Giving is Good
Does it count as truly successful if the initial goal is achieved, but the stretch goal is not? If the stretch goal is met, what further motivation is there to continue to give effort? I’ve never quite understood the concept of stretch goals. From a leadership standpoint, I’ve witnessed first-hand how stretch goals create far…
We know from research completed back in the 1960s there isn’t a direct line from our bodies to our brains when it comes to feeling physical pain. When we bump our elbow on something hard, for example, we know, instinctively, that if we immediately rub our elbow with our opposite hand, it will ease the…
. . . a development program consistently expand its donor base – year over year for long stretches – without deep and relatively stable solicitation traditions and timelines. . . . a development program raise consistently more from major gifts – year over year for long stretches – without stable, engaged, and somewhat (at least)…
Not, how much do you think they will give. Not, how much capacity they have to give. Instead: if you are willing to be on the hook for the responsibility (if they say “yes”) and the disappointment (if they say, “no”), how much will you invite them to give? And yes, I agree with Seth…
Recently, our family went on vacation and stayed at a VRBO house. Over the course of our week there, my wife and I realized we need a new mattress on our bed at home. After sleeping deeply and soundly for a few nights, we both woke up one day during the vacation and said to…
If only we had more generous donors. If only our board members were more engaged. If only we had the resources to hire one more gift officer. If only we had a better CRM. If only our CEO was more involved with our donors. If only our internal communications were more consistent. “If only” statements…
A nonprofit CEO recently gave an update to their governing board on the organization’s strategic plan. The plan contains 4 pillars or broad, directional statements with a number of more specific goals associated with each of the pillars. As the CEO provided the brief update, she pointed out a goal under one of the pillars…
It’s not uncommon for donors to have multiple, specific criteria for establishing their named scholarship fund. They might even say during the process, “we’ve thought a great deal about this, and we know what we want.” They proceed to describe a scholarship fund that could only be awarded to a diminishing number of students enrolled…
An interpersonal characteristic that separates highly-effective gift officers from those who are less effective is presence. Not the “presence” of appearance or demeanor, when we might say that someone “has presence.” But, rather, the “presence” of attunement and mindfulness, when we might say that someone “is present.” Today, it is easy to feel as if…
A couple falls in love and decides to marry. After the ceremony, a honeymoon of some sort and length is commonplace. This is a pause. A time to relax. A period of adjustment to the new state of legalized coupledom. We typically don’t ask the newly-married, “what’s next?” But think about other significant life accomplishments….