Some years ago on Facebook, I friended my favorite history professor from college. She was kind enough to accept and even though I’m pretty certain she did not recall me from 30+ years ago, she traded some messages with me back and forth. During one of our first exchanges I called her the only name…
Category: Branding
Is Your Planning Strategic?
All effective advancement work, from fundraising and constituent engagement, to communications and back-of-house data systems, begins with an institution-wide, mission-centered strategic plan. Donors don’t give to your institution as much as they give through your institution because of your mission and your future plans to make a meaningful difference in the world. To create a…
Patience
Almost everything gets better when you add patience. Patience is not synonymous with delaying. Or waiting because of fear or anxiety. Or “paralysis by analysis.” Patience is willing discipline. Patience is knowing the outcome you are seeking and not getting distracted by chasing something else. Patience is kindness in the midst of turmoil. Patience is…
Positive Planning
With the fiscal year ending for many in the higher education advancement world, the “season of annual planning,” soon will be fully upon us. Creating agendas for sessions, retreats, and meetings to plan for the new fiscal year’s aspirations, goals, and objectives is critical to healthy and effective planning. In many instances, though, we program…
3 Aims of Constituent Relations
If we define constituent relations as those programs and activities designed to encourage people to engage more deeply with your mission or cause, then there are three primary aims of those efforts. First, constituent relations efforts should educate people. Yes, this is education on your mission and it’s important impacts. But, this version of education…
Fundraising Dollar Goals
Dollars fundraised is, in most cases, an unhelpful goal. They are outcome measures over which we regularly do not have much control: “How much of that $50 million was in current giving vs. planned gifts?” They are misunderstood: “You mean that most of that $250 million raised will come in over the next 5 years?”…
Our Donors Don’t. . .
. . . give to the annual fund. . . . care about giving levels or giving societies. . . . attend events. . . . respond to phone calls. . . . agree to face-to-face visits. It may, indeed, be true that, “our donors don’t,” do this or that. The data may support our…
On Being a Fanatic
The University of Tennessee men’s basketball team played yesterday in the “Elite Eight” of the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament – otherwise known as “March Madness.” This means that out of 351 Division 1 men’s basketball programs, there are only eight teams left playing basketball. And one will become the national champion. In the…
Mission, Vision, and Values
The words of our mission statement are less important than how consistently we use our mission to make budgetary decisions. The directions described in our vision statement are less important than how enthusiastically we use our vision to invite donors to give. The specific virtues expressed in our values statement are less important than how…
The Un-Asked Question About Campaign Readiness Studies
Our firm regularly helps institutions prepare for major, multi-year fundraising campaigns. One of the most requested services we provide is what we call our Campaign Readiness Study. These studies are comprehensive, thorough, and typically include anywhere from 50-75 confidential interviews with the client’s most capable and engaged donors. In addition, we review all kinds of…