prospective donors; Better gift officers will spend time with prospective donors. And they, also, will invite the gift; The best gift officers will spend time with prospective donors. They, also, will invite the gift. And they will utilize the influence of others to increase the chances that…
Us vs. Them
It works to make us feel better in the moment. It works to help us not examine our own possibilities, problems, or opportunities. It works to deflect responsibility. But it only works for so long. In time, “us vs. them” thinking crashes under its own weight of fear, insecurities, doubt, self-absorption, non-factual biases, and too…
Invited To The Dance
Being invited to the dance is not the same as being invited to dance. But we often treat them similarly. For instance, we may wonder why an alumni event (either in-person or virtual) doesn’t draw as many people as we had hoped. “They were invited to the event,” we grouse. Or, we might question why…
Now What?
In the U.S. yesterday Thanksgiving was celebrated. Most people paused the routines of regular life to reflect on their good fortunes, to express appreciation and show gratitude, and generally, to give thanks. Now what? For most, it’s back to routines. Or, for others, it’s on to Black Friday, the official start of the holiday shopping…
Building a Bird Nest
It takes birds – depending on species, materials used, construction type, etc. – between 2 days and 2 weeks to construct a nest. Most people, though, don’t pay much attention to the nest building process. Instead, we walk by a tree in our yard or in the park and are surprised when we find a…