Or, put the squeeze on her. These aren’t fundraising strategies. They’re assault.
Author: Jason McNeal
I provide leadership, advancement and fundraising consulting services to educational, healthcare, and non-profit organizations.
Is There A Difference Between Advancement and Leadership?
I have written previously about the similarities between the practice of leadership and the practice of advancement. Recently, I stumbled upon this older but concise definition of leadership: “Leadership is about articulating visions, embodying values, and creating the environment within which things can be accomplished.” — Richards and Engle, Transforming Leadership, 1986 If you want to…
On Feeling Wanted
Wednesday was NSD. For those who don’t follow college football in the United States, NSD is “National Signing Day,” the day in which high school football players make official their college choice. For the year-round college football fan NSD is a big day. Better football players signed in February will hopefully mean more victories in…
My Staff
Weak leadership is betrayed by the use of possessive pronouns. When I hear a vice president or president talk about “my staff,” or “my cabinet,” experience suggests that I’m dealing with someone who cares more about position and less about performance. Of course, the person using the “my staff” language believes such language portrays a…
Stories Versus Menus
There are two approaches to developing funding opportunities: Develop a compelling vision for the institution’s future based on mission and values by engaging key leaders, donors, and constituents in a planning process. Specific funding priorities are identified that support this compelling vision. Develop a comprehensive list of institutional needs and encourage donors to support the…
The Distinctiveness Trap
I hear it all the time from institutional leaders: “We need to identify what makes us distinctive.” “Our strategic plan/viewbook/brochure/website/direct mail letter/(you name it) should highlight the distinctive aspects of our programs.” “Our institution has to show how it is different from every other institution out there.” It seems that most institutional and advancement leaders…
Fundraising Principles For The New Universe: The Practice of Immersion
So far I’ve identified four principles which I believe are keys to fundraising success as a result of the 2008 recession. The principles (Income Stream Diversity, Database Depth, Bench Depth, and Big Value Communication) highlight new thinking based on the economic realities in which institutions (and their donors) now find themselves. The final principle is…
Fundraising Principles For The New Universe: Big Value Communication
Since the Great Recession, fundraising has changed fundamentally – especially major gift fundraising. In recent posts, I’ve identified three principles (Income Stream Diversity, Database Depth, and Bench Depth) that are keys to institutional success in today’s fundraising environment. The fourth principle for successful fundraising in The New Universe is Big Value Communication. Big Value Communication…
Fundraising Principles For The New Universe: Bench Depth
The nature of fundraising has changed. Thus far, I have proposed two principles (Income Stream Diversity and Database Depth), which, if implemented regularly and effectively, will provide your institution with an approach that leads to transformational outcomes. The third principle for fundraising in The New Universe is Bench Depth. Bench Depth refers to the capacity…
Fundraising Principles For The New Universe: Database Depth
Institutions today are faced with a series of issues that fundamentally have changed our fundraising environment – it is a New Universe. In my last article, I suggested that development offices need to diversify their institution’s income streams. Today, I am offering the second principle that I believe is important if institutions are to thrive…